Aquarist

**Posted**:18/08/2023 13:21**Start Date**:Not Available**Salary**:£24843 pro rata pa (£25344 after probation)**Location**:Horniman Museum and Gardens, Forest Hill**Level**:Experienced (Non Manager)**Deadline**:07/09/2023 10:00**Hours**:14 hours per week**Benefits**:See "Working for us" on the Home menu**Job Type**:Part time**Salary**:£24843 pro rata per annum (£25344 pro rata per annum after probation)

**Hours of work**:Part time, fixed term 1 year with a possibility of extension. 14 hours per week. Work pattern can be flexible but must include 1 weekend day and 1 day during the week and occasional bank holidays.

The Horniman Museum and Gardens is a unique attraction in south east London where world cultures and the natural world are brought together for everyone to enjoy. The Museum holds internationally important collections of anthropology and musical instruments, as well as a popular natural history gallery and Aquarium. The 16 acres of beautiful Gardens feature a tropical Butterfly House and offer stunning views across London.

The Aquarium team strives to continue developing the collection and be a centre of excellence. As such we place a strong emphasis on research that improves animal husbandry standards, our knowledge of the natural world and staff skills. Therefore, we are looking for an Aquarist who is motivated, has innate knowledge of husbandry and excellent attention to detail. In addition you will be able to take the initiative and have a desire to improve your own husbandry skills, develop your area of expertise, with the goal to improve animal welfare standards within the industry.

**How to Apply**

**P**lease provide an overview of no more than 2 pages describing your experience relevant to the role as outlined in the Job Description and Person Specification.**

**JOB DESCRIPTION**

**Job title** **Aquarist**

**Section** **Aquarium**

**Reports to** **Aquarium Curator**

**Responsible for** **No responsibility for staff**

**Hours of work **Part time, fixed term 1 year with possibility for extension. 14 hours per week. Work pattern can be flexible but must include 1 weekend day and 1 day during the week and occasional bank holidays.

**Main purpose of the job**

To maintain the highest standard of aquatic displays (fish, invertebrates, plants, amphibians) through informed, careful and safe husbandry, in order to contribute to the enjoyment and education of our visitors. Ensure that the living collections are maintained in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Zoo Licensing Act and with due regard to national and international conventions and codes of animal

care.

**Section description**

Through the 15 living displays the aquarium connects people to nature. These displays provide windows into the natural world, inspiring a sense of wonder and promoting the conservation of our blue planet.

The Aquarium section is responsible for the smooth running of the aquarium, ensuring that a high standard of living displays are maintained and developed for the enjoyment and education of visitors.

The job is varied with daily tasks ranging from feeding the livestock, cleaning exhibits, conducting water chemistry analysis, filtration system maintenance and record keeping.

In addition to the ongoing maintenance and development of the displays, the aquarium team are also involved in research and breeding programs with a view of improving livestock husbandry practices within a captive environment.

**Main responsibilities**

**Collections care 70%**
- Carry out all routine duties required to enable the aquarium to run to the highest possible standards. This will include: livestock feeding, animal health monitoring, filtration maintenance, water chemistry analysis, display maintenance and development
- Conduct manual handling tasks associated with the maintenance of the aquarium - including climbing ladders, lifting and carrying sea salt and moving life support equipment
- Identify livestock diseases and perform medical treatments with mínimal supervision
- Maintain complex Life Support Systems (LSS) and promptly rectify all non-functional life support equipment
- Conduct routine water quality tests using laboratory equipment and manipulate water chemistry parameters in appropriate ways.
- Consult closely with the Principal Aquarium Curator or Assistant Aquarium Curator on all non-routine aspects of the job and undergo training to develop skills
- Conduct occasional fieldwork to procure specimens, display materials, foodstuffs, ensuring compliance with the relevant legislation, using the Horniman’s vehicles
- Perform regular snorkel cleaning within selected aquarium displays

**Record keeping / compliance with legislation **20%**
- Regularly update and maintain computerised livestock, medical and water quality records
- Maintain an accurate log of routine and non-routine procedures/events in the work areas
- Ensure relevant information is available to colleagues on the following w