The University of Georgia Marine Extension Service is seeking an
Assistant Curator (Posting # 20130598) for its Marine Education
Center and Aquarium on Skidaway Island. The position description is
posted online at http://www.hr.uga.edu. Directions for the
application process may also be found at that site. The University of
Georgia as an Equal Employment Opportunity institution.
Direct Link to Job Posting:
https://www.ugajobsearch.com/applicants/jsp/shared/position/JobDetails_css.jsp?postingId=209069
Job Summary:
Primary duties involve life support system operations, animal
husbandry, and aquarium maintenance. This includes the preparation of
food for a variety of animals based on the knowledge of their biology
& behavior; feeding the animals as needed; knowledge in monitoring &
treating all animals for disease, injury, and abnormal behavior;
ensuring that all exhibits are educationally accurate (appropriate
labeling & signage); and cleaning aquaria in a manner that does not
harm the animals (adhering to a monthly schedule). Also responsible
for the maintenance of equipment; testing & verifying that air pumps,
water pumps, auxiliary filters & aeration stones are functioning
properly. Must prepare river intake water for use in aquarium. This
requires filtering, disinfecting, and adjustment of chemical balance.
Assist in maintenance of outdoor settling tanks. The successful
applicant will have basic skills in boat handling, knowledge in the
collection, transport, and release of live mar
ine animals, experience with the use of seine nets, cast nets, and
otter trawls for collection, experience in hook & line fishing;
willingness to conduct occasional overnight collecting trips, and
willingness to work in adverse conditions.
The aquarium MUST be checked 365 days of the year to confirm that
systems are functioning. Willingness to work weekends, holidays, &
above and beyond the call of duty when emergency situations arise
(the animals' well-being is of utmost priority). This responsibility
is shared between several employees, but aquarium personnel are
charged with oversight of weekend & holiday duties.
Secondary duties include working with the education department to
coordinate and deliver PK-4 aquarium education programs for school
groups and casual visitors (general public) in the aquarium. This
will involve coordinating, scheduling, modifying/improving and
teaching existing PK-4 classes as well as teaching marine science/
coastal ecology classes to grades 5-12 and adults as scheduling
permits. The successful applicant will have excellent verbal and
written communication skills (including social media and webpage
postings), organization, and time management skills, as well as the
ability to lead and work as a part of a small team of intern and
volunteer educators.
