POSITION SUMMARY:
Responsible for providing husbandry care for all animals housed on site. Duties include the daily care, feeding, water quality monitoring, life support system operation and habitat maintenance of all animals and exhibits located at the Sayreville Bass Pro Shops location, with an emphasis on the care and propagation of jellies. In addition to these requirements, the Lead Aquarist is also to assist Supervisor with daily efficiency and productivity of the live exhibits staff and maintenance program for Live Exhibits. Assist Supervisor in constant refinement of maintenance schedule, maintaining a show quality environment of the exhibits and their residents, and ensuring the consistency and quality of the fish feeding shows
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Provides care for all specimens at the location through proper husbandry protocols involving daily observations, feedings, water quality monitoring, and life support system (LSS) operations.
- Ensures guest satisfaction by maintaining exhibits through daily maintenance.
- Maintains all exhibit, quarantine/holding systems, and behind the scenes areas to the highest level of professional standards.
- Complies with all SOPs pertaining to daily operations.
- Exhibits good time-management skills throughout and including all daily and specially assigned tasks.
- Maintains up-to-date and accurate records in the OERCA program.
- Provides cross-training opportunities for other staff within the department to develop new skill sets and understanding of other areas.
- Promotes conservation, animal welfare, and good stewardship in daily tasks.
- Identifies and resolves problems with assistance from the management team.
- Seeks a larger understanding of husbandry operations and animal welfare to assist husbandry management in improving those areas.
- Biologist schedules require coverage 365 days per year. This position will include weekends and some holidays.
- Undertakes any other tasks or special projects as directed by Live Exhibits management team.
EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:
- A four-year degree in aquatic sciences, biology, or related field.
- Understanding of jellyfish culture and feeding.
- Minimum of 1 year of full-time husbandry experience from an accredited AZA institution or equivalent.
- Detailed knowledge of the biology of a large variety of fishes, invertebrates, as appropriate.
- Demonstrated mechanical skills, basic LSS plumbing, and understanding of LSS theory and operation.
- Excellent observation and communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ethics that generate and sustain a positive team atmosphere and professional environment.
- A valid driver’s license and the ability to travel if necessary.
- Open water certification from a recognized SCUBA training organization.
- First Aid/CPR/AED certified.
- Willingness to work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends and holidays.
- Willingness to respond to emergencies when necessary.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITY
- Open water SCUBA certified.
- Ability to pass a motor vehicle record (MVR) check.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:
- Periodic travel to support Bass Pro Shops collection management.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to lift, push or pull 100 pounds.
- Ability to remain on feet for long periods of time, climb stairs, bend and stoop.
- Position exposes the employee to various heights, ladders, catwalks and stairs.
Full Time Benefits Summary:
Enjoy discounts on retail merchandise, our restaurants, world-class resorts and conservation attractions!
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Health Savings Account
- Flexible Spending Account
- Voluntary benefits
- 401k Retirement Savings
- Paid holidays
- Paid vacation
- Paid sick time
- Bass Pro Cares Fund
- And more!
Bass Pro Shops is an equal opportunity employer. Hiring decisions are administered without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.
Reasonable Accommodations
Qualified individuals with known disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws.
If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please visit your nearest location or contact us at [email protected].
Skills Required
- Four-year degree in aquatic sciences, biology, or related field
- Understanding of jellyfish culture and feeding
- Minimum of 1 year full-time husbandry experience from an accredited AZA institution or equivalent
- Detailed knowledge of biology of fishes and invertebrates
- Demonstrated mechanical skills and basic LSS plumbing; understanding of LSS theory and operation
- Open water SCUBA certification from a recognized training organization
- First Aid/CPR/AED certification
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel as needed
- Ability to pass a motor vehicle record (MVR) check
- Willingness to work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, holidays and respond to emergencies
- Ability to lift, push, or pull 100 pounds and perform physical tasks (stand long periods, climb, bend, stoop)
- Maintain up-to-date and accurate records in the OERCA program
Bass Pro Shops Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Bass Pro Shops and has not been reviewed or approved by Bass Pro Shops.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage includes medical, dental, and vision with HSA/FSA options and an advertised employer HSA credit for eligible plans. Wellness programs plus life and disability insurance provide additional coverage.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid vacation, sick time, and holiday pay are available for eligible team members. Hourly employees have seen enhancements to early‑tenure paid time off in recent updates.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Substantial merchandise discounts and savings at company restaurants, resorts, and attractions are a standout perk. A hardship fund offers one‑time grants for qualified needs.
Bass Pro Shops Insights
What We Do
Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today we provide customers with premier destination retail in more than 150 locations across North America. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Guided by the visionary leadership of our founder and CEO Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is making a significant impact in on the future of conservation and the communities we serve. More than 40 years after Johnny began helping people connect with nature through a tiny bait shop, our conservation mission is to inspire people to enjoy, love and conserve the great outdoors. Beyond retail, Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, the world’s largest manufacturer of boats, plus award-winning resorts and nature destinations including Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Our passion for connecting people to nature extends to our CLUB program where customers earn points toward free gear and experiences, and a series of not-for-profit conservation attractions.
