Biologist I, Animal Care

About the California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences is a globally renowned scientific and cultural institution located in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Home to a world-class planetarium, aquarium, research center, and natural history museum—all under one living roof—our mission is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration.

Our extensive collections span plants, animals, fossils, and cultural artifacts from across the globe and throughout history. We are a diverse team of leading biodiversity scientists, educators, storytellers, designers, and communicators who work collaboratively to advance knowledge and inspire action through science and storytelling.

When you join the California Academy of Sciences, you become part of a mission-driven community that values curiosity, collaboration, and innovation. Whether you're working behind the scenes in research or engaging the public on the museum floor, your work will help connect people to the natural world and empower them to protect it.

About the Opportunity

This position is responsible for providing general animal care, maintenance and support for the Steinhart Aquarium’s diverse living collection. Husbandry support for this position can include fresh and saltwater aquariums.This is a temporary position currently funded for 18 months. 

Organizational Culture:
Join a team dedicated to the Academy’s mission, vision and values! Currently, the Academy has a new strategic plan including three initiatives – Hope for Reefs, Thriving California, and Islands 2030 – that leverage biodiversity science, environmental learning, and collaborative engagement to regenerate fragile ecosystems around the world. Learn more at https://www.calacademy.org/about-us/major-initiatives. 

We hope you are inspired by what we do and are excited to contribute to our mission. The mission of the California Academy of Sciences is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration. The Academy is looking for candidates who do great work, and we know they may come from a number of different backgrounds and experiences. We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every one of the qualifications for the position.

This position is based in San Francisco, California. Staff are currently expected to work from the Academy offices at least 2-3 times per week, which may fluctuate based on business needs. Please do not apply if you are not able to work onsite.

About the Aquarium Team

The Steinhart Aquarium inspires Academy visitors, increases their understanding and appreciation of biodiversity, and empowers them to make sustainability actions, with excellent live exhibits maintained to the highest standards.

Key Responsibilities 

• Responsible for the general care and maintenance of fresh and saltwater aquariums.
• Provides a high standard of daily husbandry care and exhibit maintenance including animal feedings, exhibit and back of house cleaning, health monitoring and environmental sampling.
• Participates in the animal enrichment and training program.
• Assists in animal treatments and procedures as required.
• Provides backup and support for areas assigned to other staff as the Primary and/or Secondary backup during their normal days off and holidays.
• Actively seeks further training with all taxa represented in the living collection.
• Assists in the acquisition of living specimens following the collection plan developed by Curators and Associate Director, including specimens for display and feeding.
• Assists in the design and preparation of new display environments and exhibits.
• Trains and supervises volunteers.
• Effectively communicates to the Aquarium management and staff.
• Participates in Academy committees and work groups as needed.
• Becomes fluent in our animal data software program - ZIMS.
• Establishes and maintains positive, cooperative and effective working relations with fellow employees.
• Actively participates in a culture promoting trust, respect and accountability.
• When required, presents programs to the general public, media and in professional meetings.
• Conducts general tours of the Aquarium and its support spaces.
• Answers questions from the general public through a variety of means.
• Interacts with professional colleagues, guests, the media and the general public in a professional manner.
• Follows all Academy and Aquarium safety regulations.
• Other duties of a similar scope and nature as otherwise assigned.

Qualifications

• Basic knowledge of essential animal care and welfare requirements for the living collection.
• Basic knowledge of essential animal care and welfare requirements for the living collection.
• Basic knowledge of USDA and AZA standards for animal care and welfare.
• Basic knowledge of public aquarium/zoo operations, maintenance, record keeping and life support systems.
• Excellent observation skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Effective organizational and problem solving skills.
• Effective at multitasking, adapting, and prioritizing.
• Ability to present programs and effectively convey information to guests, the general public, the media, colleagues, and in professional meetings.
• Ability to work as a member of a team and engage in a culture that promotes trust, respect and accountability.
• Experience caring for exotic animals, aquarium fishes, invertebrates, plants, amphibians, reptiles, birds and/or mammals.
• Ability to complete CPR/AED/First Aid Certification.
• Must be able to work weekends and holidays on a routine basis.
• Ability to read, interpret, and write documents such as departmental protocols, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization.

Physical Environment: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, walk, and reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear.

The employee must be able to lift and carry 50 lbs, must be able to perform repetitive motions 75% of the time, climb stairs and ladders, able to swim, able to use extension poles, long-handled nets and shepherd’s hooks and able to work with, or adjacent to, venomous and dangerous animals.

Compensation 

Hourly salary rate: $27.07-$28.02 per hour. The Academy offers a total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and comprehensive benefits.

Schedule: Sunday-Thursday, 8am-5pm

Application Deadline: This position will close two weeks after posting.   

The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).

The California Academy of Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to ensure that all employees and applicants receive equal consideration and treatment, regardless of race, color, creed, gender (including gender identity or gender expression), religion, marital or domestic partner status, age, place of birth, national origin or ancestry, physical, mental or medical disability, height or weight, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship, military service status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law or local ordinance.