Mammalogist Assistant - Term Assignment

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey Bay Aquarium

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Monterey, CA, USA

USD 22-24.04 / hour

Posted on Feb 7, 2026

At the Monterey Bay Aquarium, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that celebrates and values diversity. We firmly believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices, working together, increases our capacity to serve our visitors and fulfill our mission. We welcome people from all backgrounds into our team and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and people with disabilities to apply.

This is a term position set to run from mid-April through December 31, 2026.

Priority deadline for applications is February 17, 2026. Due to the volume of incoming applications, the role may be closed earlier than February 17, 2026.

Job Summary:

Under direct supervision, support the care and maintenance of our sea otter collection and sea otter exhibit. Perform routine husbandry duties including diet preparation, cleaning of spaces and equipment, animal observations, and record-keeping. Support the sea otter team during feeding, training, and enrichment sessions with the sea otter collection. Maintain the highest animal care and exhibit maintenance standards that continually meet or exceed all AZA accreditation standards. Perform other duties as required.

Core Activities:

  • Perform daily animal husbandry duties including but not limited to diet preparation, feeding, and live exhibit maintenance.
  • Assist with routine support duties including the cleaning of service areas, holding areas, and husbandry equipment.
  • Assist in formal otter training sessions under the guidance of more experience staff members.
  • Assist with behavioral enrichment including implementation, monitoring/observation, recording/documentation, and/or development of species-appropriate enrichment.
  • Document husbandry tasks, animal observations, animal health records, animal welfare assessments, and other pertinent animal transactions into the Tracks software database in accordance with departmental standards.
  • Conduct regular observations of animal health, behavior, and welfare and communicate issues to more senior staff.
  • Perform routine monitoring and maintenance on critical water and mechanical systems and equipment, including but not limited to, fractionators, mechanical filters, UV sterilizers, small pumps, recirculation loops, and exhibit lighting systems following established protocols.
  • Assist in the capture and restraint of sea otters for onsite health examinations or transports.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs):

  • Working towards a college degree in Biology or related field or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
  • Previous animal husbandry experience through volunteer work or equivalent highly desirable
  • Knowledge of the basic taxonomy and natural history of marine mammals
  • Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite or related software
  • The ability to quickly learn the Tracks animal database system
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and desire to work in a productive team environment
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Excellent time management skills
  • Aptitude for analytical and problem-solving
  • Aptitude for using basic hand and power tools
  • Ability to work within, and maintain Monterey Bay Aquarium's Core Values

Physical Requirements to Perform Essential Job Functions:

  • Typical office equipment, basic hand and power tools, MBA vehicles, small boats
  • Extended periods of standing, walking, climbing, bending, and squatting
  • Occasional unassisted lifting up to 50 lbs.
  • Typical office, main aquarium exhibits, animal care spaces, open field work (boats on open ocean, coastal habitats, tidepools, etc.)

Hourly Compensation Range:
$22.00 - $24.04 USD per hour. Starting rate will vary based on previous experience and relevant skills/knowledge set.

This job is no longer accepting applications

See open jobs at Monterey Bay Aquarium.See open jobs similar to "Mammalogist Assistant - Term Assignment" Schmidt Marine.
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