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Operations and Life Sciences Relief
Operations
USD 24.51-25 / hour
Posted on Aug 29, 2026
JOB POSTING
Operations & Life Sciences Relief
Posted: Open to internal and external applicants.
Reports to: Supervisor of Temperate Fish and Invertebrates.
Status: Full-Time (32-40 hours/week), hourly, benefitted position.
Hours of work: Variable; shifts include morning, day, and evening hours.
Position Overview
The Seattle Aquarium, a leading marine conservation organization, is seeking a full time Operations and Life Sciences Relief Crew Member to join the team. This position furthers the Aquarium’s mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment through the care and management of our animal collection and supports husbandry operations across Fish and Invertebrates (FIT) and Birds and Mammals (BAM). The role provides skilled staffing coverage for scheduled and short notice openings, including evening and solo shifts, with hours and schedules varying based on operational needs, project and fieldwork schedules, and staff availability.
Multicultural, multilingual, and diverse experiences are valued in this role, as the Aquarium is committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve. The natural sciences and conservation fields have historically marginalized many communities from participating in roles such as this one, and the Aquarium actively works to dismantle these barriers and broaden access to marine and environmental conservation careers. Candidates who bring experience or interest in advancing equity, environmental justice, and inclusive conservation practices are encouraged to apply. All staff are expected to value and actively contribute to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Regenerative practices in alignment with the Aquarium’s S.A.L.I.S.H. Values. The knowledge, skills, and abilities for this role may be demonstrated through a combination of relevant cultural and traditional practices, community programs, employment, internships, volunteer experience, and formal or informal education.
Essential Functions
- Prepare, store and distribute animal food according to established amounts, types and diets and monitor feeding habits. Evaluate animal behavior to determine physical and behavioral health and well-being and report concerns to appropriate staff.
- Maintain records and reports regarding assigned species, including daily veterinary reports, habitat maintenance, food consumption record sand other reports specific to the assigned area
- Perform rounds when scheduled at night; monitor animals, life support systems, facility systems and habitats and resolve issues as needed per training provided. Drain and fill animal pools as scheduled.
- Clean and perform routine maintenance and minor repairs of animal habitats and holding areas to ensure the health of animals and the presentation of the species in an attractive environment. Maintain water quality to keep aquatic animals healthy.
- Assist in offering, evaluating, and documenting a variety of behavioral enrichment opportunities for the animal collection that encourage natural behavior under the supervision of Animal Care staff.
- Assist staff in identifying, assigning, and monitoring tasks for animal care volunteers and interns
- Communicate and coordinate work activities in consideration of circumstance and impact on other sections, the public and volunteers as directed.
- As directed by the curator, apply basic operant conditioning techniques and principles to effectively feed animals and shift habitats for cleaning.
- Provide assistance in catching or restraining animals in accordance with established safety procedures to administer health care.
- As requested, meet with Aquarium event representatives to accommodate brief requests as needed for evening mammal feedings.
Additional responsibilities:
- Notify relevant staff members of any issues of concern that may arise, especially when working in the evening.
- Ensure the safety of animals, employees and the visiting public from injury or mishap.
- Be able to learn and operate handheld power tools and equipment directed by manager or curator.
- Provide informal animal interpretation as needed for guests.
- Position is expected to respond to animal or system emergencies. Additional security staffing is present as well.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
Organizational Values & Culture
- Participate in advancing and integrating into their work Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Regenerative practices in alignment with our S.A.L.I.S.H. Values.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: The skills and abilities listed below may be demonstrated through a combination of relevant cultural and community programs, jobs, internships, volunteer experience, and/or formal or informal education. If you meet some of the requirements and you are passionate about our mission and our ocean, we encourage you to apply and look forward to learning more about you.
- Clear verbal and written communications that is reliable and organized.
- Keep records and correspondence using MS Office Suite.
- Read and interpret all related operating procedures, manuals and safety protocols.
- This position requires a detail-oriented, organized and diligent approach to both everyday tasks and problem-solving.
- Must be able to swim.
- Must possess organizational skills, be self-motivated and communicate effectively orally and in writing.
- Ability to use appropriate safety gear and work in confined spaces.
- Possess coordination and dexterity necessary to ascend and descend rocky habitats with animals in the habitat while carrying containers of food, enrichment items or vet supplies.
Minimum Requirements: We’ll consider various combinations of relevant experience and education to meet minimum requirements.
- A.A. degree in life sciences, mechanical, or technical field, or equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience required.
- B.A./B.S. degree in related field preferred
Working Conditions: The physical requirements below represent the essential functions of the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.
- Requires handling, working with or exposure to large, dangerous animals, animal diseases, feces and toxic chemicals.
- Occasionally required to lift more than 50 pounds.
- Ability to use appropriate safety gear.
- This is a demanding, physically intense position, with frequent use of physical labor and the necessity to work in inclement weather.
- Must be willing to work evenings, nights, weekends and holidays, and an occasional 24-hour emergency call.
- Must be able to be on feet six or more hours a day and be active through all physical motions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk and sit; use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop; kneel; crouch; crawl; talk and hear; and taste and smell.
- In order to assess animal health and cleanliness of facility and habitat, specific vision abilities are required, including but not limited to close vision; distance vision; color and peripheral vision; depth perception; contrast; and the ability to adjust focus, both indoors and out in all weather conditions.
Salary and benefits: $24.51 - $25.00/hr. Full-time staff are eligible for the Seattle Aquarium’s comprehensive benefits package to include medical, vision, dental, an employer-funded health reimbursement account, medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, 403b retirement fund with employer match, access to a subsidized ORCA pass, a Seattle Aquarium Family Plus membership and generous paid time off.
How to apply: The Seattle Aquarium is committed to expanding a diverse, equitable, and inclusive conservation movement. We are invested in building an Aquarium with a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, languages, cultural ways of knowing, and life experiences. We know research shows that society has conditioned communities of color, trans and gender non-conforming people, immigrants, people with disabilities, and other marginalized candidates to more frequently not apply to a job because they don’t feel that they meet all of the qualifications listed even if they are qualified. If you meet some of the requirements and you are passionate about our mission and our ocean, we encourage you to apply and look forward to learning more about you.
Interested candidates should upload a résumé to our online application to be considered. Application review will begin immediately.
Please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for this job by emailing us at jobs@seattleaquarium.org.
Note: If offered the position, candidates must pass a background check. Conviction record is not an automatic disqualifier; we are a second chance employer.
About the Seattle Aquarium: The Seattle Aquarium is a respected authority on Puget Sound, the Salish Sea and the world’s one ocean. Our team increases awareness and drives the change needed to preserve and protect our marine environment by providing excellent care and wellbeing for over 5,000 animals to create an inspiring visitor experience, offer engaging daytime and evening events, conservation education programs for people of all ages and backgrounds, community outreach to marginalized populations, research that advances understanding of animals in our care and their counterparts in the wild, advocacy and policy work, an award-winning volunteer program, high-impact marketing and communications, and more.
Our values, developed in conjunction with our staff, include commitments to adopting and promoting sustainable practices, creating awe-inspiring experiences, constantly learning and improving, fostering an inclusive community, maintaining scientific credibility through evidence-based practices and honoring our unique place by using our location and history as a lens for larger understanding.
Proudly accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, we’re among the top 10 aquariums in the U.S. by attendance, and we welcome over 1 million people each year guided by our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment. Learn more at SeattleAquarium.org.