Position Summary

The Senior Biologist, Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center (STRC) is primarily responsible for providing animal care and facility operational support for the husbandry and management of rescued and rehabilitating sea turtles at The Florida Aquarium’s (TFA) STRC in Apollo Beach, FL. This position assists the Manager, STRC with employee, volunteer and intern management, helping to mentor these positions to advance work skills within the STRC team. The senior biologist plays a key role to help maintain compliance with the rules and regulations of relevant regulatory agencies as well as the standards and guidelines of accrediting and certifying organizations such as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and American Humane Association (AHA). This position supports other TFA departments as needed to fulfill TFA’s shared purpose.

Essential Position Functions

Provides daily animal husbandry and habitat maintenance including animal feedings, habitat and back of house cleaning, and administering medical care for rehabilitating sea turtles as directed.
Assists the manager to maintain a positive, professional and safe work environment
Helps to ensure the highest standards for sea turtle care, husbandry, water quality, nutrition, enrichment and wellbeing are met by the STRC team.
Helps to ensure the STRC team maintains accurate and detailed record keeping for daily health monitoring, permit reporting, water quality and other animal records.
Assists with writing and implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and helps to ensure SOPs remain current and followed by STRC team members as needed.
Works in compliance with the regulations of governing agencies, and the standards and guidelines of AZA and AHA as well TFA processes and procedures.
Provides general oversight of Biologist 1 & 2 positions to consistently advance the STRC team’s skill sets.
Provides general oversight of STRC Volunteer and Intern programs.
Assists with coordinating and conducting deep-dive testing with sea turtles from TFA and other rehabilitation centers.
Assists with transporting stranded sea turtles and participates in the release of rehabilitated sea turtles.
Ensures safe and organized SCUBA diving work at the STRC under auspices of TFA’s Dive Operations program.
Supports providing a quality experience for all guests visiting the STRC.
Serves as a spokesperson for the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center and related conservation programs as needed.
Supports TFA’s Shared Purpose by participating in a Conservation Day of Action shift on an annual basis.
Perform other duties within the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center or at the main campus in Tampa as required.

Education Requirements and Technical Skills

Bachelor’s degree required in biological sciences or a related field, or equivalent experience.
3+ years working with marine animals in a zoological setting.
At least 2 years (or equivalent experience) working primarily with sea turtles with an established knowledge of husbandry parameters required to house marine turtles is preferred
Minimum of 2 years’ experience in a supervisory role of staff, volunteers, and/or interns, at an aquarium, zoo, or related facility.
Ability to maintain a positive, solution-oriented attitude, approach challenges as opportunities, and utilize innovative thinking to problem-solve.
Ability to work long hours during sea turtle cold stun season and assure 7 day/week coverage is maintained at the STRC. Flexibility in working weekends, evenings, and holidays is required.
Ability to manage the Sea Turtle Stranding phone on a regularly scheduled on-call basis and respond to emergencies or stranding events as needed.
Extensive knowledge of LSS operations and troubleshooting (including chlorine and ozone disinfection systems) and water quality testing and chemical management.
SCUBA certification or the ability to get certified and become an active diver for habitat maintenance is required.
In-depth understanding of Florida FWC and Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network (STSSN) protocols and guidelines.
Ability to learn and utilize the Aquarium’s Animal Record Keeping systems (ZIMS).
Knowledge of Windows and Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook).
Must be willing and able to obtain a valid State of Florida Driver’s License.

Core Competencies

Customer Service – Demonstrates courtesy, cooperation and friendliness with staff, volunteers and customers. Actively listens, anticipates and evaluates the customer’s needs. Ensures that customer satisfaction is a priority in all areas of responsibility. Actively engages our customers while fulfilling job responsibilities.
Interpersonal Skills/Teamwork – Supporting, facilitating, and participating in activities that promote team effectiveness; demonstrating sensitivity for the feelings and needs of team members and supporting team goals.
Leadership (Individual) - Effective and appropriate use of interpersonal skills to motivate individuals toward the accomplishment of goals; co-creating and communicating in a clear vision through emphasis on the organization’s mission, individual and team goals, systems and rewards.
Professional and Technical Knowledge – Remains current on developments in the fields within and outside the organization; maintains proficiencies.
Initiative – Taking actions to achieve goals; self-starting and proactive; asserting oneself to support others in the achievement of their goals; originating action rather than responding only to the action of others; anticipating the needs of both internal and external constituencies.
Work Standards – Applies high performance standards to all work-related activities.

Typical Physical Requirements

Sitting (2 hours per day)
Standing (2 hours per day)
Walking (4 hours per day)
Bending/Stooping — Frequently
Squatting — Frequently
Climbing stairs —Frequently
Reaching above shoulders — Frequently
Crouching — Occasionally
Kneeling — Frequently
Balancing — Frequently
Pushing/Pulling — Frequently
Carrying (up to 25 lbs.) — Occasionally
Lifting (up to 25 lbs.) — Occasionally
Working near moving machinery — Occasionally
Exposure to dust, fumes and gases
Exposure to marked changes in temperature and humidity
Typing on a computer keyboard
Excellent vision for proofing and detail work
Coping with demands (stresses that are associated with the job and/or the work environment so that acceptable levels of performance and overall contribution are maintained)
Operating machinery and boats
Ability to travel (car) as needed
Ability to travel (air) as needed
Ability to conduct field work in collection and research
Daily contact with a living collection of plants and animals in a central Florida climate
Ability to interact and be around wild animals
Exposure to various plants and birds
Subject to bites, stings and scrapes