Aquarium Technician & Store Associate

Store Associate (part time)

The store associate works closely with other team leaders to perform the day-to-day maintenance activities at our aquarium store in San Jose.  Working days and hours can be negotiated and might vary week to week. Specific responsibilities might include:

• Assist with daily operations and in-store husbandry:  testing water chemistry, water changes, tank maintenance, feeding, dosing, equipment installation/maintenance, mixing stock solutions.
• Receive and process inventory shipments that require lifting and movement of heavy objects.
• Enter new product information into our database.
• Collaborate and make decisions to ensure the good health of display tanks.  
• Assist retail customers by answering questions, providing guidance, bagging livestock, and processing payment.
• Assist on service calls to deliver and install large aquarium systems or perform routine maintenance.

Aqua Lab Aquaria is a newly-formed aquarium designer, retailer, and service provider in San Jose. The operation is still very small, but being investor-backed there are ambitious growth plans. As a quickly growing start-up, we are figuring out many things as we go, so there are opportunities to really shape the way our company works. A willingness to learn, experiment, and fail is critical as we work through growing pains and expand the business together. A good degree of flexibility is required as the responsibilities of the role continuously redefine themselves. Team members are often required to wear many hats and are expected to collaborate with other team members on various objectives including sales, customer service, inventory management, data entry, and other tasks.

There is huge potential for a long and rewarding career in a high-level position for the right candidate. We’re looking for someone who will hit the ground running and become fully immersed in the role with a desire to move up and take on more hours and responsibilities. Many managerial roles are available in our organization for candidates that demonstrate aptitude and motivation.

Requirements:

• Experience keeping healthy aquariums professionally or as a hobby
• Unbridled passion for all aquatic lifeforms and the desire to expand your breadth of skills and knowledge
• Initiative and motivation to suggest & implement improvements rather than go with the flow
• Ability to work independently, communicate effectively, and conduct oneself professionally
• Flexibility and willingness to work outside of typical retail hours
• Positive attitude and strong work ethic
• Confidence to adapt and thrive in unfamiliar circumstances
• Scientifically oriented and tendency to question, experiment, improve
• Ability to lift and carry 75 pounds
• Valid driver’s license and personal vehicle
• Ownership of an internet-connected mobile device
• Able to pass a background check
• Previous managerial experience is a plus
• A background in life sciences, engineering, or design is preferred but not required

What Aqua Lab Aquaria has to offer:

• Generous employee discount on aquariums, equipment, supplies, and livestock.
• A dynamic and fast-paced work environment with abundant opportunities for advancement.
• Close contact with interesting and unusual marine and aquatic organisms.
• Management invested in fostering your professional growth with on-the-job training for desired skills in husbandry, engineering, and design.

Rate of pay: starting at $15.25 per hour, increasing with experience & performance

Please apply by sending a resume and a carefully crafted cover letter, including your career aspirations and reasons why you would be a good candidate. Please send all applications and questions to careers@aqualabaquaria.com with the subject “Aquarium Tech”. Aquarium owners: please include pictures of your aquarium with your application and you will be moved to the top of the call-back list.