The Two Oceans Aquarium’s Curatorial Department is looking for an enthusiastic professional to join our dedicated team. The successful candidate will provide excellent animal care and support the collection, transportation, and release of specimens to and from the Aquarium safely and effectively.
The individual will be responsible for inpatient care of surgical and medical cases, anaesthesia, nurse consultations and laboratory work.
Responsibilities include:
- Take instructions from the veterinarian in terms of the organisation of procedures and the administration of medication in cases seen at Two Oceans Aquarium and the broader Waterfront area.
- To ensure adequate stock take and ordering of medication.
- Take part in staff training in terms of nursing in animal health and maintain up-to-date CPD in related veterinary fields.
- Keep abreast of new developments in terms of medication and diagnostic equipment on the market, through research as well as communicating with representatives of the relevant companies.
- Identify potential opportunities and challenges with regard to duties at the Two Oceans Aquarium, to assist in the formulation/development and implementation of the Animal Health Department.
- Assisting the veterinary team with animal procedures, examinations, routine health walks and surgeries. This entails preparing for procedures, assisting during surgery and medical examinations of patients, making sure that all required procedural documentation for record keeping is maintained, and ensuring that all necessary equipment for such procedures is functioning properly and prepared in advance.
- Manage the Animal Health Clinic/Surgery and laboratories to ensure that it is maintained to the best standards.
- Animal Treatment:
- Work together with the veterinarian and animal care staff to ensure that clinical cases receive the treatment prescribed and are also seen for follow-up examinations when required.
- Dispensing and administering prescribed treatment when necessary.
- Recording changes in treatments and the medical condition of animals receiving treatment.
- Making sure that the animals in our care receive preventative medication and examinations on time.
- Medical Data: Ensure that veterinary data such as medical reports, results and clinical findings are stored appropriately on Zims or other databases.
- Laboratory:
- Ensures that samples submitted to our in-house laboratories (Microbiology/Cytology) are received and processed.
- Processes submitted blood samples and ensures that all machines are managed to the best standards and maintained as required.
- Health and Safety: As the Departmental Hazardous Chemical and Medication Supervisor, ensure that the Hazardous Chemical Substances Regulations are implemented properly due to the chemical content of general chemicals and medication.
Requirements:
- National Senior Certificate
- Veterinary Nursing Diploma /Degree.
- Two to five years’ experience working as a veterinary nurse in the veterinary industry.
- Exotic/wildlife animal experience will be of benefit. Should be able to work with a wide variety of animals.
- Good communication, presentation, and report-writing skills
- Computer literacy and proficiency in the Microsoft Office software suite.
- Laboratory and staff management experience would be an advantage.
Personal Competencies:
- Ability to organise, plan and resolve conflicting needs.
- Ability to coordinate a range of complex tasks and projects with multiple goals.
- Ability to establish, monitor, assess and correct operational procedures.
- Ability to communicate with confidence and clarity, through excellent verbal, written and presentation skills.
- High level of integrity and sense of responsibility.
- Able to instil trust.
- Ability to listen objectively, with patience and understanding, responding honestly and carefully when judging others.
Salary:
Market Related
Starting date:
As soon as possible
Preference will be given to candidates who will add to the diversity of our organisation. The Aquarium reserves the right not to make an appointment in the event that no suitable candidates apply for the position as advertised.
Interested applicants must email a maximum 2-page CV with a covering letter of motivation to vacancies@aquarium.co.za
Closing date for applications: 14 November 2025
If no response is received within 14 days after the closing date, candidates should regard their application as unsuccessful.