The University of Sheffield
Aquarium Technician
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The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.
We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.
Overview
Are you ready to take on an essential role in maintaining world-class aquatic systems? The Biological Services Aquarium (BSA) at the University of Sheffield is looking for a dedicated Aquarium Technician to help manage a top zebrafish research facility. This important role focuses on keeping over 3,000 tanks healthy through careful manual cleaning, core husbandry, and detailed health checks. You will work in a highly regulated setting alongside Named Animal Care and Welfare Officers (NACWOs) and the Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS). The successful candidate will help ensure daily operations and animal care standards follow the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
Are you comfortable working in a physical, highly organised environment where accuracy matters? This role depends on reliability and a careful attention to detail. Your daily duties involve cleaning tanks, keeping accurate logs, and preparing chemical stock solutions to exact standards. Maintaining a clean facility will directly contribute to the success of groundbreaking scientific research. Our community values a diverse set of backgrounds and viewpoints and encourages all individuals aligned with our values to apply. Because this position involves physical tasks regularly, we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to ensure access for all talented applicants.
Main Duties And Responsibilities
- Detailed maintenance of over 3,000 tanks to ensure our facility consistently meets all legal and biological welfare standards.
- Utilising a variety of specialised methods for the manual cleaning of both standard and small-breeding tanks.
- Rigorous upkeep of fish racks, equipment, and communal spaces.
- Managing the collection of consumables from stores and maintaining aquarium stock solutions by preparing fresh mixtures to detailed specifications.
- Delivering detailed nutritional care through regular fish feeding routines.
- Meticulous daily logging of all completed work.
- Carrying out detailed health evaluations to maintain the sustained health of the zebrafish colony.
- Undertaking unplanned tasks, including heavy lifting, to meet the evolving needs of the aquarium environment.
- Upholding the University Code of Conduct.
- Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.
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Person Specification
Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.
Criteria
| Essential Or Desirable | Criteria | Stage(s) assessed at |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Ability to perform repetitive tasks with independent time management | Interview/ Reference |
| Desirable | Previous experience/knowledge of fish husbandry | Application/ Interview |
| Essential | Knowledge of health and safety procedures | Application/ Test |
| Desirable | Instrumentation skills, including use of microscope | Application/ Interview |
| Essential | Knowledge of systematic cleaning methods | Application/ Interview |
| Essential | Good communication skills (written and oral) in order to work with other facility users | Interview/ Test |
| Essential | Excellent interpersonal skills to enable effective working relationships within the aquarium staff team | Reference/ Test |
| Essential | Ability to show initiative | Interview/ Reference |
| Essential | Ability to work with accuracy | Application/ Interview |
Further Information
- Grade: 2.2
- Salary: £23,061 pro rata
- Work arrangement: Part-time for 15 hours a week with extra weekend paid work required - Mondays, Wednesdays (for meetings), and Fridays
- Additional weekend paid work is available on a rota of 1 weekend in 4.
- Duration: Permanent
- Line manager: BSA Facility Manager
- Direct reports: Senior Technicians
- Right to work in the UK: Yes
- Our website: https://sheffield.ac.uk/bateson/model-organisms/information
- For informal enquiries about this job contact Claire Allen, BSA Manager: on bsa-group@sheffield.ac.uk or on 0114 2222737
Next steps in the recruitment process
It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on 16th September 2026. This will consist of an interview and tour of the facility. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 21st September 2026. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact bsa-group@sheffield.ac.uk
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Our vision and strategic plan
We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).
What We Offer
- A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
- Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
- Generous pension scheme.
- A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
- A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
- Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
- A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; Technical Career Route.
- A range of generous family-friendly policies
- paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
- access to menopause support in the workplace
- paid time off and support for fertility treatment
- and more
More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).
We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.
Security check requirement
An enhanced animal rights check will be needed for this role. More details on the checks can be found on the Agenda website: https://agenda-screening.co.uk/
Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).
We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.
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