Curator of Mammals and Birds- Seattle Aquarium
Posted: 21 November 2023| Full-Time|Seattle, United States
Overview
Join the dynamic team at the Seattle Aquarium on-site in the heart of Seattle, WA, as a Curator of Mammals and Birds and be a pivotal part of the exciting new Ocean Pavilion opening in 2024. As a non-profit organisation, the Seattle Aquarium is at the forefront of global efforts to advance animal well-being, marine and ecosystem science, public policy, field conservation, and ocean education. They are dedicated to bringing the wonders of the ocean to life, fostering awe, empathy, and a commitment to conservation. In this role, you will lead and oversee the care and holistic well-being of their diverse collection of animals while promoting integrated education and engagement throughout the Aquarium. Your responsibilities will encompass daily operations, employee development, cross-department collaboration and much more!
Join the Seattle Aquarium in their mission to ensure a brighter future for marine life, people, and our planet!
role overview
The Seattle Aquarium, a leading marine conservation organisation, is looking for a Curator of Birds and Mammals to join the Bird and mammal team. The Curator leads and organises the animal care staff and programmes in supervision of the wholistic husbandry and wellbeing of the Seattle Aquarium’s birds, mammals, and their integrated education and engagement with the whole aquarium. The current animals in care include sea otters, harbor seals, northern fur seals, North American river otters, alcids, shorebirds, and a small number of fish and invertebrate species who coexist in these exhibit systems. This position provides responsibility for the day-to-day operations, management, and employee development programmes of the Bird and Mammal team; work collaboratively with all other departments at the Aquarium for creative and engaging engagements and education, coordinates construction and maintenance of exhibits; enhancing practices and opportunities for animal training, husbandry and veterinary programmes, presentations, and media relations.  Â
Salary and benefits: $80,000-$90,000, dependent on experience.Â
Full-time staff are eligible for the Seattle Aquarium’s comprehensive benefits package to include:Â
- Medical, vision, dental, an employer-funded health reimbursement account, medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disabilityÂ
- 403b retirement fund with employer matchÂ
- Access to a subsidised ORCA passÂ
- A Seattle Aquarium Family Plus membership Â
- Generous paid time off.Â
essential functions
- Provide direction and management for the Bird and Mammal team at the Seattle Aquarium, in line with the Aquarium’s mission statement and S.A.L.I.S.H. values.Â
- Serves at the first point of contact for the Bird and mammal team, acts as Manager on Duty, represents the team on Aquarium committees. Â
- Collaborate with veterinarians to ensure health, food, and behavioral standards are met.Â
- Working with the Vice President of Life Sciences to develop and manage the annual team budget.Â
- Partner across all Aquarium departments to develop content and messaging for Aquarium programmes.Â
- Manage team programmes, including seafood procurement, ensuring sustainability and quality standards.Â
- Coordinate team schedules, approve time off requests, and monitor daily tasks.Â
- Recruits, selects, trains, and new team members and volunteers.Â
person specifications
The successful candidate will demonstrate most of the following attributes:
- Bachelor’s degree in zoology, biology, or related field. Â
- A minimum of five years of: work in a zoo or aquarium related to animal care and husbandry, resident animal population management, and research. Prior work in an AZA accredited facility preferred. Â
- At least three years prior supervisory experience.Â
- Working knowledge of computer software, including database management.Â
- Experience with animal husbandry skills and industry best practices: including animal transport, animal acquisitions, animal quarantine, health and clinical treatments required.Â
- Possess or able to obtain a Washington State driver’s license.Â
Applications
Interested candidates can find out more here and submit their applications before 8 December 2023.Â
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.Â
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is the global alliance of regional associations, national federations, zoos and aquariums, dedicated to the care and conservation of animals and their habitats around the world.
