Come join the eighth-largest aquarium in the U.S. by attendance: the Seattle Aquarium! They welcome over 850,000 people through their front doors each year. Their animal care team is recruiting for their Curator to provide leadership and manage the husbandry of their bird and mammal collection. Be a part of this collaborative, communicative and team-oriented working environment, while carrying out the mission of inspiring conversation of our marine environment!

Another Source’s client, Seattle Aquarium, is recruiting a curator to manage and lead their birds and mammals team within the Department of Life Sciences. 

Here’s a little about Seattle Aquarium and the exciting position available: 

About the Seattle Aquarium:  

We’re noted for our collaborative, communicative and team-oriented working environment. Our S.A.L.I.S.H. values, developed in conjunction with our staff, include a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), commitments to adopting and promoting sustainable practices, creating awe-inspiring experiences, constantly learning and improving, fostering an inclusive community, maintaining scientific credibility through evidence-based practices, and honoring our unique place by using our location and history as a lens for broader understanding.  

Proudly accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, we’re the eighth-largest aquarium in the U.S. by attendance and we welcome over 850,000 people through our front doors each year. Guided by our mission, Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment, we have developed a master plan to substantially increase in size and impact by opening a new exhibit building, the Ocean Pavilion. Our current annual budget is $20 million. 

Life Sciences department, Birds and Mammals: The Birds and Mammals (BAM) team comprises seven animal care specialists and an associate curator, who are responsible for managing sea otters, harbor seals, northern fur seals, North American river otters, a variety of alcid and shorebird species, and a small number of fish and invertebrate species that inhabit the exhibits. The curator is responsible for this team, the care and welfare of the animals, and managing an annual budget of approximately $1 million. 

Essential function: In alignment with the Seattle Aquarium’s mission and S.A.L.I.S.H. values, the curator will provide leadership, management and continuous improvement of the BAM team’s animal care specialists and animal husbandry programs. The curator is responsible and accountable for the day-to-day operations of the BAM team, including but not limited to the following:  

• Staff are well trained, high performing and engaged in Aquarium activities/initiatives. S.A.L.I.S.H. and diversity, equity and inclusion (D.E.I.) values of the Aquarium are embedded into the culture of the team. 

• Work collaboratively with all other departments at the Aquarium, ensuring internal and external stakeholder trust is deepened as well as achieving intra- and interdepartmental synergy and effective communication and ensuring institutional goals are aligned.  
• Habitats and species under care are relevant to conservation initiatives aligned with the Aquarium’s mission, values and goals; enhancing practices and opportunities for animal training, husbandry and veterinary programs; and participating in public encounters, presentations and media relations.  
• Animal care exceeds industry benchmarks. Ensure acquisition and disposition processes are transparent and compliant.  
• This position has a hands-on component and includes working directly with the animals when needed.  

Animal husbandry: 

• Mentor and maintain successful animal training (operant conditioning) and husbandry programs as part of a comprehensive animal welfare program. 
• Be versed and familiar with USDA regulations and permit requirements, ensuring compliance with all relevant USDA/APHIS regulations. 
• Ensure accreditation standards of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) are understood and maintained by the team. Adapting standard operating protocols when needed in response to change (or leading change) in the AZA standards.  

• Provide curatorial oversight to the chairpersons of the Seattle Aquarium animal welfare committee and animal enrichment committee as necessary to ensure compliance with AZA guidelines. 
• Ensure Seattle Aquarium compliance with Regional Collection Plan goals and activities of all relevant AZA Taxon Advisory Groups.  
• Oversee planning and implementation of activities associated with the acquisition or disposition of animals to include pertinent documentation and communication plans (transport plans, records, airline regulatory compliance, local and federal permits, etc.). 

Additional responsibilities:  

• Represent the Bird and Mammal team as an active member of the event oversight committee and research committee. 
• Manage procurement of the Aquarium’s frozen seafood inventory and oversee on-site and off-site cold storage. Ensure all seafood meets appropriate sustainability and quality standards. 
• Work directly with the staff veterinarian to ensure diets and food–handling guidelines meet or exceed standards established by AZA and USDA/APHIS. 
• Collaborate with Life Sciences leadership in revisions and implementation of the Institutional Collection Plan. 
• Collaborate with other Aquarium departments as a subject matter expert by participating as needed in VIP tours, media interviews and philanthropy events, and editing bird–and–mammal–related articles or other marketing collateral. 

• Represent the Seattle Aquarium with the highest professional standards with like-minded professional organizations when attending conferences or serving in other committee roles within these organizations.  
• Uphold Seattle Aquarium’s S.A.L.I.S.H. and DEI values, to foster an inclusive community for staff, guests and all who engage with the Life Sciences department.  

Skills, abilities and other requirements: 

• Strong management and leadership skills. Actively listens to others and can express ideas, directions and expectations in an accurate, clear and organized manner. Relates to and works with others in ways that draw out the positive potential of differences. 
• Possess organizational skills, self-motivated and excellent oral and written communication skills. Is positive and willing to take action to meet changing business requirements. Continuously facilitates the acceptance and implementation of change within the workplace. 
• Must possess a high level of species knowledge and experience and proficiency with operant conditioning. 
• Must be comfortable communicating and presenting in front of large groups and to the media. 
• Strong computer skills to use various computer software products, including Microsoft Office, Outlook, ZIMS, and/or Tracks.  

• Have a clear understanding of basic aquatic life-support systems. 
• Ability to handle a variety of situations, including those that may be complicated or challenging, with grace, empathy and a sense of humor, in line with our S.A.L.I.S.H. and DEI values. Identifies and analyzes routine problems proactively; generates and evaluates alternatives to develop an appropriate course of action within established constraints. 

Working conditions: 

• Must have or be able to obtain a Washington state driver’s license.  
• Requires handling, working with or exposure to large, potentially dangerous animals, animal diseases, feces and toxic chemicals. 
• Occasionally required to lift more than 50 pounds. 
• Must be able to be on feet six or more hours a day and be physically active through a variety of physical motions. 
• Required to work outdoors, near water, on wet and slippery surfaces and at heights. 

• Possess coordination and dexterity necessary to ascend and descend rocky exhibits with animals still on display. 
• Able to work evenings, nights, weekends and holidays and be available on 24-hour emergency call. 
• Ability to use fall–restraint equipment, respirators and other appropriate safety gear. 
• Ability to work in confined spaces. 
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, climb stairs and ladders, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, talk, hear, smell and visually see the animals and exhibits to ensure animal health and exhibit cleanliness. 

• Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color and peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. 
• Must be able to swim. 

Education and experience: 

• B.A./B.S. degree in biology or related field, or equivalent experience and record of publications. 
• Eight or more years’ experience demonstrating levels of increased responsibility and management involving the care and husbandry of marine animals. 
• A minimum of three years’ supervisory or management experience at an aquarium or zoo. 

Salary and benefits:  

This role is budgeted at $75,000–$85,000 plus participation in annual variable pay program. This role is eligible for the Seattle Aquarium’s comprehensive benefits package, which includes medical, vision, dental (subsidized dependent coverage also available), HRA, FSA, 403b retirement fund with employer matching funds, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, subsidized transit (ORCA) pass, Aquarium Family Plus membership and generous paid time off.  

How to apply:  

Apply here: https://careers-anothersource.icims.com/jobs/2984/job?mode=job&iis=SOURCE&iisn=EmployerLink&mobile=false&width=1132&height=500&bga=true&needsRedirect=false&jan1offset=-480&jun1offset=-420

The Seattle Aquarium is a progressive, equal opportunity employer that values a diverse workforce. Application review will begin immediately. All candidates are encouraged to apply. Applicant must be eligible to work in the United States; the Seattle Aquarium will not be a sponsor for this position. 

Note: Candidate must pass a background check upon job offer to be eligible for this position.  

The Seattle Aquarium has partnered with Another Source, an external recruiting firm, to assist in the hiring process for this position. Another Source works with their clients, on a retained project basis, to maximize the recruiting process.  

Regarding COVID-19: 

The Aquarium prioritizes health and safety for our staff and visitors, embracing science to guide our operations. Staff are required to wear face masks while working, maintain physical distancing at all times and check their temperature before starting work each day. In addition, we maintain high standards of cleanliness, and all high-touch surfaces (like windows, railings, restrooms and elevators) are continuously cleaned. Life sciences roles are considered essential and will be expected to continue working on–site, should the Aquarium have to close to the public.  

We anticipate the following recruiting schedule for those candidates who are selected for consideration. Please note, final interviews will be conducted in person. We are following strict protocols for the safety of our candidates and staff. This may require travel for out–of–town candidates. The following dates are preliminary and subject to change. We will work with candidates to set interviews that work for all involved. If hired, relocation assistance is not available.  

• Application deadline: Wednesday, November 25, 2020. 

• First interview, using Zoom: complete by December 11, 2020. 
• Second interview, in person: complete by January 22, 2021. 
• Start date: ideally by April 1, 2021. 

Another Source works with their clients, on a retained project basis, to maximize the recruiting process.