Another Source’s client, Seattle Aquarium, is recruiting a Vice President of Animal Care to join their team in Seattle, WA. This role is an onsite position.    

Here’s a little about Seattle Aquarium and the position they are recruiting for:   

The Seattle Aquarium is a respected authority on Puget Sound, the Salish Sea and the world’s one ocean. Our passionate staff increases awareness and drives the change needed to preserve and protect our marine environment by providing an inspiring visitor experience, engaging daytime and evening events, conservation education programs for people of all ages and backgrounds, community outreach to marginalized populations, research that advances understanding of animals in our care and their counterparts in the wild, advocacy and policy work, an award-winning volunteer program, high-impact marketing and communications, and more.    

Our collection of animals – marine mammals, birds, fishes, corals, sea stars, crabs and other invertebrates – are at the core of the aquarium’s mission: Inspiring conservation of our marine environment. The animal care teams work diligently to provide the best care and attention for our animals, as defined by the aquarium’s Responsible Population Management Policy (RPMP) and Institutional Population Management Plan (IPMP).   

Learn more about the Seattle Aquarium here: https://www.seattleaquarium.org/who-we-are 

About the role:  

The Seattle Aquarium is looking for a Vice President (VP) of Animal Care to lead these professional teams and direct and manage the animal programs. The VP of Animal Care also participates in and supports collaboration with internal and external partners to advance conservation programs, including wildlife rehabilitation, research, and species recovery. The position reports to the Chief Conservation Officer and has five direct reports (i.e., Director of Animal Health, Curator of Birds and Mammals, Curator of Temperate Fish and Invertebrates, Curator of Tropical Fish and Invertebrates, and Registrar), with an overall team of more than 45 staff members.  

We are looking for someone who understands the opportunity of aquariums as conservation organizations and is passionate about animal wellbeing, conservation, and a more equitable, regenerative, and resilient future for all. Our dedicated, expert team of animal care professionals is actively involved in conservation initiatives. The strategic leadership and management of the VP of Animal Care is required to fully realize the Aquarium’s mission, vision and integrated conservation programs. We lead, co-create, and collaborate on a wide variety of conservation programs, from development and interpretation of awe-inspiring living exhibits, to school and community programs, to research, policy and species recovery initiatives. We are evolving the conservation role of aquariums as we host and interact with more than one million people every year around ocean conservation.   

The anticipated yearly salary range for this position is: $140,000- 160,000 

What you will be doing:  

At least 10 years of cumulative experience, demonstrating continued growth and leadership, in an aquarium, zoo or similar complex organization that maintains a live animal collection.  

• Strong leadership and management skills, with demonstrated experience supervising and mentoring staff at multiple levels, including team development, career progression, and interdisciplinary teams.  
• Extensive knowledge of aquatic animal care and wellbeing. Familiar with the principles of aquatic animal habitat and exhibitory design and interpretation. Working knowledge of water chemistry and life support systems.  
• Experience executing multi-faceted plans, projects, and initiatives across a complex organization, including planning, building and operationalizing large-scale aquatic habitats.  
• Demonstrated history of implementing new ways of thinking and engagement while alternating strategic and tactical perspectives.  
• Deep understanding of resource management in terms of time, effort, budget and funding, and evidence of strategic decision making in allocation and tracking of resources. Solutions-oriented approach in addressing near- and long-term goals of the department.  
• Excellent verbal, writing and editing skills, including experience with public speaking and acting as an institutional spokesperson with the press and media. Preference for multilingual and English speakers with comfort and practice communicating across cultural and language barriers.   
• Demonstrates an understanding of the Aquarium’s Mission and Values, including Regenerative and Equity work.   
• Strong ability to build and maintain positive, respectful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds. Ability to approach others from an empathetic, authentic and curious perspective.   
• Familiarity with animal records database management, preferably TRACKS or similar platform.  
• Holds or willing to pursue leadership roles within AZA. Familiar or willing to become familiar with AZA bylaws and their impact on the department or the Aquarium. 
• Managing $4.0 million operations budget.  

Minimum Qualifications:  

Minimum of ten years of growing responsibility in leadership and management at an AZA, EAZA, ZAA or other accredited facility. 

What’s in it for you: 

Seattle Aquarium offers a comprehensive benefits package for fulltime staff including: 

• Health 
• Dental 
• Vision 
• Disability and Life Insurance 

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination:  

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. 

Another Source works with their clients, on a retained project basis. We are committed to building inclusive candidate pools as we partner with hiring teams. Veterans, women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. As you read through the job posting and review the list of qualifications (required and/or preferred), please do not self-select out if you feel you do not meet every qualification. No one is 100% qualified. We encourage you to apply and share your story with us.