Core Activities:
- Manage a team of Aquarium husbandry staff and volunteers; conduct regular one-on-one meetings and annual performance evaluations; oversee hiring, training, coaching, professional development, and promotional processes.
- Lead daily work plans that guide the team through daily and weekly duties across work areas. Create and coordinate staff schedules and gallery assignments.
- Develop, update, and oversee all operational protocols for assigned exhibit galleries.
- Manage animal welfare assessments for all assigned galleries and exhibits, ensuring both scheduled and unscheduled assessments are conducted consistently, on time, and documented according to standards.
- Manage annual and ongoing collection planning for areas of responsibility to ensure that live exhibits are appropriately stocked, accurately represented designated habitats, and are consistent with interpretive messaging.
- Collaborate with other Aquarium divisions to manage projects, coordinate repairs and maintenance, and contribute to cross-departmental activities and initiatives. Serve as a liaison between Husbandry Operations and other Aquarium work groups to effectively identify and communicate where animal care activities impact or are impacted by other operational areas and functions; may oversee contractors performing work in areas of responsibility.
- Manage live exhibit development projects to include repairs, remodels, new installations, renovations, and improvements.
- Contribute to the collaborative management and oversight of the ~50-person Husbandry Operations team; advise senior Animal Care management on departmental policies, professional development, promotional processes, compensation, strategy, and team culture; oversee husbandry activities across other workgroups and galleries in the absence of other curators.
- Advise senior Animal Care management with budget planning, management, and oversight for expenditures related to the care of the Aquarium animal collections and the operation and upkeep of associated infrastructure.
- Serve as an Aquarium spokesperson for Aquarium-managed PR and media, internal audience presentations, and industry-wide communications and presentations; represent the Aquarium on industry panels, workgroups, and AZA activities (SSPs, TAGs, etc.), where appropriate.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs):
- Bachelor’s Degree in biology, marine science, aquarium studies, or related field
- SCUBA certification to include at least OW1, Rescue Diver, and Advanced Diver certifications; occupational and/or scientific diving authorizations preferred
- Ability to pass an occupational/scientific dive physical examination
- Ten years experience working in an AZA-accredited institution or equivalent with progressively increasing responsibility in the care of live animal collections and live exhibits
- Five years of experience directly supervising animal care staff
- Advanced understanding of mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration as it applies to aquarium systems
- Advanced understanding of the natural history and ecology of all habitats represented in the Aquarium’s live exhibits
- Expert-level understanding of animal behavior and captive husbandry principals
- Expert-level understanding of animal welfare principles and their application in AZA-accredited institutions
- Expert-level understanding of AZA accreditation standards and the ability to manage work in compliance with those standards
- Demonstrated ability to manage projects and resources and to adapt daily work plans in a changing environment
- Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage volunteers, and mentor staff
- Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and train staff in technical subjects
- Completion of at least two management training courses or programs (in-house or external)
- Demonstrated ability to understand and maintain budgets and budgetary planning requirements
- Demonstrated commitment to Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Leadership Competencies
- Ability to work within and maintain Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Core Values
- Expert-level understanding of animal training and enrichment principles
- Advanced understanding of regulatory compliance requirements related to the care of marine mammals (USDA APHIS, CDFW, USFW, AZA, etc.)
- Ability to collaborate effectively with the Aquarium’s sea otter surrogacy and rehabilitation programs
Salary range: $96,300 – $123,000 USD annually
Application deadline: June 26, 2026. Due to the volume of incoming applications, the role may be closed earlier.
