The Curator assumes full curatorial responsibility for the care, health, enrichment, and welfare of assigned collections, while also advancing long-term collection sustainability and research collaborations. This includes oversight of designated AZA cooperative breeding programs, inter-institutional animal transfers, ambassador programming, and compliance with AZA, USDA, and USF&W regulations.
The position provides direct supervision, training, and performance management for a diverse team of aquarists, assistant curators, students, and volunteers. The Curator works alongside other Curators to achieve the goals of the animal care, conservation and science team. This position also serves as Acting Director of Husbandry when delegated, ensuring operational continuity, emergency preparedness, and alignment with institutional priorities.
The Curator works collaboratively across Aquarium departments—including Husbandry, Exhibits, Education, Facilities, Marketing, Finance/HR, and Development—to integrate avian and terrestrial programs into research initiatives, public programming, and guest experiences. This includes partnering with veterinary staff and external research institutions to apply science-based practices, conducting public presentations and VIP tours, developing educational curriculum, and contributing scholarly research at the professional level.
By maintaining a culture of inclusion, equity, accountability, and respect, the Curator fosters staff growth, resolves conflicts, and ensures adherence to UC San Diego policies and collective bargaining agreements. The position requires a balance of diplomacy, operational oversight, and disciplinary authority to maintain professional standards and organizational integrity under general consultative leadership.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Demonstrated leadership and supervisory ability. Proven experience coaching staff, conducting performance evaluations, delegating responsibilities, resolving conflict, and fostering a professional, inclusive, and growth-oriented work environment.
- Knowledge of aquarium and habitat planning and design of displays and exhibits, general husbandry and method of behavior.
- Specialized knowledge of aquarium water systems and associated life-support equipment.
- Working knowledge of aquatic and terrestrial husbandry systems, demonstrated through collaborative or direct operational experience.
- Specialization in an area of the museum’s collection and knowledge of standard museum curatorial practices. Demonstrated advanced expertise in avian and ambassador animal care, including penguin colony management. Evidence of applying behavioral training, welfare assessment frameworks, enrichment program design, and husbandry methods aligned with AZA standards.
- Demonstrated application of animal welfare science, behavioral observation, and life support system knowledge. Ability to use data, monitoring, and professional judgment to improve animal well-being and habitat management.
- Knowledge of collection building / connoisseurship, ethical and legal standards for acquisition, and of the current market. Proven knowledge and application of regulatory and accreditation compliance, including AZA accreditation expectations, USDA and USF&W regulations, and ethical acquisition and transfer procedures.
- Demonstrated ability to uphold and adhere to AAUS, Osha and CalOsha diving standards across staff and volunteers.
- Demonstrated ability to uphold and adhere to AZA standards across all areas, including but not limited to – record-keeping, responsible animal management, animal care, welfare, health, physical facilities, safety and security of people and animals.
- Documented participation in or coordination of AZA SSP or SAFE programs, including communication with inter-institutional partners and contribution to species sustainability planning.
- Knowledge of selection, evaluation, and exhibition of objects.
- Knowledge of the principles of conservation / preservation.
- Donor cultivation and relationship building skills.
- Skills in scholarly research and writing scholarly publications.
- Demonstrated scholarly research and publication or presentation experience, or evidence of contributing to professional knowledge exchange.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate scientific and conservation topics to varied audiences, including internal teams, visitors, and professional peers.
- Demonstrated competency with and commitment to fostering fairness, respect, and inclusion in alignment with the Principles of Community.
Salary range: $79,200 – $143,400
Application deadline: January 30, 2026
