Seattle Aquarium · Washington · posted 2 days ago
Position Overview The Seattle Aquarium, a leading marine conservation organization, is looking for a Vice President of Animal Care to lead our animal care programs and six professional teams responsible for the expert care and wellbeing of the diverse animals at the heart of our mission, Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment. From otters, seals, birds, fishes, corals, sea stars, crabs, and other invertebrates, the animals in our care help connect more than one million visitors each year to the importance of ocean conservation. Guided by the Aquarium’s Responsible Population Management Policy (RPMP) and Institutional Collection Plan (ICP), our animal care teams play an essential role in advancing animal wellbeing, conservation, research, wildlife rehabilitation, and species recovery. Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, the Vice President of Animal Care oversees approximately 60 staff supporting temperate and tropical animal programs across four buildings and two locations, as well as veterinary and water quality operations. The role has five direct reports: the Director of Animal Health, Director of Animal Operations, Curator of Birds and Mammals, Curator of Temperate Fish and Invertebrates, and Curator of Tropical Fish and Invertebrates. Key priorities include fostering a healthy and collaborative departmental culture, developing leaders across the animal care team, strengthening partnerships across the Aquarium and with external organizations, and advancing the Aquarium’s evolving conservation strategy. The Vice President will also play a significant role in shaping the vision and design of the Aquarium’s campus master plan, including future renovation of its piers focused on Salish Sea animals, while supporting implementation of the Aquarium’s regenerative plan and broader conservation initiatives. We are looking for an experienced and compassionate leader who understands the vital role aquariums play as conservation organizations, is deeply committed to animal wellbeing, and brings strong strategic leadership and people management skills. This role is central to advancing the Aquarium’s mission, vision, and integrated conservation programs across living exhibits, education, research, policy, species recovery, and regenerative practices. All positions at the Seattle Aquarium support our SALISH Values: Sustainable, Awe-Inspiring, Learning and Improving, Inclusive Community, Scientific Integrity, and Honoring Place Essential Functions: Team management and collaboration • Lead, direct, and support the Animal Care team, create and promote a positive, supportive, respectful, and inclusive work environment with clear and consistent expectations and active listening with staff at all levels. • Foster staff’s professional growth through coaching and mentoring, providing feedback, training and professional development, and modelling accountability. • Provide leadership by strengthening internal communications and building a healthy, intentional workplace culture with staff at all levels throughout the organization. Act as a change agent, apply a growth mindset, and ensure open, multi-directional, and timely communication. • Strengthen internal and external partnerships to advance ex situ and in situ conservation activities. Serve on cross-departmental committees, build constructive cross-departmental relationships, and recognize and leverage the expertise of different teams to advance Aquarium programs and priorities, including animal wellbeing and guest experience. • Commit to ongoing learning in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access and application to team management and culture. Animal care and wellbeing • Co-create and implement advancements in animal wellbeing for the living collection to ensure the highest standards of care, in accordance with the RPMP, ICP and Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). • Lead the ongoing evolution and implementation of both the RPMP and ICP, in alignment with the best practices outlined by AZA and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), and with consideration of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) One Plan Approach. • Ensure compliance with federal, state, tribal, and local regulations as they pertain to the animal population. • Actively examine animal care practices using an equity lens, improving accessibility and inclusion, and encouraging diversity in thought and perspectives. • Collaborate and network with other AZA institutions to leverage other expertise and resources. Strategic thinking, planning & development • Serve as an active and collaborative member of the executive team to establish the short- and long-term strategic plan for the Aquarium and to manage and evaluate operations, and to model cross-functional integration and collaborative ways of working. Define tasks and milestones to achieve objectives, considering impacts on all areas of the Aquarium operations while ensuring the optimal use of resources. • Prepare and manage departmental budget, aligning multiple team budgets within the scope of the departmental budget, ensuring effective and responsible fiscal practices. • Proactively adapt to meet changing organizational needs and priorities, facilitating the implementation and acceptance of change within the workplace. Work to continuously improve processes and practices and work collaboratively to respond to challenges and opportunities with innovative solutions. • Co-develop and implement field conservation, research, species recovery, and wildlife rehabilitation programs in close collaboration with the Conservation Programs and Partnerships department. • Lead, advance and integrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and regenerative practices throughout team management, animal programs and conservation initiatives and organizational level decision making. • Together with other members of the executive team, steward the organization’s mission, vision, and values by providing unified leadership, making organization-level decisions, and modeling the culture we aspire to create, following the executive team norms and commitments. Additional Responsibilities: • To work and engage others in line with the Aquarium’s Mission, D.E.I and S.A.L.I.S.H values. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: The skills and abilities listed below may be demonstrated through a combination of relevant cultural and community programs, jobs, internships, volunteer experience, and/or formal or informal education. 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. • At least 10 years of cumulative experience, demonstrating continued growth and leadership. Preference for experience within an aquarium, zoo or similar complex organization that cares for the wellbeing of animals. For those coming from an aquarium or zoo, preference for experience at an AZA, EAZA, ZAA, or other accredited facility. • Strong people leadership and management skills, with demonstrated experience in supervising, coaching, and mentoring staff at multiple levels, including team development, career progression, conflict resolution, effectively delivering and receiving feedback, and guiding interdisciplinary teams. • Proven ability to build and sustain employee engagement and foster a healthy, positive workplace culture. • Working knowledge of aquatic animal care and wellbeing, including aquatic animal habitat and exhibitory design and interpretation. Working knowledge of water chemistry and life support systems. • Preference for experience executing multi-faceted, evidence-based plans, projects, and initiatives across a complex organization. • Demonstrated growth mindset and ability to consider and implement new ways of thinking and improving 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 departmental goals and ability to consider and balance the needs of the organization as a whole. • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking and acting as an institutional spokesperson with the press and media. • Ability to build bridges, use diplomacy, and approach others from an empathetic and curious perspective. • Familiar or willing to become familiar with AZA organization and accreditation standards, USDA standards, and their impact on the department and the Aquarium. • Able to achieve and exceed our leadership expectations: • Lead by example: Model the way for others • Mission alignment: Connect our teams to the mission and our impact • Accountability: Ensure our teams’ (and the organization’s) success • Communication: Share information purposefully and frequently • Inclusion and accessibility: Foster and nurture a trusting, inclusive, equitable workplace
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