This job is no longer available.
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center has an exciting opportunity to contribute to our mission of connecting people to the marine environment, inspiring a more sustainable future. We aspire to be a driver in conservation, education, tourism, and sustainability, leading the charge to save wildlife and their ecosystems.
- The Virginia Aquarium's Chief of Animal & Conservation Programs oversees four areas of operations; Animal Care, Advocacy & Government Affairs, Science and Research, and Sustainable Practices, providing executive guidance and assuring collaboration and integration of these areas internally and externally to achieve the Aquarium's mission.
Specific duties include, but are not limited to:
- Collaborate with the Aquarium’s Chief Veterinarian and the Curator Manager to oversee the animal care and welfare associated with the Aquarium’s live animal collection and the stranded animal programs.
- Lead the team in the care and welfare for the diverse collection of resident animals as well as stranded animals associated with the Virginia Aquarium.
- Develop, interpret, and enforce policies and procedures to assure compliance with health and safety regulations including Aquarium procedures and protocols for staff and animal collections.
- Participate in goal setting, formulating strategies, project planning, and internal and external affairs of the department; and assist the Director in the formulation of departmental policies, plans, and objectives.
- Oversee official stranding agreements and permits with Federal (NOAA-NMFS, USFW) and State agencies (VDWR, VMRC). Collaborate with Aquarium's Chief Veterinarian to maintain Stranding Response Program activities and investigations for Virginia marine mammals and sea turtles, including live response, rehabilitation, necropsy, disease surveillance, human-interaction investigations, data management, and reporting to the authorizing agencies.
- Provide oversight to senior scientists on a variety of research projects and assist with authoring scientific research papers and publications.
- Lead and position the Aquarium’s efforts to advocate and promote policy legislation in support of operational priorities and marine conservation. Build and manage strategic partnerships and support Aquarium leadership by providing advice on conservation issues.
- Develop overall section objectives, policies, planning, and participation in conservation activities.
- Prepare and manage the Animal Programs and Conservation budgets.
- Monitor national conservation trends with respect to their impact on the Virginia Aquarium’s programs.
- Coordinate meeting with outside agencies to ensure compliance with regulations and resolves situations characterized by non-compliance; prepares accreditation applications for accrediting bodies.
Founded in 1986, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center carries out important mission work to connect people to the marine environment, inspiring a more sustainable future.
- The Aquarium features thousands of animals representing over 300 species.
- With more than 800,000 gallons of aquariums, we have animal habitats, interactive exhibits, education stations, boat tours, a Nature Trail, and more.
- Learn more about our educations and conservation initiatives, like our Stranding Response Program, at https://www.virginiaaquarium.com/.
- The City offers a generous benefits package such as health, dental and life insurance, retirement and savings plans. Other key benefits include:
- Maternity/Paternity and Parental Leave
- Leave Donation Program
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Employee Assistant Program
- Professional Development
Experience Required
- Requires any combination of education (above the high school level) and/or increasingly responsible professional experience equivalent to eleven (11) years, including at least five (5) years in a personnel management role using the required knowledge, skills, and abilities in a related field such as aquarium or zoo administration, or marine environmental policy.
- Must have a current and valid driver's license.
- SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: All employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies.
- Positions within this class have been designated as Alpha I positions requiring employees to work during inclement weather, regardless of the City's operational status.
Perks
- For a summary of benefits visit: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/virginia-beach-gov-docs/jobs/Full-time-Employee-Benefits.pdf?v=1675434458
Salary
- Depending upon qualifications
