Vice President of Animal Care (Curator Manager)

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center seeks an experienced leader to serve as the Vice President of Animal Care (Curator Manager). In this role, the Vice President of Animal Care will lead a diverse team to develop and maintain the Virginia Aquarium’s live animal exhibits and programs featuring fish, invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and animal ambassadors. This leader will direct, plan, and implement all aspects of the publicly visited live animal care program, including animal welfare, enrichment, husbandry training, development of protocols, animal health, safety protocols and budget.

• In addition to serving as a leader and mentor for staff, this individual will supervise the staff responsible for the daily care and behavioral training of the animal collection.

Core elements of work include:

• Leading a diverse team to maintain live animal collections and exhibits to the highest levels of industry standards to provide the best possible care.
• Ensuring the Virginia Aquarium remains current and compliant to standards for permitting, regulations, Federal, State, and City guidelines and accreditation standards for organizations such as, but not limited to, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR), and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
• Facilitating the development of the Virginia Aquarium's Institutional Animal Collections Plan to direct current and future animal acquisitions and dispositions.
• Mentoring and coaching animal care section staff by setting goals, establishing clear expectations, and conducting formal and informal meetings.
• Conducting performance evaluations, address disciplinary issues, and oversee staff schedules.
• Collaborating with coworkers, staff, and stakeholders to identify infrastructure maintenance needs, design new construction, and advance major renovations.
• Maintaining official records and documents; and prepare animal care section financial reports, operating budgets, and capital budgets.
• 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 experience equivalent to nine (9) years, including at least two (3) years in a personnel management role, using the required knowledge, skills, and abilities and including progressive professional experience in a related field such as biology, animal behavior, zoology, veterinary or animal sciences, or a related field which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities and associated with such positions as Assistant Curator or Curator.
• Must possess current SCUBA certification of Open Water Diver or higher from a World Recreational SCUBA Training Council agency. Must have a current and valid driver's license.

Further Comments

• 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.
• This is a safety sensitive position and is subject to mandatory drug testing. Positive drug test results may result in counseling and/or discipline, up to and including, termination.
• 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.
• Successful completion of a pre-employment physical.

Perks

• https://virginia-beach-departments-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/city/Careers/Full-time-Employee-Benefits.pdf

Salary

• $73,790.30 - $114,374.97 Depending on Qualifications