Senior Manager - Curator (Corals)

The Red Sea Development Company

Staff Management:

• Supervise and coordinate the activities of more junior staff across multiple departments including animal care, facilities maintenance, guest services, and administrative functions.
• Operational Efficiency: Develop and implement efficient operational procedures to optimize resource utilization, streamline workflows, and enhance productivity.
• Guest Experience: Ensure exceptional guest experiences by maintaining cleanliness, safety, and accessibility throughout the facility. Implement strategies to continuously improve visitor satisfaction and engagement.
• Animal Welfare: Collaborate with animal care professionals to uphold the highest standards of animal welfare, including husbandry practices, enrichment programs, and veterinary care.

Facilities Management:

• Oversee maintenance and repair activities for exhibits, facilities, and infrastructure. Ensure compliance with safety regulations and implement preventive maintenance protocols.

Budget Management:

• Develop and manage operational budgets, monitor expenses, and identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality or safety.
• Regulatory Compliance: Stay abreast of relevant regulations and standards pertaining to zoo/aquarium operations, including animal welfare laws, safety codes, and environmental regulations. Ensure full compliance and facilitate inspections and audits as required.

Emergency Preparedness:

• Develop and maintain emergency response protocols to address potential risks such as natural disasters, security threats, or animal escapes. Conduct regular drills and training sessions to ensure staff readiness.

Vendor Management:

• Coordinate with external vendors, contractors, and service providers to procure supplies, equipment, and specialized services. Negotiate contracts, monitor performance, and maintain positive relationships.

Team Development:

• Provide leadership, guidance, and support to departmental managers and staff. Foster a culture of collaboration, professionalism, and continuous learning within the operations team.
• Create and institute departmental protocols including operation and maintenance of LSS equipment to maintain a high quality of life support and water chemistry to complement the efforts the husbandry staff and the goals of the animal collection plan.
• Create and execute operational plans and protocols that support animal care and welfare and guest experience.
• Train direct to use industry best practices and ensure access to the knowledge and tools needed for maintaining equipment and operational standards and efficiencies.
• Be a resource related to life support and water chemistry relationships with husbandry activities and programs to optimize animal care and welfare and guest experience.
• Oversee recordkeeping to maintain compliance with industry standards and to support proper health and behaviour of the animal collection.
• Establish standards of equipment and work area cleanliness and oversee compliance to maintain a healthy environment and a quality guest experience.
• Work in partnership with veterinarians and animal health care staff to manage and treat collection as required.
• Collaborates with other husbandry staff in overseeing the internship and volunteer programs.
• Have expert knowledge of the ecosystems and animals represented by their exhibit themes. This includes basic knowledge of animal anatomy, behaviour, environmental parameters and recognition of common heath concerns.
• Expertise in life support design, construction, maintenance and management. Skills should also include an advanced understanding of fluid dynamics, pump mechanics, advanced life support equipment technologies, and the ability to troubleshoot life support problems.
• Expert in water quality testing and an advanced understanding of water chemistry as it relates to closed aquarium systems (fresh and salt water). Skills should also include an advanced understanding water biochemistry (nitrogen cycle and nutrient loading), chemistry manipulation and its effects on aquatic organisms, and the ability to troubleshoot water chemistry health and maintenance.
• Knowledge of exhibits and systems and the specimens each supports.
• Improvement of husbandry practices, developing procedures aimed at increase efficiency and advance animal care.
• Lead and mentor direct reports, on the development of exhibit improvements, encouraging advancements in husbandry practices supported by life support and water quality operations.
• Partner with veterinarian and curatorial staff with recognizing animal health concerns and supporting treatment efforts, as necessary.
• Advise curatorial staff related to life support and water quality limitations and expectations related to the acquisition of new specimens.
• Work with curatorial staff with setting departmental goals and priorities
• Work collaboratively with curatorial staff and other departments to develop large gallery projects/ renovations; mentor aquarists through exhibit improvements and development of new exhibits based on approved timelines.
• Function as a departmental point person for renovations with other departments and outside vendors.
• Actively promote and prioritize accurate and up to date recordkeeping within the life support team to ensure quality animal and exhibit management at or above industry standards.
• Assess trends and developing improvements in life support technology and water quality management as needed.
• Purchase and maintain inventory of supplies and back-up equipment to ensure continued operations.
• Identify problems with and implement changes to system design and operation to ensure safety for guests, staff and the animal collection.
• Ensure the safe installation, maintenance and operation of all LSS equipment, while maintaining the needs of the animals in exhibits and holding systems.
• Perform inspections, preventative maintenance, routine up-keep, cleaning and repair of all equipment.
• Monitor the Life Sciences inventory and departmental expenditure as it pertains to maintenance in order to reduce loss/waste, control costs and accurately communicate expenses.
• Manage emergency situations to minimize damage, loss or injury to guests, team members, animals or company property.