Animal Care Curator
The Animal Care Curator leads the operation, management, and development of the Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC)’s aquatic animal collections and life support systems. This is a new position created to oversee the acquisition and disposition of animals in LMC’s campus expansion exhibit galleries. The Animal Care Curator schedules visits, medical treatments, and procedures with LMC veterinary staff, maintains meticulous animal records on each of the individuals within the animal collection and schedules and supervises staff to ensure adherence to the highest standards of safety and animal care. A passion for working collaboratively with LMC leadership and interdepartmental teams to support the LMC’s mission is essential.
Functions & Responsibilities
Essential Functions
Provide supervision, evaluation, guidance and direction for the animal care staff, ensuring that all animal care staff adhere to institutional policies and practices and remain current in training. This person will promote staff development, technical training, morale and motivate staff in support of their individual career development and goals
• Is autonomous and makes decisions in line with technical and animal expertise, guiding business decisions around animal/display-related actions
• Identifies strategic & tactical opportunities to develop curatorial facilities and recommends appropriate courses of action
• Develop and monitor the department budget
• Work collaboratively with all LMC departmental teams
Husbandry
• Under the direction of the attending veterinarian, schedules and coordinates treatments and medical procedures with LMC veterinary staff regarding the animal collection care. Works with the rehabilitation team to develop a preventative medicine program and discusses changes in animal diets and remains abreast of the standards protocols and best practices and regulatory requirements put forth by organizations and agencies such as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), United States Fish & Wildlife Service, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
• Ensure maintenance of animal collection records and permits according to industry standards. Coordinate with the attending veterinarian all State, federal, international permits relating to collection.
• Assists with collaborative planning and developing new exhibits; repair, maintain and renovate existing exhibits to include aspects of life support systems, exhibit water filtrations, materials, exhibit lighting design.
• Develop and monitor the institutional animal collection plan; initiate and/or coordinate all animal transactions with the attending veterinarian.
• Bring a thorough understanding of animal welfare principles, animal behavior, quarantine protocols, transport and husbandry development.
Skills & Experience
Education & Experience
Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum of Ten (10) years of professional husbandry experience in a zoo or aquarium utilizing the required knowledge, skills, and abilities and associated with such positions as Exhibits Technician, Aquarist, Animal Keeper, Animal Trainer, Assistant Curator, or Curator. Additional work experience may be utilized in exchange for a degree. The ideal candidate will have experience developing collection plans, and acquisitions, transports, and dispositions, developing and tracking budgets, exhibit development, design, and maintenance, including life support systems and the care and management of elasmobranchs, teleosts and marine invertebrates including jellyfish and corals. Experience with animal records programs is essential and knowledge of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s (AZA) conservation programs and accreditation standards is preferred.
