Zoo Jobs: Curator and Operations Manager

Curator and Operations Manager

Bahrain Aquarium

The Bahrain Aquarium is a 17m deep cylinder with a total volume of 600m3. The aquarium has husbandry and LSS support areas at the same level as the top of the aquarium and in the two floors below. The aquarium is located in a shopping mall that offers a range of attractions beyond the shopping and restaurant experience, including ice skating, climbing walls and so forth.

The aquarium will be home to approximately 2,500 tropical shark, ray and fish species, whose care and husbandry is your paramount priority.

As Curator and Operations Manager, you’ll be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the aquarium and managing a team of divers, LSS technicians and biologists. Additionally, you’ll be liaising with the mall management on education material for websites, information boards and apps. Finally, you’ll be coordinating different revenue-generating activities, including fish feeding, SCUBA diving and back of house tours.

Reporting to management and to the client will be required monthly. The role will include managing staff and ensuring operations and maintenance remains within budget.

The role has potential to grow into management of other aquarium operations within Bahrain.

The role will commence during testing and commissioning of the aquarium, and involve procurement of all operations equipment and material, training of new staff, preparing and implementing SOPs. Ideally, the successful candidate should consider being based in Bahrain for a 5-year period, which is in line with the contracted term for aquarium operation and maintenance.

In addition to a salary (which is negotiable), work visas, accommodation, local transportation and annual travel home will be provided.

Qualifications:

Minimum five (5) years’ paid experience as Aquarium Curator or Senior Biologist responsible for the all aspects of large-scale aquarium operation and maintenance, including aquatic animal husbandry, food, medication, water quality, LSS and lighting
Experience with operating paid attractions in and associated with an aquarium attraction.
Experience with operating and maintaining Aquarium Life Support Systems.
Minimum of Bachelors’ Degree in Marine Biology, Ecology or related field.
Certified SCUBA diver (PADI instructor and/or Dive Master minimum).
Excellent spoken and written communication in English and computer skills.
Work within and manage multinational team.