Animal Care Supervisor - Penguins

Company Name
New England Aquarium
Company Location
Boston, MA, US

Job description

Under the direction of the Assistant Curator, provide hands-on supervision of daily animal care and husbandry and project activities in the Penguin department. Coordinate and implement daily operations in a manner that adheres to protocols established by Assistant Curator. Insure the highest standards of animal care including developing animal care and exhibit appearance standards (SOPs) and ensuring compliance to these standards; directing, evaluating and developing husbandry staff; and planning sub-department activities. Aiding Assistant Curator (and where appropriate, Curator) in departmental administration and staff development.

Schedule
Tuesday to Saturday 8:00-5:00, 40 hours/week

Essential Leadership Functions

Supervise, manage and delegate the daily routines of aquarists to ensure the highest standard of animal care and promote efficiency in the department, and provide adequate personnel coverage at all times.
Provides guidance, mentoring, training and feedback to new hires and existing staff on animal husbandry, life support design, operation and maintenance, project work and meeting deadlines.
Provide oversight on volunteer and intern needs, and their subsequent training.
Ensure open lines of communication and provide communication in a timely fashion.
Review and approve bi-weekly timecards in accordance with Finance Department deadlines.
Collaborate with Assistant Curator / Curator to conduct annual performance appraisals, provide on-going performance feedback including recognition and addressing performance issues.
Assist Assistant Curator in conducting interviews and make recommendations for hiring new aquarists.
Leads by example collaborating and fostering a team environment amongst Animal Care Division staff and across other divisions.

Essential Functions

Perform all the duties of a Senior Aquarist. Perform hands-on aquarist duties at all levels, as needed, to provide coverage, particularly when shorthanded. Assess the status of exhibits and recommend corrective actions.
Promote efficiency by aiding departmental prioritization of daily work and projects (including FLSA implications). Evaluate the adequacy of staffing coverage and make recommendations to Assistant Curator.
Develop and implement protocols and standard operating procedures that relate to animal husbandry such as diet and nutrition, bio-security and equipment maintenance and operation.
Act as Department liaison when appropriate with other NEAQ departments and external parties.
Participate in record keeping, report writing, generating and reviewing purchase orders, budget preparation, management of fish food inventory and administrative tasks in area(s) of responsibility.
Participate in detailed management of assigned LSSs in partnership with other appropriate departments.
Responsible for submitting and tracking preventive maintenance of equipment using HIPPO program to communicate with Facilities.
Attend meetings on behalf of the Assistant Curator, as appropriate or assigned.
Participate actively in the animal acquisition process, in conjunction with the Institutional Collection Planning Committee to ensure that exhibits contain a full complement of specimens. Coordinate long-range animal collecting efforts including participant sponsored live aboard expeditions.
Participate as directed in the exhibit development process, including thematic research, habitat/aquascaping construction, developing animal enrichment programs, etc.
Ensures a high level of exhibit aesthetics throughout their area of responsibility and aids others in maintaining a high quality of exhibition throughout the organization.
Ensure that all relevant support areas are always safe, orderly and clean.
Assume a leadership role if requested in the event of an emergency closure, power outage, sensaphone call, or similar unusual circumstance.
May assume role of diving area manager for the Institution's diving safety program.
Conduct facility tours to both internal and external groups when appropriate.
Implement revenue programs as directed.
Develop and maintain relationships with colleagues in the industry.
Support Assistance Curator in report writing, rostering and other administrative tasks as assigned.

Qualifications
Minimum Training, Certifications and Experience

Bachelor's degree in biology or related science.
Minimum 5 years of vocationally relevant experience.
Bird husbandry experience preferred.
2 years of demonstrated supervisory/leadership experience preferred.
SCUBA certification at Rescue Diver level preferred and Medical Examiner's authorization to dive in accordance with NEAq Diving Control Board.
Able and willing to perform SCUBA diving as assigned preferred.
Valid driver's license, ability to secure a Medical Examiner's Certificate in Accordance with Motor Carrier Safety Regulation (49 CFR 391.41-391.49) and willingness to drive transport trucks up to 26,000GVW.
Availability to work full time Tuesday-Saturday, weekends, some holidays, and occasional early morning or late night hours as required. Must be able to travel, nationally and internationally.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Must have a solid understanding of life support design and operation, quarantine principles and protocols, water quality and the interpretation of testing results.
Must have excellent problem solving skills and the ability to work independently on solving problems.
Must have strong training, mentoring and team building skills.
Must have strong communications and collaboration skills and a commitment to Animal Care Division priorities.
Must be willing to work with a changing, diverse collection of animals.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to talk, hear, sit, stand, walk, bend/stoop, crawl/kneel, carry, reach, climb/balance, push/pull and lift up to 50 lbs. The employee is required to dive multiple times on a daily basis and be able to enter and exit the water from ladders and platforms. Must be able to manage the team and the animal collection in waist deep cold water while wearing a wet suit.

New England Aquarium is committed to diversity in the workplace and is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer as defined by the EEOC.
For more information, please visit : https://neaq.applicantpro.com/jobs/