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Monterey Bay Aquarium · 1 day ago

Vice President of Animal Care

Monterey, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

$210K/yr - $260K/yr

10+ years exp

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a non-profit public aquarium located in Monterey, California, and is seeking a Vice President of Animal Care. This role is a visionary leadership position responsible for driving the strategic development of the Animal Care Division, ensuring the highest standards of marine life well-being and conservation impact.

AquacultureArchitectureAssociationGovernmentNon Profit

Responsibilities

Lead the Animal Care Division through comprehensive strategic planning, divisional goal-setting, and administration of a $12M+ budget

Supervise key department directors, fostering a culture of excellence, continuous learning, and professional development across Dive Programs, Collections, Veterinary Services, and Husbandry Operations

Lead the development of dynamic and compelling living exhibits, in close collaboration with Exhibitions, with an emphasis on scientific accuracy, superlative aesthetic standards, and the highest standards of animal wellbeing practices

Partner with cross-functional teams to support a world-class and transformative guest experience that aligns with conservation goals, cutting edge and innovative animal care discoveries, and scientific advancement

Maintain rigorous accreditation standards, agency compliance permits and licensing, and animal wellbeing, human safety, and exhibit protocols

Lead and participate in critical institutional committees, ensuring the highest levels of scientific accuracy, ethical animal management, and research oversight

Develop strategic partnerships with marketing, conservation and science, education, exhibitions, and guest experience teams to amplify our public engagement, scientific communication, and conservation impact

Support research initiatives, including critical programs like sea otter rehabilitation and MBARI collaborations

Champion a workplace culture of belonging, trust, and continuous growth

Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility principles throughout the Animal Care Division and institution-wide, creating an environment that attracts and develops exceptional talent

Co-Chair of the Animal Welfare Committee

Co-Chair of the Research Oversight Committee

Chair of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

Member of the Diving Control Board

Qualification

Senior management experienceMarine animal husbandryAnimal well-being scienceAZA leadershipComplex project managementTeam developmentMarine conservation researchLife support system managementPublication in marine scienceInternational marine management