Manager, Center for Animal Care & Sustainability

Summary:
The Manager, Center for Animal Care and Sustainability (CACS), reports to the Director of the CACS and oversees the day-to-day management of the off-site CACS facility and a team focused on providing exceptional animal care. This position works closely with the Director, and the rest of the departmental leadership and management team - along with Animal Health, Environmental Quality, and Facilities - to help ensure smooth and effective operations involving the animals, staff, and exhibits especially as related to quarantine procedures and animal transports. The Manager also works with the Conservation and Research team to advance in-situ and ex-situ research goals. This position works cooperatively with the animal care management teams to ensure compliance with all accreditation and regulatory requirements for departmental operations and provides full support of the aquarium's SCUBA diving program as directed by the Dive Program Manager.

The Manager, CACS serves in a leadership role in the Animal Care and Science division and facilitates inter-departmental planning and implementation of strategies to meet institutional objectives and initiatives requiring support of the Aquarium department and serves as an aquarium spokesperson as needed.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities include the following as well as other duties as assigned. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Demonstrate commitment to Shedd's vision, mission, and values.
• Direct staff to achieve goals and objectives for short- and long-term operations.
• Oversee Shedd's quarantine team at a dedicated, remote facility.
• Manage direct reports including evaluating performance, coaching, advancement, hiring, and accountability.
• Work effectively with Aquarium management in achieving the goals and objectives of the combined Animal Care division sections and institution.
• Manage other Aquarium teams when direct manager is unavailable, as requested.
• Direct staff training for the advancement of care and welfare, and professional growth.
• Partner with other managers and the director to develop and implement budgets that support institutional priorities
• Demonstrate knowledge of all the primary animal groups cared for by the Aquarium team, an understanding of modern husbandry techniques, and a thorough understanding of the use of emerging science to advance animal care and welfare.
• Evaluates effectiveness of practices and procedures and recommends improvements.
• Aware of employees' strengths and delegates tasks appropriately.
• Empower employees to make decisions and provide ongoing assistance
• Vet vendors to maintain sustainable access to animals, animal food, and supplies.
• Implement legal compliance measures such as tracking of respirator use, adherence to OSHA standards, etc.
• Assess animal welfare and apply knowledge to improve and monitor through.
• Work effectively with other departments contributing to the well-being and exhibition of the living collection.
• Participate in annual, strategic, and master planning processes.
• Build morale, provide recognition and feedback for direct reports and others.
• Acts as a leader and role model among peers and junior staff. Behavior is consistent with values of the organization.
• Develop future leaders in the department through teaching classes to members from other teams, (Best practices in tropical animal and system daily care, etc.)
• Work with other departments throughout the aquarium to meet organizational goals and objectives
• Liaise with professional colleagues as a representative of the aquarium.
• Help to continually develop and implement animal care and sustainability innovation at Shedd.
• Other projects and duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in biology or related discipline or extensive hands-on experience working with a live animal collection at a zoo, aquarium, or similar institution.
• Proven success in care of aquatic animals, preferring temperate marine and tropical fresh experience.

Experience and Characteristics

• Prefer at least five years of experience managing staff
• Experience and strong understanding of proper animal transport techniques for both long and short distance.
• An advanced knowledge of maintaining wide taxa of aquatic species.
• Advanced knowledge of fresh and marine water systems.
• Knowledge of collection planning processes.
• Strong leadership skills with at least 2 years' experience supervising staff.
• Ability to give directions effectively.
• Strong interpersonal skills; communicates clearly and on point.
• Ability to work under pressure and execute projects as assigned
• Good organizational and electronic record keeping skills
• Proficient computer skills
• Ability to maintain professional relationships with co-workers across departments.
• Knowledge of current industry trends.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively independently and in a team setting
• Excellent communication skills are essential with public relations experience a plus.
• Ability to work effectively in dynamic and changing work environment.
• Working knowledge of the use of SCUBA to maintain aquatic animals and habitats.
• Efficient use of SCUBA for exhibit maintenance and/or open water diving
• This position may call for special scheduling and overtime as needed, sometimes without much advance notice. Must be able to work weekends, evenings, early morning, and holidays as needed.

Certifications

• Must possess a valid driver's license and passport.
• Ability to acquire an Illinois C-class driver's license within one year of hire.
• Must possess current SCUBA certification from a professionally recognized SCUBA certifying agency.

Other Requirements

• Must possess strong swimming skills.
• Must be able to walk, bend, kneel, and climb stairs and ladders while in dive gear.
• Constant adequate range of motion and mobility required.
• Must have cognitive and communication skills required to function within the department.
• Regular hearing and the ability to perceive the nature of sounds.
• Must be able to read, write, and speak English.
• Must be safety conscious.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills with supervisors, co-workers, and visitors in a variety of settings.
• Must have good organizational and time management skills.

Employment contingent upon passing dive physical administered as directed by Shedd Aquarium's dive program.

We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ community, veterans and active duty military, parents, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from all cultural backgrounds to apply. Shedd Aquarium is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team.

If you need a reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know. In your application, please feel free to select which pronouns you use (For example – she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs).