Assistant Curator - Onondaga County Aquarium
Syracuse, NY
Full Time
Manager/Supervisor
Position Summary
The Assistant Curator serves as the second-in-command within the Life Sciences Department, supporting the General Curator in the leadership, development, and daily operation of all animal care programs. This role provides day-to-day operational leadership across all Life Sciences functions, including both aquatics and ambassador animal programs, ensuring consistency in animal care, staff performance, and guest experience.
The Assistant Curator is responsible for maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare, leading and developing Life Sciences staff, and advancing the Aquarium’s animal ambassador and behavioral training programs. A core function of this role is the direct ownership and management of the Animal Ambassador program, ensuring all guest interactions are safe, engaging, and aligned with animal welfare standards.
This position plays a key role in both the commissioning of the facility and ongoing operations, requiring a leader capable of balancing hands-on animal care, team leadership, and program execution across multiple functional areas.
Primary Areas of Focus
The Assistant Curator’s responsibilities are prioritized across the following core areas:
Preopening/Commissioning Phase
Animal Care & Welfare
The individual must possess the following abilities to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some or a combination of the abilities.
The Assistant Curator serves as the second-in-command within the Life Sciences Department, supporting the General Curator in the leadership, development, and daily operation of all animal care programs. This role provides day-to-day operational leadership across all Life Sciences functions, including both aquatics and ambassador animal programs, ensuring consistency in animal care, staff performance, and guest experience.
The Assistant Curator is responsible for maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare, leading and developing Life Sciences staff, and advancing the Aquarium’s animal ambassador and behavioral training programs. A core function of this role is the direct ownership and management of the Animal Ambassador program, ensuring all guest interactions are safe, engaging, and aligned with animal welfare standards.
This position plays a key role in both the commissioning of the facility and ongoing operations, requiring a leader capable of balancing hands-on animal care, team leadership, and program execution across multiple functional areas.
Primary Areas of Focus
The Assistant Curator’s responsibilities are prioritized across the following core areas:
- Animal Welfare & Husbandry Excellence
Ensure the highest standards of animal care, habitat management, and welfare across the entire collection. - Animal Ambassador & Behavioral Programs
Own and lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of ambassador animal programs, ensuring safe, enriching, and engaging guest interactions. - Staff Leadership & Development
Provide day-to-day leadership, training, and performance management for Life Sciences staff, fostering a culture of safety, accountability, and excellence.
Preopening/Commissioning Phase
- Participate in collection planning and execution of animal acquisitions, introductions, and acclimations.
- Support the General Curator in the development and establishment of exhibits and holding systems, including life support systems, aesthetics, and husbandry components.
- Assist in creating standard operating procedures for welfare, safety, animal care, programming, and guest interaction as well as all paperwork associated with the life sciences team.
- Lead the development and implementation of the Animal Ambassador and behavioral training programs, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and safety standards.
- Participate in animal transfers and quarantine processes following veterinary and regulatory partners.
- Assist in the recruitment, training, and onboarding of new staff prior to opening.
- Assist in both short and long term planning and project execution.
- Assist with ordering and maintaining supplies and equipment.
Animal Care & Welfare
- Ensure all animal care and habitats meet or exceed institutional policies, regulatory requirements, and AZA accreditation standards.
- Monitor animal health, behavior, and welfare across the collection; communicate concerns and coordinate with veterinary and water quality teams to implement care plans.
- Evaluate and continuously improve habitat functionality, enrichment programs, and husbandry practices.
- Maintain accurate and compliant animal records (husbandry, medical, regulatory, and collection data).
- Own and manage the day-to-day operation of the Animal Ambassador and behavioral training programs, in alignment with the General Curator’s strategic vision.
- Establish and maintain protocols for animal training, evaluation, scheduling, and exhibit floor readiness.
- Set and enforce standards for all ambassador animal guest interactions, ensuring safety, consistency, and high-quality engagement.
- Ensure animals are behaviorally prepared and appropriately utilized, balancing guest experience with animal welfare.
- Train, coach, and evaluate staff in animal handling, guest communication, and real-time decision-making during interactions.
- Directly manage and lead all Life Sciences staff across aquatics and ambassador animal teams, including scheduling, task delegation, and daily supervision.
- Provide ongoing coaching, training, and mentorship to support staff development and operational consistency.
- Participate in performance evaluations and disciplinary processes in coordination with the General Curator.
- Ensure appropriate staffing levels are maintained to support animal care and operational needs.
- Support departmental budgeting, inventory tracking, and expense management.
- Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations, as well as AZA standards and institutional policies.
- Assist the General Curator with administrative responsibilities, reporting, and departmental planning.
- Represent the department professionally with regulatory agencies, partners, and industry organizations.
- Exercise independent judgment in day-to-day operational decisions, escalating complex, high-risk, or strategic matters to the General Curator.
- Respond to and manage emergency situations to minimize risk to guests, staff, and animals.
- Perform exhibit maintenance and husbandry diving as required.
- Provide leadership in the absence of the General Curator, within established authority limits.
- Collaborate with Guest Experience and Aquarium Foundation teams to deliver safe, engaging, and educational visitor experiences.
- Support the integration and oversight of volunteers and educators working within animal programs to ensure consistency in messaging and quality.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Bachelor’s degree in zoology, marine biology, animal behavior, or related field required.
- 7–10 years of professional animal care experience required.
- 3+ years of leadership or supervisory experience required.
- PADI Open Water or equivalent (or able to obtain within 90 days of employment) required.
- Must hold and maintain First Aid, CPR, Emergency O2, and AED certification; training will be provided.
- Demonstrated experience commissioning new exhibits or facilities and integrating animal collections into newly constructed habitats.
- Strong understanding of animal health, behavioral training, enrichment, and welfare assessment.
- Familiarity with AZA accreditation standards, animal acquisition and disposition policies, and relevant permitting processes.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Experience managing departmental budgets.
- Strong listening, presentation and decision-making skills.
- Creative problem solver who thrives when presented with a challenge.
- Energetic and eager to tackle new projects and ideas.
- Competency with Microsoft Outlook, Word. Excel, and Powerpoint.
- Must have strong teamwork, interpersonal, and organizational skills conductive to a positive work environment.
The individual must possess the following abilities to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some or a combination of the abilities.
- Requires walking/ standing for long periods of time, bending and crouching, climbing, working in small/tight spaces, and lifting up to 50 lbs.
- May require driving aquarium vehicles, operating heavy machinery, using power tools, and working around chemicals.
- Ability to read, listen and communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to access and accurately input information using a moderately complex computer system.
- Hearing and visual ability to observe and detect signs of emergency situations.
- May require immunizations including TB testing and rabies.
- Must be available to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.
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