Position Summary:

This position requires the chosen candidate to lead a small team to oversee, manage and develop the ‘small Exhibits’ within the National Aquarium, Abu Dhabi. With over 50 exhibits, this position oversees the dynamic portion of day-to-day care, which focuses on: 50,000l Red Sea live coral reef system, Multiple species of Jellyfish (including reproduction) various Syngnathidae species. Arctic animals which include Puffins, wolf eels and Japanese Spider crabs. Temperate species and Quarantine.

Key Responsibilities:

• Performs daily monitoring and assessment of aquatic animals, their health, treatment and management to ensure the highest level of quality throughout the aquarium facility.
• Establish and manages staff appropriate to the maintenance of the collection, daily and weekly rosters.
• Diving as required on a day-to-day basis and perform maintenance and feedings as required.
• Ensure staffs are trained in accordance with the Working Instructions and Husbandry Manuals.
• Ensure that Health and Safety protocols are followed at all times.
• Assist on the development of risk assessments and action plans.
• Develop and implement training programs for the staff at all levels.
• Assist in the development and establishment of written standards and protocols for all exhibits to ensure the highest standards for water quality, operational efficiency, cleanliness and animal health.
• Ensure that animal quarantine programmes of specimen acquisition align with the launch programme for new exhibits.
• Assume general curatorial responsibilities for the Husbandry Department by increasing support while Head Curator is absent or dealing with consultancy and development projects.
• Assist in ensuring that the local Regulations in the Zoo Licensing Act are satisfied.
• Attend and participate at scientific/peer meetings on appropriate topics.
• Assist the Curator in managing the Husbandry Department budget to achieve agreed objectives.
• Ensure adequate supplies are available to run the Husbandry Department, including animal feeds and equipment and to ensure timely placement of orders.
• Assist the Curator in the development of new exhibits and the publicity and promotion for the same.
• Communicates to Curator of any health and or LSS issues identified, and assist in developing a course of action to rectify the situation
• Take responsibility for activities relating to exhibits and husbandry.
• Daily monitor water quality and act appropriately to the needs of the collection.
• Work with the Life Support Manager, to ensure that life support systems are adequate for maintaining the collection, and that water quality is maintained.
• Ensure routine specimen monitoring, training and enrichment programs are developed and implemented.
• Assist the Curator in the development and implementation of conservational and educational programs.
• Will ensure that all areas of responsibility are reviewed and subjected to a process of continuous improvement.
• Ensures that daily data collection is appropriately managed and stored.
• Communicate to the public at all levels.
• Communicate regularly with professional colleagues at other institutions.
• Read new publications and papers on the latest developments in collection, breeding, life support and display technologies.
• Maintain all curatorial areas so they are safe and clean.