Assistant Curator of Fish and Invertebrates

Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium•Springfield, MO

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium is seeking a passionate and experienced Assistant Curator of Fish and Invertebrates to join our Life Sciences team. This role is ideal for an aquatic professional ready to take the next step in their career by leading husbandry teams while ensuring the highest standards of animal care, exhibit quality, and staff development. As the Assistant Curator, you will provide day‑to‑day leadership for the Fish and Invertebrates teams and galleries, foster a positive and supportive team culture, and contribute directly to the success of one of the nation's premier accredited aquariums. Collaborate with fellow experts in a fun, customer-focused atmosphere that prioritizes excellence and integrity. As a team member you'll be able to enjoy benefits such as Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), Life Insurance, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Account, Paid Time Off, and Employee Discounts. This is your chance to inspire visitors while being part of an extraordinary team dedicated to fostering a love for wildlife. Apply today to dive into an adventure of a lifetime! A little about Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium consists of a 1.5-million-gallon Aquarium Adventure showcasing 35,000 animals and our immersive Wildlife Galleries sharing the story of America's most significant conservationists throughout history and today. In 2022, Wonders of Wildlife became accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Accreditation signifies our exemplary standards for animal welfare, scientific education, and staff training. Created by noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder/CEO Johnny Morris, the 350,000-square-foot experience celebrates people who hunt, fish, and act as stewards of the land and water. Located next to Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters in Springfield, Missouri the campus is a centerpiece of America's Conservation Capital in Missouri's Ozark Mountains. Wonders of Wildlife has been voted "Best New Attraction in America" and "America's Best Aquarium" by the readers of USA TODAY. For more information, visit www.wondersofwildlife.org.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in biology or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
Approximately eight years of experience working with aquatic animals in a professional animal care facility.
Experience leading or supervising staff, preferably at least two years in a dynamic, team‑based environment.
Strong understanding of operant conditioning, environmental enrichment, animal behavior, and water quality as it relates to optimal animal health.
Excellent teamwork, communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
Experience supervising interns or volunteers.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and general computer applications.
Physical ability to perform hands‑on work in exhibits, holding areas, and mechanical spaces.
Ability to meet immunization requirements associated with the animal collection.

Responsibilities

Fostering a supportive, positive team environment that promotes professional growth while ensuring the highest standards of aquatic animal husbandry, exhibit quality, and animal wellbeing.
Leading by example through strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills; setting priorities and expectations; delegating effectively; and providing balanced, constructive performance feedback to support staff success.
Developing and maintaining standard operating procedures and departmental documentation.
Ensuring AZA inspection readiness.
Overseeing accurate animal records, inventories, and quarantine procedures.
Collaborating closely with veterinary, water quality, and life support teams to monitor animal health and life support systems.
Supporting staff recruitment and evaluations, breeding and conservation programs, ethical acquisition and transport of animals, exhibit and holding system development, supply ordering, budget oversight, and long‑range planning.
Participating in interpretive programming, public presentations, and special events.
Serving as a decision‑maker in the absence of senior leadership.
Performing additional duties as needed to support the mission of Wonders of Wildlife.