Curator of Australia & Rainforest

National Aquarium•Baltimore, MD

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Curator of Australia and Rainforest leads animal care, staff, and day-to-day operations for Australia: Wild Extremes, Upland Tropical Rainforest, Hidden Life, Amazon River Forest, Puffin Habitat, Waterfront Park, and other assigned habitats. The portfolio includes birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, plants, and select mammals. The Curator establishes husbandry and welfare expectations, develops staff, guides collection and habitat planning, and ensures concerns receive timely decisions and follow-through. The role collaborates with Animal Health, Facilities, Life Support Systems, and other teams to support safe, reliable habitats and the Aquarium’s conservation and guest experience goals. The Curator leads animal and plant care, collection management, staff supervision and development, habitat operations and safety, and planning and resource management for assigned areas. The position also contributes expertise to exhibit and capital projects and supports research, field work, conservation initiatives, and professional partnerships related to assigned collections.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in biology, zoology, animal science, aquatic science, horticulture, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
At least five years of progressively responsible experience in an aquarium, zoo, or comparable animal care setting, including at least three years supervising staff.
Demonstrated knowledge of animal husbandry, welfare assessment, collection management, and complex habitat operations across one or more taxa in the assigned portfolio.
Ability to lead people, manage competing operational priorities and budgets, make informed decisions, and communicate effectively across disciplines.
Ability to recognize animal welfare, health, environmental, and safety concerns and coordinate an effective response.
Valid driver’s license and ability to meet the Aquarium’s requirements for driving on its behalf.

Nice To Haves

Experience with mixed-species habitats, population planning, breeding or propagation programs, and animal transfers.
Experience partnering with Facilities and Life Support Systems on complex exhibits or capital projects.
Participation in AZA programs, Species Survival Plans, Taxon Advisory Groups, research, conservation, or relevant professional organizations.

Responsibilities

Lead animal and plant care across assigned habitats, including nutrition, behavioral husbandry, habitat management, safe transport, acclimation, and population management, as applicable.
Use observations, records, welfare assessments, and professional judgment to identify concerns, evaluate outcomes, and improve care practices.
Ensure staff monitor feeding, behavior, and signs of illness or injury and document changes; promptly escalate significant welfare, health, safety, or system concerns.
Partner with Animal Health on preventive medicine, disease recognition, diagnostics, treatment plans, and health-related decisions, and ensure animal care teams carry out assigned care and monitoring.
Develop collection and breeding or propagation recommendations for assigned species.
Coordinate acquisitions, transfers, and dispositions with the Registrar, Animal Health, and Animal Care leadership through established approval processes.
Oversee inventories and the documentation, permits, and coordination required for animal and plant acquisitions, transfers, and dispositions.
Maintain complete, timely records and ensure practices meet applicable laws, permit conditions, AZA accreditation standards, and Aquarium policies.
Supervise Assistant Curators and provide direction and accountability for animal care and horticulture staff, volunteers, and interns in assigned areas.
Hire, onboard, coach, evaluate, and develop staff in partnership with Human Resources; set goals, address performance concerns, and support succession and workforce planning.
Set work priorities and staffing plans that meet animal care, safety, and operational needs, including coverage during incidents and other time-sensitive situations.
Build a respectful, collaborative culture that encourages sound judgment, cross-team communication, and timely escalation of concerns.
Monitor habitat conditions, exhibit function, and support spaces; identify maintenance and equipment needs and coordinate work with Facilities, Life Support Systems, and Environmental Quality.
Ensure animal care requirements are reflected in maintenance planning, pest management, construction, and exhibit changes; coordinate animal protection, access, and monitoring during this work.
Maintain and enforce safe work practices, emergency procedures, and incident response plans for assigned areas, and participate in responses to animal, facility, and environmental emergencies.
Coordinate habitat presentation and operations with Guest Engagement and other teams while protecting animal welfare and staff and guest safety.
Develop annual priorities and longer-term plans for assigned collections, habitats, staffing, and operational improvements in alignment with Animal Care and organizational goals.
Prepare and manage assigned budgets, purchasing, contracts, inventory, and other resources within approved limits and policies.
Contribute animal care expertise to exhibit and capital projects, including scope, design review, implementation, commissioning, and transition to ongoing operations.
Support appropriate research, field work, conservation initiatives, and professional partnerships related to assigned collections.
Represent the Aquarium in professional forums and public or media activities as authorized.