Director of Zoological Operations in Draper, Utah at The Living Planet Aquarium

Position: Director of Zoological Operations

Reports To:  Vice President of Zoological Operations

Why Utah?

Utah is home to five national parks, world-class skiing and snowboarding, hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, and stunning deserts, mountains, and lakes, all within easy driving distance. Outdoor adventure is part of everyday life. The Salt Lake Valley consistently ranks high for safety, clean communities, short commute times, and family-friendly amenities. Draper offers a balance of suburban comfort and urban access, with downtown Salt Lake City just 15 minutes away. Enjoy all four seasons without extremes—sunny summers, colorful falls, snowy winters, and mild springs, perfect for both outdoor recreation and city living. Utah’s communities are known for being engaged, supportive, and service-oriented, making it easy for newcomers to feel at home.

About Loveland Living Planet Aquarium:

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (LLPA) is a mission-driven institution dedicated to inspiring people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems. Founded in 1997, the Aquarium provides impactful educational experiences for guests of all ages and backgrounds.

Since opening its Draper, Utah facility in 2014, LLPA has welcomed more than 10 million visitors and delivered over 650,000 educational experiences to students. Home to over 4,000 animals representing 650 species, the Aquarium features immersive habitats from around the world, including coral reefs, kelp forests, the deep ocean, Antarctic waters, tropical rainforests, Asian cloud forests, and Utah’s freshwater ecosystems.

Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2019, LLPA is in an exciting phase of growth. With the Sam and Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center currently under construction, the Aquarium will soon become the largest in the Mountain West and the fifth largest aquarium in the continental United States, offering expanded opportunities for education, research, and professional impact.

Position Summary:

The Director of Zoological Operations is responsible for the day-to-day operations and strategy for all aspects of the teams responsible for animal care, Exhibitry, and environmental quality. Come work with a passionate team of experts in the fields of animal care, life support, horticulture, and dive operations, to help steer our team towards an institutional vision to inspire guests and foster stewardship of the environment and life on earth.

Qualifications:

• Four-year degree in zoological or biological sciences. Candidates with a suitable combined equivalent of education and experience will be considered.
• Eight (8) years of direct experience caring for and training some combination of the following taxa: birds, herptiles, big cats, otters and other medium non-hoof stock non-primate mammals, teleost fish, elasmobranchs.
• Five (5) years of experience serving in a supervisory role at a curator level or above at an AZA zoological or aquarium institution, with responsibility for staff recruitment, team culture, budget, and high-level collection management.

Critical Skills/Competencies:  

•  Exceptional interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills including presentation skills, and the ability to listen actively by summarizing, asking clarifying questions, and interpreting.
•  Demonstrated commitment to expertise in areas of animal care including training, welfare and wellbeing, husbandry technical competency, Exhibitry, research, or reproduction.
•  Demonstrated leadership acumen in management and supervision of a large, diverse, and passionate team of zoological science experts.
•  Demonstrated experience in departmental administration, including budgetary oversight, project development and management, strategic planning, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Reports directly to the Vice President of Zoological Operations and manages a high-performing team of more than sixty animal care specialists, horticulturists, life support technicians, and dive operators.
• Serve as a positive leader, through proactive communication, timely feedback, staff development, efficient use of departmental resources, and careful prioritization of institutional goals.
• Model a leadership style that fosters an atmosphere of inclusion, teamwork, and safety, and demonstrates the Aquarium's values (Integrity, Thirst for Learning, Commitment to Excellence, Stewardship & Conservation, Leadership & Growth, Fun!)
• Directly oversees and supports Curatorial Team (Birds and Mammals, Ambassador Programs, Freshwater and Quarantine, Saltwater) and other Zoo Ops managers (Life Support, Horticulture, Dive Operations). Coordinates closely with Veterinary Team to support animal health goals and clinical care.
• Responsible for the consistency and quality of all aspects of care for the Aquarium's living collection including: health, welfare, nutrition, sustainability of populations, training and enrichment, environmental quality, and exhibitry.
• Responsible for overseeing zoological record-keeping systems (e.g., TRACKS), record entry, and data integrity.
• Responsible for collaboratively maximizing impact of Aquarium resources in pursuit of fulfilling the Aquarium's mission to inspire, through collection planning, exhibit design and maintenance. Coordinates routinely with Guest Services, Education, Facilities, Marketing, and other departments to achieve an optimal guest experience.
• Responsible for facilitating compliance with all local, state, federal, and other regulatory guidelines and standards, including but not limited to: USDA APHIS, USFWS, UT DNR, AZA, OSHA, AAUS.
• Using objective metrics, provide oversight and implementation of departmental activities and institutional initiatives, such as: departmental administration, operational integrity, capital and annual project development, budget management, and staff development and culture.
• Responsible for oversight of all spaces, equipment, and infrastructure related to zoological operations. Works closely with institutional colleagues to ensure proactive maintenance and development of new projects to meet animal care and exhibitry goals.
• Responsible for oversight of departmental best practices through audits and inspections, drills, curation of departmental SOPs, compliance with safety protocols, and adherence to institutional policies and standards.
• Serve as subject matter expert in providing insight on construction, habitat and facility design and maintenance of modern zoological practices in animal keeping and husbandry, under the philosophies established by the Aquarium's leadership team.
• Responsible for representing the Aquarium in the field of animal care, overseeing the institution's AZA Animal Management programs, participating in the larger AZA community, and developing and maintaining relationship with other animal care, science, and conservation-based entities in support of the Aquarium's mission.

Physical Demands of the Job:  

• This position requires periods of standing and walking as well as extended periods of sitting with technology systems and reporting. The role will primarily be within an attraction environment.
• Must be able to function effectively in a variety of exhibit and non-exhibit settings. This may include wading, walking on wet floors, and outdoor work under variety of conditions: cold weather, hot weather, high humidity, rain, mud.
• Considerable physical exertion, such as walking, bending, stooping and climbing of ladders may be required.
• Lifting of heavy objects (up to 50 pounds) on a frequent basis.
• Hours and availability: This is a salaried position calculated at 40 hours per week; Position will share in providing on-call support for after-hours emergencies, weekends, and holiday coverage.

Benefits & Perks

• Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus optional FSA/HSA accounts
• Paid time off & 12 paid holidays per year
• Paid bereavement leave and paid new child leave (birth, adoption, or placement)
• Employer-paid short-term disability; optional long-term disability coverage
• Convenient onsite childcare (employees pay approximately 20% of the cost)

• 401(k) with match up to 4% - fully vested from day 1 of contribution
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Free Aquarium membership
• Discounts on tickets, gift shop, and café purchases
• Free and discounted animal encounters
• Pet insurance and discounts

• Footwear discounts
• Entertainment, travel, and retail savings through Tickets at Work

While this job description attempts to describe the essential functions of the position, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. It does not restrict management’s right to assign or reassign duties or responsibilities to this job at any time. The overall work environment while performing this job includes exposure to weather conditions and the noise level is usually moderate. The employee is expected to adhere to all policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies. 

The Living Planet Aquarium is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or military status. The Living Planet Aquarium is committed to ensuring individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application and interview process. Should you require accommodations, please contact accommodation@livingplanetaquarium.org.