Supervisor Birds and Mammals at Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Aquarium

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Bird & Mammal Supervisor 

Dept: Animal Care

Reports To: Curator of Birds & Mammals

Supervises: Bird & Mammal Care Staff

Hours of work: This role follows either a Sunday–Thursday or Tuesday–Saturday work week. Standard shifts are 7:00 am–3:30 pm, with occasional fish prep shifts from 5:00 am–1:30 pm or 6:00 am–2:30 pm. Some evening shifts may also be required.

Date Needed: November 2025

Position Summary:

This position is responsible for all assigned husbandry duties of the Seattle Aquarium’s bird and mammal population and the staff supervision of assigned Animal Care Specialists. This position will be caring for: sea otters, harbor seals, northern fur seals, North American river otters, various alcids and shorebirds, and fish and invertebrates which inhabit the bird habitats. Strong skills in organization, time management, and follow-through on projects. Experience with bird and marine mammal biology, water quality analysis, aquatic life support systems, and marine animal health is valuable for this role. Candidates with transferrable skills are also encouraged to apply.

Multicultural, multilingual, and diverse experiences are an asset in this role as we have a diverse and passionate team. The natural sciences and the conservation movement have historically marginalized many communities from taking on scientific, management, and supervision roles such as this one. The Aquarium actively seeks to dismantle this practice and broaden participation in marine and environmental conservation professions, making them more inclusive of the full diversity of our communities and responsive to their needs and perspectives. Candidates passionate about anti-racism, social justice, environmental justice, and other intersections will be an asset to our work. The knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below may be demonstrated through a combination of relevant cultural, traditional practices, community programs, jobs, internships, volunteer experience, and/or formal or informal education.

Primary Responsibilities and Functions:

Staff Supervision & Leadership:

• Coordinate and direct workflow, time management, and scheduling of BAM (Bird & Mammal) staff as defined by the Curator.
• Provide direct supervision of and mentorship to BAM staff, relief staff, interns, and volunteers.
• Facilitate training on husbandry and habitat maintenance/safety tasks, interactive animal-guest experiences/tours, record keeping, animal training, welfare and quality of life assessments, etc.
• Conduct annual performance reviews, work on goal setting, and support professional development of assigned animal care staff.
• Work closely with the Curator to ensure that the hiring, onboarding, and training of staff and volunteers align with BAM priorities as well as with the Aquarium’s S.A.L.I.S.H. values, DEI values, and Regenerative programs.
• Advocate for BAM staff; foster an environment where team members’ overall wellbeing is supported. Prioritize ensuring psychological safety and practicing emotional intelligence in communications. Commit to ongoing learning in these areas, supported by Aquarium training and resources.
• Act as the lead staff member and point of contact for daily BAM team animal care operations.
• Ability to lead drills and response in emergencies.
• Responsibly manage Aquarium credit card and oversee BAM team supply ordering.

Animal Care:

• Lead daily animal care operations within BAM team, including diet preparation and monitoring, habitat care and maintenance, etc. Delegate work amongst team as necessary.
• Plan for, apply, and mentor staff on appropriate operant conditioning techniques with an emphasis on positive reinforcement. Collaborate with staff and veterinary teams to troubleshoot behavioral challenges using evidence-based, welfare-focused approaches.
• Observe/evaluate animal behavior to determine physical and behavioral health and wellbeing.
• Collaborate with the Curator in creating, implementing, and maintaining written procedures for all BAM habitats to ensure the highest level of animal welfare, training, operational efficiency, and cleanliness. Ensure compliance by the team with all standard operating procedures and husbandry manuals for all species and animal facilities managed by the BAM team.
• Design, implement, offer, evaluate, and document a variety of behavioral enrichment opportunities for the animal collection that encourage natural behavior. Coach others in this.
• Maintain records and reports regarding assigned species including daily veterinary reports, habitat maintenance, food consumption records, and other reports.
• Be familiar with the Animal Welfare Act and all USDA/APHIS regulations pertaining to maintaining and public display of marine mammals and birds. Ensure work outputs also comply with all necessary AZA accreditation standards.
• Lead administration of medications and treatments according to established procedures and veterinary instructions. Lead handling or restraining animals in accordance with established safety procedures as necessary to ensure animal welfare.
• Possess proficient public speaking skills necessary to interpret natural history and conservation issues effectively with the public in both formal (on microphone) and informal settings.
• Provide occasional response to animal emergencies outside of normally scheduled hours.

Collaboration and Engagement:

• Establish, maintain, coordinate, advise, and plan using cooperative and effective working relationships with other departments to support BAM team needs or asks from others. Practice respect and reciprocity in all communications.
• Act as an individual species Lead for institution’s resident BAM species/habitats as assigned.
• Adjust species diets, monitor animal weights, coordinate species behavioral training goals in collaboration with Curator, Supervisors, and Veterinary team, provide extra focus and advocation for animal/area needs, and train other BAM staff members in standards of care for species.
• Work with the Curator to aid in the acquisition and disposition of new animals including internal approval, permitting, coordinating, and executing safe transport, quarantine, acclimation, and introduction to habitats.
• Share technical knowledge, submit and coordinate work orders, and communicate habitat need requests with Facilities and Engineering staff.
• May hold roles including Veterinary Medication Clerk, Assistant to research department staff, BAM Volunteer or Internship Coordinator, BAM Tracks Coordinator, Enrichment Committee, various Event Committees, Equity team, Morale Committee, etc.
• Coordinate, plan, and execute the Animal Care team aspects of special events, media, and BAM area tours.
• Ability to communicate effectively across different teams, using clear and inclusive communication styles. 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Have computer skills including MS Teams applications, Excel, Word, and Tracks.
• Participate in team, department, and aquarium-wide meetings and engagements as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education/Training/Experience Requirements:

• B.A./B.S. degree in biology, marine biology, or related field or various combinations of relevant experience to meet minimum requirements are considered.
• Possess a At least 5 years’ experience in animal care, with at least 1 year of demonstrated leadership experience. Leadership may include supervising staff, mentoring, community organizing, or leading projects. (AZA facility preferred).
• Must have or be able to obtain a Washington State Driver’s License. May drive aquarium vehicles as assigned to participate in field work, transport animals or equipment between regional zoological facilities, or attend other staff development opportunities.
• Must be able to obtain CPR, first aid, and AED certifications. Training provided.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will need to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Must be able to climb stairs, ladders, and steep rock work, and be harnessed with safety gear
• when appropriate; have a good sense of balance; and can team lift and move 50 pounds.
• Capable of being on their feet 6+ hours/day and being active through physical motions.
• Required to work outdoors year-round, near water, in confined spaces, on wet and slippery surfaces, and at heights.
• Because this role involves working near and sometimes in water, candidates must be able to demonstrate safe practices around aquatic environments. Swimming ability is preferred; accommodations may be possible in certain duties.
• Requires handling, working with or exposure to large, dangerous animals, animal diseases, animal feces and toxic chemicals.

Salary and Benefits: $31.79 - $36.50/hour, Dependent on experience. Please include salary expectations in your materials. Full-time staff are eligible for the Seattle Aquarium’s comprehensive benefits package to include medical, vision, dental, an employer-funded health reimbursement account, medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, 403b retirement fund with employer match, access to a subsidized ORCA pass, a Seattle Aquarium Family Plus membership and generous paid time off.

How to apply: The Seattle Aquarium is committed to expanding a diverse, equitable, and inclusive conservation movement. We are invested in building an Aquarium with a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, languages, cultural ways of knowing, and life experiences. We know research shows that society has conditioned communities of color, trans and gender non-conforming people, immigrants, people with disabilities, and other marginalized candidates to more frequently not apply to a job because they don’t feel that they meet all of the qualifications listed even if they are qualified. If you meet some of the requirements and you are passionate about our mission and our ocean, we encourage you to apply and look forward to learning more about you.

Interested candidates should upload a résumé to our online application to be considered. Application review will begin immediately.  

SeattleAquarium.org/careers 

Please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for this job by emailing us at [email protected].  

Note: If offered the position, candidates must pass a background check. Conviction record is not an automatic disqualifier; we are a second chance employer.  

About the Seattle Aquarium: 

The Seattle Aquarium is a respected authority on Puget Sound, the Salish Sea and the world’s one ocean. Our team increases awareness and drives the change needed to preserve and protect our marine environment by providing excellent care and wellbeing for over 5,000 animals to create an inspiring visitor experience, offer engaging daytime and evening events, conservation education programs for people of all ages and backgrounds, community outreach to marginalized populations, research that advances understanding of animals in our care and their counterparts in the wild, advocacy and policy work, an award-winning volunteer program, high-impact marketing and communications, and more.  

Our values, developed in conjunction with our staff, include commitments to adopting and promoting sustainable practices, creating awe-inspiring experiences, constantly learning and improving, fostering an inclusive community, maintaining scientific credibility through evidence-based practices and honoring our unique place by using our location and history as a lens for larger understanding.  

Proudly accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, we’re among the top 10 aquariums in the U.S. by attendance, and we welcome over 1 million people each year guided by our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment . Learn more at SeattleAquarium.org.