Director, Animal Behavior And Training

Summary
Shedd Aquarium illustrates a commitment to optimal animal care and welfare to facilitate impactful public engagement with wildlife. Our animals first approach has a foundation that individuals and groups of animals can exhibit natural behaviors encouraged through complex environmental design, innovative behavioral training, and enrichment.
The Director of Animal Behavior and Training (DABT) provides broad oversight of the Aquarium's current and future needs in the context of Animal Behavior and Training. Working in collaboration with Animal Care and Science Division Directors and Senior Leadership, the DABT leads the Animal Care Team across all taxa in assessing, planning, and executing training to achieve health, welfare, enrichment, and sustainability goals.
The DABT uses a focus on behavioral training to create optimal conditions for Shedd's animals, and, to spark audiences' compassion, curiosity, and conservation through impactful observations and encounters. This position contributes to collection planning, record keeping, breeding, and animal transfers to maximize opportunities for optimal animal health, behavior, and habitat development. Partnering with the Animals' leadership team, the DABT examines and leads solutions using behavioral training for reproduction, public programming, and rescue and rehabilitation by applying a philosophy of positive reinforcement for the animals. With partners in habitat, health, and sustainability leadership the DABT assesses training and welfare needs, holding and environmental requirements, essential husbandry including diversified diets, and opportunities for research and development.
The DABT oversees leadership positions for the Oceanarium Team which includes marine mammals, penguins, and ambassador animals engaged in public encounters. In close partnership with the Director of the Aquarium Team, the DABT oversees animal training for the Aquarium animal populations. In addition to collaboration with the Animal Care & Science leadership, the DABT works closely with Environmental Quality, Facilities, Guest Experiences, Development, HR, Learning and Community, Planning and Design, Events, and Finance to integrate and elevate Animal Behavior and Training goals across One Shedd while supporting all areas of business operations.
The DABT contributes to maintaining compliance with all accreditation and regulatory/permitting requirements for departmental operations including full support of the aquarium's SCUBA diving program as directed by the Dive Operations Manager. This position oversees management and communication of, and actively engages in sustainability goal development and recommendations, with partners within AZA's relevant Taxon Advisory Groups and among partners in the aquarium community.
The DABT serves in a leadership capacity on the aquarium's Leadership Forum Team and works to facilitate inter-departmental planning and implementation of strategies to meet institutional objectives and initiatives. This position helps represent Shedd's role in Animal Behavior and Training within our aquarium and in the broader professional community. The DABT works to develop and empower its team members to advance animal care and the future of Shedd Aquarium.
Duties & Responsibilities
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the necessary knowledge, skill, and/or ability to perform the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Demonstrate commitment to Shedd's vision, mission, and values.
• Provide leadership for professional growth, trust, and collaboration across the division.
• Publicly represent Shedd and its programs - particularly regarding marine mammal and Animal Behavioral training subject matter. This includes overseeing the development and execution of presentations and serving as an aquarium spokesperson for high-profile issues in the media and elsewhere in conjunction with Shedd's communication experts.
• Oversee the selection, training, development, management, and growth of the Oceanarium Team.
• Utilizes independent judgment and discretion in the exercise of supervisory responsibility and authority with respect to the Manager of Animal Engagement & Interpretive Training, Manager of Cetaceans, Manager of Penguin & Sea Otters, and Manager of Sea Lions in the Animal Care and Science Division, including assigning and directing work, evaluating job performance, resolving job concerns and problems, implementing or effectively recommending decisions concerning hiring, transfer, reassignment, promotion, merit or other compensation increases or rewards, layoff, recall, discipline and/or discharge.
• Lead training protocol for proactive medical care for all animals in Shedd's care, with primary responsibility focused on the Oceanarium Team animal populations.
• Oversee reproductive management of cetaceans including training for assisted reproductive technology and planning/executing recommended animal transports.
• Formulate policy and direction for the successful operation of the department, including its physical, animal, and human resources, in a manner to promote the health and well-being of the animals and people.
• Plan and manage all activities of the department through the administration of an approved budget and its control.
• Collaborate with national and international breeding and conservation programs when appropriate.
• Oversee the implementation of up-to-date husbandry practices and maintain a strong use of positive operant conditioning principles in the day-to-day care and Training of all animals.
• Support the goals and objectives of professional organizations (AZA, IMATA, IAAM, ALLSO, etc.) as they relate to the aquarium and support team participation in these organizations.
• Support the goals and objectives of professional organizations (AZA, IMATA, IAAM, ALLSO, etc.) as they relate to the aquarium and support team participation in these organizations.
• Maintain familiarity and basic working knowledge of life support systems, water quality parameters, and veterinary protocols.
• Lead training protocol to elicit, encourage, and facilitate natural behaviors for all animals in Shedd's care.
• Lead and oversee animal welfare assessments reflecting proactive and reactive responses to medical conditions and concerns.
• Oversee training protocol for research, rescue, and rehabilitation for all animals in Shedd's care.
• Support transfer and breeding programs around the organization's needs and apply appropriate training protocols.
• Develop, implement, and direct strategies for the Oceanarium and Aquarium teams to maintain and grow behaviors aligned with Shedd's mission and vision.
• Develop and implement a staff training program to build better welfare and sustainability through excellent husbandry, operant conditioning, public speaking, advanced operant conditioning application, and communication.
• Evaluate and recommend participation in research and conservation initiatives aligned with Shedd's mission and vision.
• Assure departmental compliance with all International, Federal, and Local laws. This includes maintaining permits, regular reporting, inspection compliance, inter-facility exchanges, and various interactions with government agencies, including (but not limited to) the USDA, NMFS, US Fish & Wildlife, D.F.O., etc.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
Education & Experience

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree (in marine sciences, biology, zoology or related) and 10+ years of experience in animal care at an accredited zoo or aquarium with a focus on aquatic animals, with at least two years spent in a management role.
• SCUBA certification, minimum Open Water.
• Knowledge of caring for a wide variety of taxa of primarily aquatic species.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements for maintaining a living collection.
• Knowledge of record keeping requirements for regulatory and industry organizations, including animal transfers.
• Knowledge of life support systems, water quality parameters, veterinary protocols, and government policies.
• Good communication, leadership, and personnel management skills are essential.

Language & Communication Skills

• Ability to read, write, speak, and comprehend English fluently.
• Ability to read and comprehend complex instructions given from written and oral sources.
• Ability to write professional business correspondence.
• Ability to effectively present information to all One Shedd team members.
• Ability to lead, inspire, and manage people.
• Ability to execute department planning and strategy.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to understand basic mathematical relationships and formulas.
• Ability to understand and employ intermediate level accounting mathematics.

Reasoning Kills

• Ability to work with little or no supervision.
• Ability to work within a team environment.
• Ability to use common sense techniques in solving problems.
• Ability to solve complex logical problems.
• Ability to use diplomacy and tact when dealing with problems.
• Ability to identify problems and determine the best course of action for their resolution.
• Ability to critically evaluate information for accuracy and usefulness in solving problems.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in a variety of situations.
• Ability to evaluate and recommend behavioral solutions for optimal welfare and sustainability of animals in Shedd's care.
• Ability to plan for the development of animals in Shedd's care for public engagement, sustainability, and research.
• Ability to develop and manage a department budget.

Computer Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office programs.
• Ability to use animal management software including TRACKs.
• Ability to use multiple software applications for accounting, employee management, and interdepartmental business operations.

Physical Skills
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Lift up to 40 pounds
• Sit
• Stand
• Stoop
• Walk

Working Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
This person may be exposed to:

• Water
• Low noise
• Moderate Noise
• Loud Noise

We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ community, veterans and active duty military, parents, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from all cultural backgrounds to apply. Shedd Aquarium is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team.
If you need a reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know. In your application, please feel free to select which pronouns you use (For example - she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs).