Animal Health Senior Manager

About the Role

The Senior Hospital Manager oversees the operations, staff, and equipment of the Sea World Abu Dhabi (SWAD) Veterinary Hospitals, ensuring the delivery of high-quality veterinary care, timely, and support of animal health, welfare, and conservation. The hospital provides veterinary services for the full animal population at SWAD, including mammals, fish, reptiles, birds, and invertebrates, and supports the affiliated Yas Sea World Research & Rescue (YSWRR) marine life rescue and rehabilitation program.

This role leads the team of Veterinary Technologists, with direct responsibility for daily workflow oversight, staff supervision, workload distribution, training, and professional development. The Senior Hospital Manager maintains an active, visible presence within the hospital and is responsible for hospital discipline, safe working practices, equipment functionality, and the consistent implementation of approved SOPs and quality standards. The Senior Hospital Manager is accountable for the operational quality and integrity of all hospital capabilities, including regulatory compliance, safety management and audits, financial management, procurement and budget control, and corrective action.

Working collaboratively with Animal Health and Welfare operations (Laboratory, Pathology and Nutrition) leadership, the Animal Health and Welfare Director. The role requires a proactive, hands‑on leader with sound judgement, who balances technical oversight with operational coordination, sets clear expectations and acts as a role model for professional conduct, integrity, and adherence to SWAD values, through effective leadership and accountability, the role contributes directly to hospital excellence and the organization’s broader mission of animal welfare, research, and regional conservation impact.

• Oversee day-to-day hospital operations with potential active on floor presence
• Oversee workflows, procedure schedules, and communicate result release across all disciplines if required
• Act as the primary escalation point for operational, technical, and workflow issues
• Ensure hospital procedures are implemented in practice in line with approved SOPs and clinical expectations
• Assist with development and implementation of area and department goals
• Communicate professionally and openly within zoo and park-wide colleagues
• Be a liaison between veterinarians and support colleagues
• Demonstrate a commitment to company values and safety
• Able to participate in medical procedures
• Working with company to prepare financial statements
• Monitoring KPI’s, settling fees/petty cash
• Coordination of external services, contractors/consultants/government agencies
• Conduct team meetings and attend zoo leadership meetings
• Support mission and organizational initiatives
• Plan audits, risk management, and quality control checks
• Lead accreditation processes and government licensing requirements
• Oversee revenue-generating services
• Coordinate with education department on programming needs

• Line-manager the Veterinary Technologists, including rostering, workload distribution, supervision, and performance oversight
• Ensure staff competency, training, and adherence to defined scopes of practice
• Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and corrective guidance as required
• Support staff development and succession planning in collaboration with the Director/department leadership roles
• Hire/onboarding of new colleagues in coordination with Director of Animal Health and Welfare and talent acquisition
• Conduct performance reviews for direct reports
• Develop and promote colleague recognition and motivation
• Oversee compliance with area SOPs including animal husbandry
• Update area SOPs with assistance from veterinary technicians, laboratory, and nutrition colleagues
• Promote team environment
• Responsible for colleague development, coaching and assistance in coordinating CE and licensing
• Updating job descriptions and employee files
• Participate in research studies and academic paper publications

• Ensure accuracy, timeliness, and consistency of hospital equipment and…