Director of Zoological Operations

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.
• 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…