Chief Animal Officer

San Francisco Zoo & GardensChief Animal OfficerSUMMARYThis position is responsible for oversight of the Animal Programs division, including direct supervision of Curators and EVP of Animal Health and Welfare. This involves skilled leadership and supervision of all aspects of animal management, including husbandry, training, enrichment, and exhibit design and maintenance. The Chief Animal Officer serves as a member of the Senior Executive Team. In that role, they participate in setting strategic direction and policy for the San Francisco Zoo. This individual works effectively with all departments within the zoo, including San Francisco Zoo's Board of Directors and external entities.CORE EXPECTATIONS:Demonstrates a commitment to the Zoo's mission statement and its values.Performs duties in a service-oriented manner.Recognizes the needs of others and treats others with respect and dignity.Maintains good work habits and adheres to all policies and procedures.Demonstrates a commitment to maintaining a work environment free from discrimination and sexual harassment and supports the Zoo's commitment to equal employment opportunities.ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.Executive oversight of animal care, wellness, behavior, veterinary, and animal nutrition, including recruitment, selection, development, and performance management.Provides direction, technical guidance, and operational assistance to departmental staff in the care, maintenance, and display of exotic and domestic animals.Guides animal senior leadership to ensure excellence in husbandry and health of the animal collection; drives continuous improvements in animal care and welfare. Works to ensure achievement of institutional welfare program goals.Ensures documentation of all aspects of animal management and utilizes this information for troubleshooting and problem solving.Collaborates across internal and external partners to achieve zoo wide goals related to the institutional strategic, master and business plans.Works closely with Director of Animal Health and Welfare and hospital staff to facilitate implementation of the preventative medicine program. Works closely with the Nutrition Kitchen Manager to ensure proper acquisition, preparation, and delivery of food items for the animal collection.Evaluates departmental programs and serves in a leadership role for advancement of animal care/services, facilities, and equipment.Works with Director of Animal Health and Welfare and hospital staff to ensure upkeep and maintenance of hospital and nutrition physical campus and equipment.May participate in research projects for husbandry, breeding, welfare, behavior, or conservation of both captive and wild populations of animals.Serves as a technical expert and key spokesperson with regards to animal care and in potential crisis situations.Serves as a standing member of the San Francisco Zoo's Senior Executive Team.Works with Curators in the development, implementation and communication of animal collection and management plans that support organizational goals and objectives. Ensures adherence to institutional collection plan criteria, including factors related to field conservation impact and animal welfare.Develops and ensures implementation of standard operating guidelines, safety protocols, and emergency procedures.Creates and fosters a culture of organizational and departmental safety.Ensures that all animal areas and service facilities are maintained to exceed AZA, USDA, and all other regulatory agency requirements.Communicates changes in AZA accreditation standards to appropriate staff to help ensure compliance on a yearly basis at minimum or as changes occur.Oversees all compliance and permit requirements; works directly with local and federal governmental agencies, including California Parks & Wildlife, USFWS, and USDA.Development and oversight of annual operating and labor budgets and capital expenditures.Prioritization and oversight of safety issues, work orders, and small projects.Participates in the prioritization, design development, and construction oversight of capital improvement projects.Coordinates the participation of animal programs in guest experience initiatives, operational assistance, tours, and animal experiences for a wide variety of events, media opportunities, and donor and VIP groups.Ensures team support of organizational goals and objectives, including guest service, donor relations, and revenue generation, while maintaining the highest standards for animal care.Actively participates in professional, industry, and conservation activities; participating in plans and strategies to enhance the preservation of species both in situ and ex situ. Provides senior leadership for conservation programming, planning and collaboration.Prepares or assists with the preparation of content for publication or presentation in both professional and informal forums.Works with Curators, Director of Animal Health and Welfare to lead the animal response team relating to matters of animal welfare and safety.Possesses broad knowledge of zoo-wide animal facilities and SOPs.Able handle or shift animals of all taxonomic groups represented at the zoo.Problem solves or makes decisions affecting animals, their exhibits and/or associated facilities.Performs other duties as assigned.Interacts with Zoo visitors courteously and offers proper attention at all times.QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made toenable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.COMPETENCIES:Job Knowledge/Technical Knowledge: Demonstrates a sound working knowledge of current role and the technical systems and applications used in performing this role and understands the impact this role has on other business functions within the organization.Interpersonal Communication: Writes and speaks effectively based on the psychological, relational, situation, environmental and cultural dynamics within the situation.Manages Change: Demonstrates effectiveness and flexibility with changing environments, responsibilities, tasks, and people.Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves issues timely by gathering and analyzing information skillfully.Attention to Detail: Follows detailed procedures to ensure accuracy in the entry and reporting of data/information.Organization: Uses time efficiently by prioritizing and planning work activities. Methodical and efficient in structuring tasks to be accomplished.Professional maturity: The ability to separate emotional feelings from the real issues at hand. The ability to legitimately and objectively challenge the substance of our beliefs and biases of our observations.Initiative: Takes a responsible, proactive approach and willingness to get things done independently; readiness to take the lead on new projects, ideas, tasks or assignments.Responsibility: The ability to meet commitments made to yourself and to others. Is dedicated to keep the promises you make, acknowledging and accepting the choices you have made, the actions you have taken, and the results they have led to.Communication: The ability to write and speak effectively using appropriate convention based on the situation; actively listens to others, asks questions to verify understanding, and uses tact and consideration when delivering feedback to others.Flexibility: Demonstrate responsiveness and adaptability following change initiatives and demonstrate ongoing support for change efforts.Intelligence: Understand and comprehend information, as well as find application and value from new knowledge.Integrity and Respect: Demonstrates the utmost level of integrity in all instances and shows respect towards others and towards company principles.Judgment: Demonstrates ability to make independent and sound decisions in all situations.Guest Focus: The ability to demonstrate a series of activities designed to enhance the level of guest satisfaction.Teamwork: Shares key information with others involved in a project or effort, works in harmony to accomplish objectives, responds with enthusiasm to directives, and shows support for departmental and organizational decisions.Energetic: Exhibits high levels of energy and enthusiasmQuality: Sets high standards and measures of excellence to ensure quality assurance in every aspect of work performed.Computer Savvy: Has the knowledge and ability to use computers and technology efficiently and effectively.Collaboration and Partnership: Encourages and embraces dialogue from team members, while anticipating and resolving conflicting differences by exploring mutually agreeable solutions.Accountability: Takes personal responsibility and ownership for adhering to all company policies and procedures while also completing work timely and in accordance with performance expectations.EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in zoology, biology, animal husbandry, or related field is required; appropriate/advanced level of experience in all aspects may be considered equivalent in lieu of degree.EXPERIENCE: Ten years of progressively more responsible management experience at an AZA or equivalent facility required.Strong interpersonal, team building, and communication skills; must possess the ability to effectively partner with other departments, all levels of staff, and both internal and external stakeholders.Strong organizational, administrative, and time management skills; able to appropriately prioritize work and respond to shifting priorities and last-minute requests.PHYSICAL DEMANDS:Ascending or descending stairs, ramps, ladders and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms.Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or crouching on narrow or slippery surfaces.Bending legs downward and forward by bending leg and spineStanding or moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or sustained periods of time.Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force.Using upper extremities to exert force. Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontallyPerceiving size, shape, temperature, or texture by touching with skin, particularly the fingertipsActivities in which you must convey by spoken word or instruction to other workers accurately, loudly or quickly.Perceiving the nature of sounds with or without correctionSubstantial movements (motion) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingersVisual acuity including color, close/distance vision, depth perception, and peripheral vision.Ability to adjust focus.Moderate physical activity performing somewhat strenuous daily activities.Exerting up to 80 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, pull, or otherwise move objects.Manual dexterity sufficient to reach/handle items, works with the fingers, and perceives attributes of objects and materials.Produce negative test results for annual tuberculosis testing and vaccination for rabies or other zoonotic diseaseWORK 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 the essential functions. Outdoors and indoor environment with adequate ventilation.Moderate to loud noise.Exposure to significant levels of heat, cold, moisture and/or air pollution.Exposure to potentially dangerous animals and zoonotic diseases, chemical substances and physical trauma of a minor nature such as cuts, bruises and minor burns.OTHER DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:Requires substantial public contact requiring considerable interpersonal skill, extensive interaction with the public, donors, and members requiring a high degree of guest services skills.Salary200kHow to Applyhttps://employer.offerdox.com/myjobs/6146910a-e622-41c5-81a0-415c41c96efcSan Francisco Zoo & Gardens1 Zoo Road San FranciscoCA, CA 94132