Shedd Aquarium illustrates a commitment to providing optimal animal welfare through careful oversight of all areas of operations. The Director of Fishes provides broad oversight of daily operations of the department.  This position supports and provides oversight of the Fishes Leadership team.  The Aquarium’s current and future needs are overseen through the context of habitat planning, development, and modification to achieve optimal welfare.  Working in collaboration with the Senior Directors of Animal Care and Sustainability, Senior Director of Animal Operations and Habitats and Animal Behavior and Training, the VP of Animal Health, and the Chief Animal Operations Officer, the Director of Fishes oversees daily operations of the department. 

The Director of Fishes partners with and supports the Senior Directors in the oversight of the Fishes department and represents the department on senior level committees and initiatives.  This position is responsible for directing the overall management of the Amazon, Wild Reef, Galleries, Special Exhibits, Quarantine and offsite divisions.  The Director of Fishes works with numerous other departments including Animal Care, Animal Health, Environmental Quality, Facilities, and Marine Mammals - to help ensure smooth and effective operations involving the animal collection. This position works cooperatively with the Animals management team to ensure compliance with all accreditation and regulatory requirements for departmental operations and provides full support of the aquarium’s SCUBA diving program as directed by the Dive Program Manager. 

The Director of Fishes serves in a leadership capacity on the aquarium’s Operations Management Team and works to facilitate inter-departmental planning and implementation of strategies to meet institutional objectives and initiatives requiring support of the Fishes departments and serves as an aquarium spokesperson as needed. 

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate commitment to Shedd's vision, mission and values.
• Provide leadership, oversight and direction for long term efficiencies, optimal animal welfare, and collection sustainability through operational and habitat maintenance, assessment, development, and modification.
• Overall management of Fishes Department staff.
• Lead Fishes  team effectively within and among departments towards contributing to the well-being and exhibition of animals in Shedd’s care with additional focus on public perception and engagement.
• Collaborate with and support leadership in all areas of operations to achieve shared goals supporting Shedd’s mission and vision.
• Assist with development and management of budgets in collaboration with Fishes Leadership team
• Work effectively with Fishes leadership team to oversee daily operations, achieve goals and long-term objectives. 
• Provide leadership, support, and care for personnel within and among departments.
• Work effectively with other departments contributing to the wellbeing and exhibition of a living collection.
• Provide external representation of Shedd’s animal care expertise, welfare culture, and sustainability commitment.
• Work with other departments throughout the aquarium to meet organizational goals and objectives.
• Communicate in relevant professional communities with well-articulated and effective written and oral statements crafted in collaboration with Shedd communication experts.
• Support animal care, and habitat maintenance and development towards Shedd’s animal welfare and sustainability goals.
• Support collaborative research and development strategies for animal welfare and engaging and impactful exhibit concepts.
• Other projects and duties as assigned.

Experience and Experience

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree (in marine sciences, biology, zoology or related) and several years of full-time experience OR 10+ years of equivalent experience in animal care at an accredited aquarium with a focus on aquatic animals, with five of the years spent in a management role.
• An advanced knowledge of maintaining wide taxa of aquatic species.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements for maintaining a living collection.
• Experience in meeting the requirements to acquire and maintain accreditation by relevant industry organizations
• Short and long-range collection planning experience.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Good organizational and electronic record keeping skills.
  • Proficient computer skills
• Ability to maintain professional relationships with co-workers across departments.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively independently and in a team setting
• Excellent communication skills are essential with public relations experience a plus.
• Ability to work effectively in dynamic and changing work environment.
• Working knowledge of the use of SCUBA to maintain aquatic animals and habitats.
  • Efficient use of SCUBA for exhibit maintenance and/or open water diving
• This position may call for special scheduling and overtime as needed, sometimes without much advance notice.  Must be able to work weekends, evenings, early morning and holidays as needed.

Certifications

• Must possess a valid driver's license and passport.
• Must possess current SCUBA certification from a professionally recognized SCUBA certifying agency.

Other Requirements

• Must possess strong swimming skills.
• Must be able to walk, bend, kneel, and climb stairs and ladders while in dive gear.
• Constant adequate range of motion and mobility required.
• Must have cognitive and communication skills required to function within the department.
• Regular hearing and the ability to perceive the nature of sounds.
• Must be able to read, write and speak English.
• Must be safety conscious.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills with supervisors, co-workers and visitors in a variety of settings.
• Must have good organizational and time management skills.