Program Manager, Registration and Aquarium Operations

The posting, as California Academy of Sciences wrote it

About the California Academy of Sciences

Founded in 1853 , the California Academy of Sciences is a globally renowned, AZA-accredited non-profit scientific and cultural institution located in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Home to a world-class planetarium, aquarium, rainforest, research institute, and natural history museum—all under one living roof— our mission is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration.

Our living collection reflects Earth’s vast biodiversity, consisting of nearly 60,000 animals representing over 800 species. Our research collections are the largest west of the Mississippi, spanning nearly 46 million plants, animals, fossils, and cultural artifacts from across the globe and throughout history. Our diverse team includes leading biodiversity scientists, educators, storytellers, designers, and communicators who are passionate about advancing knowledge and catalyzing action through science and storytelling.

Whether you're conducting research behind the scenes or engaging the public on the museum floor, your work will help connect people to the natural world and empower them to protect it.

About the Opportunity

The Steinhart Aquarium is currently seeking a Registration and Operations Manager to join our team. Reporting to the Curator of Aquarium Operations, this position is split between registration and recordkeeping (approximately 60% of duties) and managing departmental operations (approximately 40% of the role). As the lead registration staff member, you will oversee the Institutional Recordkeeping Program for the Steinhart Aquarium, and ensure that all records are kept up to date and in accordance with the best practices and industry standards set by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Working with minimal oversight and supervision, you will be accountable for managing and maintaining the collection inventory, animal transactions (loans, acquisitions and transfers), births and deaths, transfers between enclosures, behavioral and reproductive notes, and similar program elements. This role ensures that our record-keeping system provides sufficient detail to enhance husbandry, breeding, conservation and medical health advancements to move forward the critical knowledge of species through permanent, retrievable documentation. Operational duties include tracking safety and compliance programs, scheduling meetings and staff training sessions, and coordinating the recruiting and onboarding of departmental volunteers. Work schedule may include weekends, evenings and holidays.

Organizational Culture

When you join the California Academy of Sciences, you become part of a mission-driven community that values curiosity, collaboration, and innovation, and celebrates its accomplishments together. Staff share a commitment to executing a new strategic plan that will strengthen the organization's financial foundations, cultivate a vibrant internal culture, and foster smart
[…]
zational and problem solving skills.

• Ability to multitask, adapt, and prioritize.
• Ability to work as a member of a team and engage in a culture that promotes trust, respect, and accountability.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as departmental protocols, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to utilize web-based communication and collaboration applications.

Physical Environment

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

• Ability to perform repetitive motions 75% of the time.
• Requires the ability to stand, sit, walk, and reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear.
• Must be able to work a computer.
• Must be able to climb stairs and ladders.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position is $82,202.00. Actual compensation will be commensurate with the final candidate's qualifications and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications and aligned with the internal peer group. We believe in fair and equitable compensation practices and are committed to providing competitive salaries within the industry and market standards. The Academy offers a total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and comprehensive benefits based on the hours per week worked. Further details regarding compensation and benefits will be discussed during the interview process.

Schedule : Full-Time/On site, 40 hours per week

How to Apply: Interested candidates should submit a resume and application through our Careers Page portal.

The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).