Zoo curator

Zoo curators are usually the position of middle-management within an institution. Much of their work involves oversight, management and development of the animal collection. Often this is related to animal husbandry and welfare policy, the acquisition and disposition of zoo animals, and development of new exhibits. Zoos normally acquire animals through captive breeding programs. The zoo collection, trade, and transport of the animals is regulated by government agencies as well as guided by zoo membership organisations. Consequently, zoo curators act as a liaison between these agencies and the zoo itself. Additionally, they play an active role in the administration of zoo functions and all kinds of captive breeding programs.

The following job titles also refer to zoo curator:

curator of living collections
aquarium curator
general curator
zoo collection’s supervisor
curator of reptiles
zoo general curator
mammal curator
collections supervisor
zoo collection curator
curator of ectotherms
collection curator
curator of herpetology
curator of invertebrates
head of living collections
curator of mammals
zoological curator

Master’s degree is generally required to work as zoo curator. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Zoo curator is a Skill level 3 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to zoo curator.

gambling manager
lottery manager
recreational facilities manager
cultural centre director
performance production manager

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of zoo curator. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of zoo curator with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

animal facility manager
botanist
zoo registrar
sports programme coordinator
auction house manager

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of zoo curator.

Animal acquisition: The relevant legal, recommended and ethical considerations related to the acquisition and disposition of animals.
Zoo regulations: National, regional and international regulations related to zoos.
Animal evolution: The evolutionary history of animals and the development of species and their behaviour through domestication.
Animal welfare legislation: The legal boundaries, codes of professional conduct, national and EU regulatory frameworks and legal procedures of working with animals and living organisms, ensuring their welfare and health.
Physiology of animals: The study of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical and biochemical functioning of animals, their organs and their cells.
Corporate social responsibility: The handling or managing of business processes in a responsible and ethical manner considering the economic responsibility towards shareholders as equally important as the responsibility towards environmental and social stakeholders.
Environmental legislation: The environmental policies and legislation applicable in a certain domain.
Budgetary principles: Principles of estimating and planning of forecasts for business activity, compile regular budget and reports.
Recreation activities: The field and characteristics of recreational activities for customers.
Applied zoology: The science of applying animal anatomy, physiology, ecology, and behaviour in a particular practical context.
Anatomy of animals: The study of animal body parts, their structure and dynamic relationships, on a level as demanded by the specific occupation.
Animal breeding programmes: Principles relevant to breeding programme management, such as population genetics and demographics, national and international legislation, policies and procedures of industry relevant organisations or associations.

These skills are necessary for the role of zoo curator.

Manage supplies: Monitor and control the flow of supplies that includes the purchase, storage and movement of the required quality of raw materials, and also work-in-progress inventory. Manage supply chain activities and synchronise supply with demand of production and customer.
Represent the organisation: Act as representative of the institution, company or organisation to the outside world.
Organise zoological exhibitions: Organise zoological exhibitions and the display of live animals and zoological collections.
Coordinate events: Lead events by managing budget, logistics, event support, security, emergency plans and follow up.
Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
Liaise with local authorities: Maintain the liaison and exchange of information with regional or local authorities.
Speak different languages: Master foreign languages to be able to communicate in one or more foreign languages.
Manage staff: Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
Assess the compatibility of individuals and animals to work together: Ensure work harmony between humans and animals, regarding to physical characteristics, capacity, temperament and potential.
Schedule recreation facilities: Schedule the use of recreational facilities.
Read zoo reports: Read and process the reports of zookeepers and other zoological professionals, and compile the information for zoo records.
Advise on animal purchase: Advise clients and customers on the purchase of animals.
Manage operational budgets: Prepare, monitor and adjust operational budgets together with the economical/administrative manager/professionals in the arts institute/unit/project.
Manage work: Supervise, instruct and plan work for teams or individual members of the team. Set up time schedules and make sure they are followed.
Chair a meeting: Chairing a meeting for a group of people, in order to formulate plans and decisions that are carried out by the company.
Establish daily priorities: Establish daily priorities for staff personnel. Effectively deal with multi-task workload.

Maintain catalogue collection: Describe, inventorise and catalogue items in the collection.
Maintain professional records: Produce and maintain records of work performed.
Ensure health and safety of staff: Promote and maintain a culture of health, safety and security among the staff by maintaining policies and procedures for the protection of vulnerable participants and when necessary, dealing with suspicions of possible abuse.
Set organisational policies: Participate in setting organisational policies that cover issues such as participant eligibility, program requirements, and program benefits for the service users.
Supervise daily information operations: Direct daily operations of different units. Coordinate program/project activities to assure the respect of costs and time.
Fix meetings: Fix and schedule professional appointments or meetings for clients or superiors.
Oversee animal management: Oversee all aspects of animal management.
Manage logistics: Create logistic framework for transporting goods to customers and for receiving returns, execute and follow up the logistics processes and guidelines.
Ensure health and safety of visitors: Take the necessary precautions to ensure the physical safety of an audience or people visiting an activity. Prepare actions in case of emergency. Administer first aid and direct emergency evacuations.
Delegate activities: Delegate activities and tasks to others according to the ability, level of preparation, competence and legal scope of practice. Make sure that people understand what they should do and when they should do it.
Develop recreation programmes: Develop plans and policies which aim to provide the desired recreation activities to a target group or in a community.
Perform project management: Manage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project’s progress in order to achieve a specific goal within a set time and budget.
Manage recreational facility: Manage the daily operations of a cultural facility. Organise all activities and coordinate the different departments functioning within a cultural facility. Develop a plan of action and arrange the necessary funds.
Work effectively with other animal-related organisations: Develop and sustain relationships with other organisations such as charities, government agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations and representative bodies, in relation to furthering animal health and welfare. Communicate veterinary principles and operate within multidisciplinary teams comprised of persons with varying degrees of scientific and administrative knowledge.’
Promote recreation activities: Promote the implementation of recreation programs in a community, as well as recreation services provided by an organisation or institution.
Manage zoo staff: Manage zoo staff, including zoo keeping staff at all levels and/or veterinarians and/or educators and/or horticulturalists.
Follow company standards: Lead and manage according to the organisation’s code of conduct.
Administer treatment to animals: Administer animal medical interventions, including the treatments performed, medicines used, and assessments of the state of health.
Develop zoonotic disease control policies: Carry out research and elaborate policies, guidelines, and strategies for the control of zoonotic and foodborne diseases.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of zoo curator. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Animal transport regulations: The legal requirements relating to safe and efficient transport of animals.
Zoo exhibit design: Understand the various factors that influence effective zoo exhibit design as well as the steps towards realising that design.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of zoo curator. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Liaise with transportation companies: Establish relationships with transportation companies in order to negotiate advantageous agreements for the transport of goods and livestock.
Analyse transportation costs: Identify and analyse transportation costs, service levels and availability of equipment; make recommendations and take preventive/corrective measures.
Coordinate export transportation activities: Coordinate all export transportation operations while considering export strategies and services.
Organise training: Make the necessary preparations to conduct a training session. Provide equipment, supplies and exercise materials. Ensure the training runs smoothly.
Study a collection: Research and trace the origins and the historical significance of collections and archive content.
Speak about your work in public: Speak about your work to different kinds of audiences. Illustrate aspects depending on the audience and the occasion.
Create safe working protocols: Create clear, accountable, safe working protocols according to recognised zoo guidelines.
Prepare transportation routes: Prepare routes by chosing the best possible way and foresee adjustments in case of need, by providing additional running time or adapting capacity and timing in response to changes in circumstances, thereby ensuring an efficient use of resources and achievement of customer relations goals.
Coordinate import transportation activities: Oversee import transportation operations; optimise import processes and service strategies.
Solve operational transport problems: Communicate with clients and providers in the event of a delay; undertake measures to provide solutions. Take decisions and work proactively in order to avoid operational problems. 
Communicate in english in a competent way: Competent use of English; R351refers to level C1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

1431 – Sports, recreation and cultural centre managers

 

 

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References

1. Zoo curator – ESCO