Vice President, Animal Behaviour

Vice President, Animal Behaviour & Programmes Join to apply for the Vice President, Animal Behaviour & Programmes role at Mandai Wildlife Group . Mandai Wildlife Group is the steward of Mandai Wildlife Reserve, located adjacent to Singapore’s Central Catchment Nature Reserve. It is a fully integrated nature‑based precinct comprising five world‑class wildlife parks, immersive green public spaces, and a sustainably designed eco‑friendly resort. Overview We seek a self‑driven, energetic leader to develop ethical, engaging, and educational animal behaviour and presentation programmes that support our mission of conservation, education, and ethical engagement. The role promotes wildlife‑friendly mindsets through meaningful human‑animal interactions, grounded in positive reinforcement training, animal welfare, and conservation ethics. Responsibilities Operations & Administration Provide strategic oversight and executive leadership for the ABP department, stewarding organisational structure, workforce planning, and fiscal governance. Align departmental structure and resources with corporate objectives, ensuring operational excellence and long‑term sustainability. Oversee strategic financial planning and governance, optimizing allocation of operational and capital resources to support institutional priorities. Safeguard animal welfare, operational integrity, and guest experience by maintaining high‑level visibility and responsiveness to emergent issues across health, safety, and show‑management domains. Foster a culture of accountability and alignment through structured communication within and across divisions, ensuring policy adherence and continuous refinement of procedures. Animal Care, Training, and Enrichment Ensure highest standards of animal care in ABP, including feeding, cleaning, and monitoring animal health. Champion positive‑reinforcement training and behavioural enrichment practices. Guide Managers to implement the PRT Track, ensuring staff receive proper training in positive‑reinforcement techniques for daily operations, husbandry, veterinary procedures, and show behaviour training. Ensure managers oversee the ABP enrichment programme, providing regular, species‑appropriate enrichment for every animal. Animal Programmes & Presentations Oversee all live animal programmes across attractions, ensuring world‑class standards of animal care and welfare. Curate and produce programmes that foster empathy, respect, and understanding of wildlife. Ensure integrated theming across all presentations, consistent with MWG’s vision and values. Champion excellence in visitor engagement, strategically evaluating presentation quality and educational impact; use guest feedback, animal welfare metrics, and staff development outcomes to assess success. Animal Welfare Lead welfare‑related initiatives at the Life Science level in collaboration with the Animal Welfare Scientific Advisory Group. Oversee implementation of high‑standard welfare practices, ensuring compliance with international standards (AZA, EAZA, WAZA) through regular assessments and audits. Collaborate with external partners and accredited zoos to share best practices. Advocate ethical animal handling practices within MWG and the global zoo community. Prepare for and participate in accreditation audits to maintain our status. Research Initiatives Lead or collaborate with other departments in designing, conducting, analysing, and disseminating original animal welfare research that supports MWG’s outcomes. Provide guidance and development opportunities for staff in research planning, implementation, data analysis, and scientific publication. Animal Population Planning Identify ambassador animals for public engagement per Ambassador Animal Policy. Ensure consistent availability of suitable animals through internal breeding and external ethical sources. Develop and implement population management strategies for species managed by ABP. Align with MWG’s overall animal collection planning to maintain a steady pipeline of ambassador animals for programmes. Lead conservation education initiatives and support species recovery efforts. Training & People Development Lead departmental development, overseeing a diverse team of full‑time, part‑time, and contract professionals aligned with ABP’s strategic goals. Champion a culture of high performance and continuous learning by mentoring and empowering trainers, presenters, and specialists. Drive capability‑building initiatives to enhance staff proficiency in behavioural management, husbandry, medical care, and presentation standards. Lead competency development frameworks, including oversight of the Animal Presentation Development Programme. Ensure robust supervision and mentorship for behavioural research activities and engagement of interns, students, and volunteers. Foster leadership excellence and succession readiness through managerial talent development and strategic thinking. Internal and External Collaborations Lead and participate in collaborative efforts with other departments (e.g., Animal Care, Veterinary Health) to enhance animal welfare, deliver outstanding guest experience, and support research, conservation, and education outcomes. Requirements Degree in Animal Management, Zoology, or a related life‑sciences discipline. 12–15 years of progressive experience in animal management, behaviour, training, and presentation production. 3–5 years of senior leadership experience, ideally within internationally accredited zoological institutions or conservation organisations. Demonstrated visionary leadership in team development, fostering a culture of ethical care, collaboration, and high performance. Passion for animals, strategic foresight to design transformative programmes that elevate standards and inspire change. Deep, hands‑on expertise in animal management and welfare leadership, championing the highest standards of care, enrichment, and ethical practice. Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, building trusted relationships across internal and external partners. Strong understanding of conservation education, regulatory frameworks, and ability to translate policy into meaningful practice. Proficiency in ambassador animal welfare and management, with insight to lead complex initiatives balancing education, ethics, and guest experience. Exceptional written, verbal, and problem‑solving skills. Seniority Level Director Employment Type Full‑time Job Function Other Industries Travel Arrangements Additional Information Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Mandai Wildlife Group by 2×. Get notified about new Vice President Program jobs in Singapore. #J-18808-Ljbffr