Monterey Bay Operations Senior Manager

Description

Location of Position: Castroville, California 

Reports to: Director, Field Operations & Response

Position Classification & Expected Hours of Work, and Travel: 

• This is a full-time, onsite position.
• Regular onsite work is required with the option of some hybrid remote work.
• Days and hours of work may vary according to the needs of The Marine Mammal Center.
• Evening, weekend, and holiday work are required as job duties demand.
• Rotating on-call duties are required to support after-hours work across the range.
• Some travel to satellite facilities and/or fieldwork within California is expected for this position. 

Compensation Range: $81,120 - $88,000 annual salary.

Benefits:

• Holidays
• Sick Time
• Vacation 
• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Employee Assistance Program

 Job Summary:

The Monterey Bay Operations (MBO) Senior Manager provides direction and oversight for The Marine Mammal Center’s central response region and animal care field office in Castroville. This role is part of the Field Operations & Response (FOR) leadership team, shaping strategy for SLO while contributing to planning across FOR and Animal Operations. This role ensures consistent and efficient operations within the MBO range, across FOR, and across Animal Operations while also connecting MBO to other departments and representing both MBO and FOR across the organization and with external audiences. Areas of responsibility include regional response, animal care, facility and vehicle operations, equipment and inventory, community engagement, higher education partnerships, and media representation, combining program management with strategic oversight to ensure excellence in MBO programs and align with the Center’s mission and strategic priorities.

Essential Functions:

Program Management: 60%

• Lead the overall day-to-day operations of the Monterey Bay Operations (MBO) team in alignment with the objectives and strategic priorities of the Field Operations and Response department.
• Collaborate with management across the California range and other departments to optimize resource deployment, operational readiness, and integration of MBO with broader organizational initiatives.
• Oversee the accurate completion of administrative and programmatic tasks, data entry and management, and operational metrics to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of MBO operations.
• Lead daily animal care and response operations at MBO and directly participate in animal care and response as needed.
• Support staff and volunteers by providing coverage for animal care needs, response support, and other hands-on work according to team scheduling needs, capacity, and seasonal increases in team workload.
• Develop, implement, and manage animal care and response policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with permits, regulatory guidance, and organizational standards in coordination with FOR leadership hospital operations and animal care teams in Sausalito.
• Assess and carry out humane euthanasia and other medical procedures as appropriate.
• Advance Special Response Operations efforts and pinniped entanglement response at MBO.
• Manage medical and husbandry supply inventory to ensure readiness and efficiency.
• Lead MBO team’s communications and collaboration with NOAA and other external partners as appropriate.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with local organizations such as enforcement agencies, conservation groups, and the research community to strengthen the Center’s presence in the region.
• Represent MBO as a subject-matter resource for media requests in the Monterey Bay Operations Range and participate in annual media training at headquarters. 
• Partner with the Learning & Development team as a subject matter expert to support the creation and updating of training courses. 
• Develop and maintain relationships with local colleges and universities and lead professional education programs connected to MBO.
• Organize community events in collaboration with internal teams and external partners, including training sessions, presentations, outreach, and tabling events. 
• Plan and manage the annual MBO volunteer appreciation event ensuring alignment with budget guidelines. 

Leadership & People Management: 20%

• Hire, train, mentor, and manage staff, ensuring individual and team development, alignment with goals, and adherence to policies and protocols.
• Drive and maintain team culture for MBO and across teams, in alignment with organizational culture.
• Provide coaching to strengthen internal communications within the team and across departments, creating a positive, supportive, and team-oriented work environment.
• Meet with staff to identify and resolve problems; perform personnel actions such as approving timesheets and evaluating performance.
• Provide leadership, training, and coaching to volunteers, including identifying and resolving problems, escalating as needed.
• Ensure the development and maintenance of field response and animal care capabilities among staff and volunteers to support rescue teams and other operational needs.
• Ensure volunteer staffing levels accommodate animal care and response activities, including leading recruitment, selection, and onboarding of new volunteers.
• Oversee scheduling of volunteers to ensure adequate coverage for all response activities on various technology platforms. 
• Act as primary contact for MBO Volunteer Crew Supervisors, providing overall support and leading meetings as assigned. 

Budget Management & Fundraising: 10%

• Support the department’s budget development; track results to ensure alignment with key financial targets for expenses and/or revenue in collaboration with management; approve and monitor team expenditures. 
• Represent and promote the Center to donors, prospects, and partners as opportunities arise.
• Occasionally support the cultivation of individual donors, grants, family foundations, and corporate sponsors in both written and verbal formats. 

Organizational Impact: 5%

• Represent the MBO team on cross-functional initiatives and serve as a subject matter resource for staff and leadership.
• May actively serve on an organizational wide committee(s). 
• Support and prioritize the Center’s DEI objectives and integrate as opportunities arise. 

Other Duties as Assigned: 5%

• Perform special projects and research as assigned. 
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility:
1 – Animal Care Manager (MBO)

3 – Operations Coordinator (MBO)

1 – Response Apprentice (MBO)

150 – Response and Animal Care Volunteers

Various Marine Mammal Stranding Interns and Fellows

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to the mission of The Marine Mammal Center.
• Knowledge of current marine mammal rescue and care techniques.
• Broad working knowledge of basic principles of anatomy and behavior of a variety of marine mammal species.
• Working knowledge of basic methods and techniques of veterinary clinical procedures. 
• Experience with marine mammal euthanasia including intravenous access and anesthesia, administration of appropriate euthanasia substances.
• Excellent written, verbal, and active listening communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct self in a calm and professional manner while handling calls and in person circumstances involving stressful situations with sick and injured marine mammals, including making life-or-death decisions about animal care, while training staff and volunteers, and providing support to concerned members of the public.
• Ability to maintain adaptability, empathy, and optimism under pressure. 
• Ability to work collaboratively and maintain open communication in a team environment.
• Ability to work independently with minimal direction to manage projects, priorities, fulfill commitments, and meet deadlines.
• Strong organizational skills including attention to detail, problem-solving, multi-tasking, follow-up, and time-management skills.
• Ability to solve problems efficiently and effectively, making determinations and judgment calls while prioritizing work activities.
• Adapts to and learns from change, challenges, and feedback; demonstrates flexibility in approaches to work; helps others adapt to new tasks and processes.
• Skills using Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Word) and videoconference technology (Slack, Teams, Zoom).
• Skills using database systems, or the ability to learn custom-build legacy database systems.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, which may include staff, volunteers, training participants, and members of the public.
• Ability to practice self-awareness and respect while engaging with staff, volunteers, training participants, and members of the public.
• Willingness to support and participate in The Marine Mammal Center’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Ability to hold a Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substances Permit.
• Valid driver license with acceptable motor vehicle record to maintain standards of insurability. (Must be 21+ years old as frequently driving company vehicles is required for this position.)
• This position requires a combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in marine biology, business administration, human psychology, or a related field; and 5 years of experience with supervision of staff and marine mammal care, or coordination of logistical support, or another related field or equivalent experience.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements: 

• This position operates in a professional office, laboratory, and hospital environment both indoors and outdoors with access to various parts of the facilities via outdoor pathways.
• Working in outdoor weather conditions and elements is expected. 
• Routinely uses standard office equipment requiring repetitive motion in tasks.
• Ability to work at a desk for extended periods using a computer.
• Ability to work in an open-cubicle office space environment with many distractions.
• Ability to operate equipment safely and competently to carry out duties.
• Ability to drive/operate a vehicle for extensive periods of time.
• Ability to safely walk on beaches of varying terrain to assist with animal rescues in various locations across California.
• Ability to walk up to 2 miles during a shift on a frequent basis.
• Ability to spend extended periods on your feet, walking, standing, crouching, and climbing stairs (potentially in inclement weather conditions). 
• Ability to perform physical work which requires manual dexterity, agility, strength, and coordination, including the ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. (This includes the ability to restrain large marine mammals and walking on varying terrain while carrying large animal carriers.)
• Risks associated with animal handling such as animal bites or scratches.
• Exposure to allergens and zoonotic diseases.
• Involves strong smells associated with dead animals (carcasses) and the care of live animals.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY
The Marine Mammal Center actively engages individuals from all backgrounds. We are committed to embracing diversity within our organization because we firmly believe that diverse employee teams help us to achieve our best organizational outcomes and provide the most effective support to the communities we serve. We are deeply dedicated to creating and maintaining an inclusive, equitable and supportive work environment. We strongly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply. The Marine Mammal Center believes in growth and supporting our employees as best we can so they can become their best selves in and outside of work. We believe that a healthy work environment means building an inclusive culture where people can thrive together and feel supported and empowered. We believe in stretch versus constraint.
OUR MISSION
The Marine Mammal Center advances ocean health through marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, research, and education.
ABOUT THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER
The Marine Mammal Center is leading the field in ocean conservation through marine mammal rescue, veterinary medicine, science, and education. For more information, please visit our “About Us” page at www.marinemammalcenter.org

To Apply: Please submit a cover letter and resume and provide a brief description about how your experience aligns with the role. Note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered. In your cover letter, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example – she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc). We strongly encourage people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities to apply. The Center is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team. If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know.