Senior Manager of Animal Training

Miral Experiences; Al Ain; On-site; AED 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Miral Experiences in Abu Dhabi is seeking a Senior Manager to lead our Animal Training and Behavioural Programs, guiding operant conditioning, welfare monitoring, and ambassador animal initiatives across multiple taxa to advance welfare-driven training and meaningful visitor engagement.

You will collaborate with curators, veterinarians, and conservation teams to embed behavioural science into daily operations, develop enrichment and welfare assessment, and enhance veterinary care while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Animal Behaviour, Zoology, Psychology, Animal Science, Wildlife Management, Conservation Biology, Veterinary Science, Behavioural Ecology, or a closely related discipline.
• Doctoral degree or additional advanced qualification in herpetology, conservation, evolutionary biology, or related fields.
• Postgraduate qualifications relating to animal learning, animal welfare science, behavioural analysis, or training methodologies.
• Experience within AZA, EAZA, WAZA, SEAZA, BIAZA, ZAA, PAAZA, or similarly accredited zoological institutions.
• Experience in zoological animal training, behavioural management, welfare science, and institutional leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic development, implementation, and continuous improvement of all animal training and behavioural management programs.
• Oversee training frameworks based on positive reinforcement, protected contact principles, evidence-based behavioural husbandry, and welfare science.
• Develop cooperative medical training programs to reduce stress and improve preventive healthcare.
• Collaborate with Veterinary Services and Animal Welfare teams to identify behavioural solutions and reduce chemical restraints.
• Develop behavioural enrichment programs and monitoring systems with data collection and welfare assessment.
• Contribute to welfare assessment programs and guide environmental enrichment and habitat modifications.

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Animal Behaviour, Zoology, Psychology, Animal Science, Wildlife Management, Conservation Biology, Veterinary Science, Behavioural Ecology, or a closely related discipline

Doctoral degree or advanced qualification in herpetology, conservation, evolutionary biology, or related fields

Postgraduate qualifications relating to animal learning, animal welfare science, behavioural analysis, or training methodologies

Experience within AZA, EAZA, WAZA, SEAZA, BIAZA, ZAA, PAAZA, or similarly accredited zoological institutions

Experience in zoological animal training, behavioural management, welfare science, and institutional leadership

Job description

Miral Experiences is a region’s leader in the management and operation of world-class, award-winning immersive attractions and experiences across Abu Dhabi. Our diverse portfolio includes some of the most iconic entertainment and leisure destinations, including Ferrari World Yas Island Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Yas Island Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World™ Yas Island Abu Dhabi, SeaWorld Yas Island Abu Dhabi, CLYMB™ Yas Island Abu Dhabi, and TeamLab. Phenomena Abu Dhabi, and CLYMB™ Abu Dhabi, as well as cultural treasures like Qasr Al Watan.

We specialize in crafting unique experiences that cater to all tastes and ages, delivering a seamless blend of thrills, joy, and discovery. Our attractions are designed to ignite the imagination and create unforgettable memories for visitors from around the world. Whether you're seeking excitement, relaxation, or cultural enrichment, we offer something for everyone.

About the Role

The Senior Manager of Animal Training and Behavioural Programs is responsible for leading and advancing the institution's animal training, behavioural husbandry, welfare monitoring, ambassador animal, and animal presentation programs. This position serves as the organization's subject matter expert in operant conditioning, positive reinforcement training, behavioural management, animal-human interactions, animal welfare assessment, and modern zoological training methodologies.

The role provides strategic leadership across all zoological departments, supporting mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and other taxa through the development of behavioural programs that improve animal welfare, facilitate veterinary care, enhance husbandry practices, strengthen conservation outcomes, and support meaningful visitor engagement.

Unlike a traditional training role focused primarily on public demonstrations, this position is expected to embed behavioural management into all aspects of animal care. The Senior Manager will work closely with curators, veterinarians, animal welfare specialists, keepers, educators, and conservation teams to ensure that behavioural science becomes an integral component of daily operations and institutional decision-making.

The successful candidate will help position the institution as a leader in modern zoological practice by promoting evidence-based animal care, cooperative medical training, welfare-focused behavioural management, staff development, and ethical ambassador animal programs that foster meaningful connections between people and wildlife.

Key Responsibilities

• The Senior Manager leads the strategic development, implementation, and continuous improvement of all animal training and behavioural management programs across the institution.
• The position establishes and oversees training frameworks based on positive reinforcement, protected contact principles, evidence-based behavioural husbandry, and contemporary animal welfare science. The role ensures consistency of training standards across all animal departments while supporting species-specific training initiatives that improve welfare, husbandry, safety, veterinary care, and operational efficiency.
• A major focus of the position is the development of cooperative medical training programs that reduce stress associated with veterinary procedures and improve the quality of preventive healthcare. This includes facilitating voluntary participation in physical examinations, blood collection, injections, ultrasound procedures, radiography, weighing, transport preparation, hoof care, grooming, and other husbandry and medical procedures.
• The Senior Manager works closely with Veterinary Services and Animal Welfare teams to identify behavioural solutions that improve patient care, reduce chemical restraint requirements, and increase opportunities for voluntary participation in healthcare programs.
• The role also leads the development of behavioural enrichment programs and behavioural monitoring systems. The successful candidate will establish frameworks for behavioural observation, behavioural data collection, welfare assessment, activity budgets, and behavioural analysis to support evidence-based welfare management throughout the institution.
• The position is expected to actively contribute to welfare assessment programs and work closely with curators and animal care teams to identify opportunities for welfare enhancement through environmental enrichment, social management, habitat modifications, behavioural interventions, and training programs.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Animal Behaviour, Zoology, Psychology, Animal Science, Wildlife Management, Conservation Biology, Veterinary Science, Behavioural Ecology, or a closely related discipline
• Doctoral degree or additional advanced qualification in herpetology, conservation, evolutionary biology, or related fields
• Experience within AZA, EAZA, WAZA, SEAZA, BIAZA, ZAA, PAAZA, or similarly accredited zoological institutions
• Postgraduate qualifications relating to animal learning, animal welfare science, behavioural analysis, or training methodologies
• Experience in zoological animal training, behavioural management, welfare science, and institutional leadership

Shape the Future with Us

At Miral Experiences, we don’t just create world-class destinations - we create unforgettable memories for our guests and remarkable careers for our people.

From theme parks and attractions to guest services and behind-the-scenes roles, every member of our team plays a part in delivering exceptional experiences. We’re driven by passion, powered by innovation, and committed to excellence in everything we do.

We’re looking for passionate, driven, and talented individuals who are ready to grow, lead, and make a difference. No matter your background or expertise, there's a place for you at Miral Experiences.