General Manager - Houston - Advanced Aquarium Technologies

Description

Lead Guam's Premier Tourism & Leisure Attraction — Backed by Global Aquarium Expertise

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Advanced Aquarium Technologies (AAT) – a world leader in the design, construction and operation of iconic public aquariums – is seeking an experienced, commercially minded General Manager to lead the Aquarium of Guam, one of the island's most significant tourism and community assets.

Located in the heart of Tumon, near Hagåtña, on the U.S. Territory island of Guam, the Aquarium of Guam is currently undergoing a major, multi-million-dollar transformation — the largest investment in its history — with reopening planned for the second half of 2026. The renewed Aquarium is highly anticipated as the jewel in the crown of Guam's tourism infrastructure and will celebrate the island's unique and interconnected aquatic habitats, from freshwater streams and mangroves to seagrass meadows and coral reefs.

AAT's worldwide HQ is in Queensland, Australia, our USA HQ is in Houston, Texas, and this job is based on Island in Guam.

This permanent, on-site leadership role is based in Guam — a unique U.S. Pacific territory known as "Where America's Day Begins," offering a vibrant island lifestyle and operating on the same time zone as North Eastern Australia, creating a natural bridge between the United States and the Asia-Pacific region.

The Aquarium is owned by its Principal and operated under a long-term Management Services Agreement with AAT. Under this arrangement, the General Manager is employed by AAT and based full-time at the Aquarium, acting as AAT's senior on-site representative, the most senior leader of the operation and a strategic point of liaison with the Principal.

This is a hands-on, accountable leadership role with end-to-end responsibility for day-to-day operations, visitor attraction, financial performance, people leadership, safety, compliance, and stakeholder engagement.

A leadership role — backed by depth

The General Manager does not operate in isolation.

You will be supported on-site by a team that includes embedded AAT curatorial and aquarist team members, working alongside the Aquarium of Guam's operational staff. This embedded AAT team, including the General Manager, has at its fingertips the backing and support of one of the most comprehensive portfolios of aquarium special-works expertise and resources anywhere in the world.

This includes access to AAT's global capability across:

• Aquarium operations and life-support systems
• Animal care, husbandry, and collection management
• Specialist maintenance and critical system support
• Design, construction, refurbishment, and capital works expertise

This depth enables the General Manager to lead confidently at site level, knowing that specialist advice, surge support, and global best practice are immediately accessible when required.

The role

As General Manager, you will:

• Lead the overall operation and performance of the Aquarium of Guam
• Act as the senior on-site decision-maker within delegated authority
• Lead an on-site team of approximately 20 FTE, including the Aquarium Curator and AAT-embedded specialists
• Deliver all services under the Management Services Agreement in line with approved plans and budgets
• Balance hands-on operational leadership with strategic input and long-term improvement initiatives
• Serve as the critical link between ownership objectives, AAT's global capability, and on-the-ground execution

Key responsibilities

Operational & Strategic Leadership

• Provide visible, effective leadership across all aspects of the Aquarium's operation
• Ensure safe, ethical, and efficient operations at all times
• Contribute operational insight and recommendations aligned with ownership and AAT objectives

Financial & Commercial Performance

• Full accountability for revenue performance and operating results
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, cost control, pricing, and revenue optimisation
• Ensure timely, accurate financial reporting and performance monitoring

People Leadership

• Lead, develop, and hold accountable the Aquarium's management and operational team
• Build capability, clarity of roles, and a strong performance culture
• Maintain appropriate accountability between management, specialist, and operational functions

Animal Welfare & Compliance

• Provide governance oversight of animal welfare, biosecurity, and life-support systems
• Work closely with the Curator to ensure compliance with all permits, licences, and professional standards

Safety, Risk & Emergency Management

• Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, safety, and reporting obligations
• Act as the on-site lead for incidents and emergencies, including outside normal business hours

Facilities & Asset Management

• Oversee facilities, maintenance, and asset management
• Manage non-routine and emergency works within delegated authority
• Support capital planning, refurbishment, and asset replacement initiatives

Stakeholder, Community & Tourism Engagement

• Act as the primary on-site liaison with regulators, contractors, suppliers, and partners
• Represent the Aquarium professionally within Guam's tourism ecosystem
• Build constructive relationships that support the Aquarium's role in Guam's visitor economy

Guest Experience & Marketing

• Ensure high standards of guest experience across all operational areas
• Support marketing and promotional activity in collaboration with AAT's group marketing team

About you

You are a seasoned operational leader who is comfortable being accountable, visible, and decisive in a complex, public-facing environment.

You bring:

• Proven senior management experience in a public aquarium, zoo, tourism attraction, museum, or comparable operation
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with direct accountability for revenue and operating performance
• The ability to balance day-to-day operational leadership with strategic thinking
• Strong people leadership and performance management capability
• Sound understanding of compliance, WHS, risk management, and emergency response
• High professional standards, integrity, and personal accountability
• Confidence engaging with regulators, owners, and senior stakeholders

Qualifications & eligibility

Required

• Minimum 5 years' senior management experience in a comparable environment
• Legal right to work in the United States or ability to obtain authorisation to work in Guam

Desirable

• Tertiary qualification in business, management, marine science, zoology, or a related field
• Experience in animal-care regulatory environments
• Financial management, WHS, or emergency management training

Working arrangements

• Full-time, on-site leadership role based at the Aquarium of Guam
• Flexibility required for weekends, public holidays, evenings, and emergency response
• Regular collaboration with AAT teams across multiple time zones
• Occasional travel for meetings, training, or project-related activities

Why join AAT?

AAT is a global specialist in the design, delivery, operation, and management of world-class aquarium and aquatic facilities.

This role offers:

• A senior general management position with real authority and accountability
• Strong on-site professional support from AAT curatorial and aquarist specialists
• Backing from a globally respected aquarium design, delivery, and operations firm
• Exposure to complex governance, ownership, and stakeholder environments
• Potential progression into regional, portfolio, or group-level leadership roles within AAT

If you are an experienced aquarium sector leader ready to take full responsibility for a complex, high-profile attraction — and lead it with confidence, professionalism, and commercial discipline — we'd like to hear from you.

Candidates are invited to apply via LinkedIn. We prefer and encourage applicants to include a cover letter outlining why you believe this role aligns with your skills, experience, and career goals, and what you would bring to the position. xhmxlyz (If applying via LinkedIn, please combine your cover letter and resume into one document for upload.)