Panthera Corporation

Panthera is the only organization in the world that is devoted exclusively to the conservation of the world’s 40 wild cat species and their ecosystems. Utilizing the expertise of the world’s premier cat biologists, Panthera develops and implements global strategies for the most imperiled species. Representing the most comprehensive effort of its kind, Panthera partners with local and international NGOs, scientific institutions, local communities, governments around the globe, and citizens who want to help ensure a future for wild cats. Panthera Corporation consists of Panthera Corporation- USA and several foreign legal entities and foreign branch offices.  For more on Panthera, visit www.panthera.org. 

In 2022, Panthera began a project on the operation of a captive breeding facility of the Arabian Leopard in Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (the Project). For the purpose of the Project, Panthera is seeking to recruit a Curator.

The ideal candidate must be legally authorized to work in Saudi Arabia.

Principal Responsibilities & Duties:

The Curator provides strategic direction and management oversight of the Arabian Leopard Breeding Facility. They will ensure that the facility is sourced and operationalised by the best world standards. The Curator will manage the senior staff employed for the purpose of this project.

The Curator is responsible for organizing animals' care and habitats, maintaining exhibits and supervising Senior Veterinary and Head Keeper

Specifically, the Curator will:

• Act as Panthera’s institutional representative in Saudi Arabia, in the facility to ensure the professional and effective management of all government, non-governmental and business relationships for the successful implementation of this project;
• In close collaboration with Panthera’s globally distributed Financial Management Team, manage the budget for the facility and ensures the expediency and accuracy of expenses and their timely and correct reporting
• Prepare and oversee annual workplans for the project and all personnel;
• Line-manage the Panthera team at the Arabian Leopard Conservation Breeding Center  and oversee the strategic recruitment of additional personnel in consultation with Panthera’s Human Resources team
• Manage HR (overall working schedule, control of working-hours, day-off, and paid leaves, liaison with Panthera HR for contracts and payroll) and conduct annual job evaluations with individual staff;
• Supervise the daily operations at the Center, including but not limited to observing animals of the Center and keepers’ operations
• Produce technical and financial reports, as frequently as required by the donor;
• Ensure that all procurement operations as well as statutory and any other required reports are compliant with the applicable local regulations, requirements of the donor and Panthera;
• Coordinate the development and update of the site masterplan (the development plan for over a period of 5 years) with annual investment plan, roadmap and timeline by providing personal contribution and seeking and compiling inputs from the Project Director and other Panthera colleagues, as well as the donor and other relevant parties
• Produce and update site blueprints;
• Organize and lead regular meetings with senior staff to assess achievements, failures and make plan for the following week;
• Organize and lead regular meetings with all staff to assess achievements, failures and setting targets for the following month;
• Ensure that all assets handed over or acquisitioned by the donor at the start or during the project are well maintained and duly inventoried and recorded;
• Undertake any action with local authorities in case of any emergency and site security breach\
• Organize animal transfers
• In coordination with the donor’s Overview animal transfer administration including producing animals’ loan/ donation contract drafts
• Gather and update policies, protocols and procedures (Daily work schedule, Animal feeding plan, Husbandry, Enrichment Program, Emergency, Risk Assessment, Risk prevention, etc.) in cooperation with the Senior Veterinarian and Head Keeper
• Produce and supervise the implementation of the site breeding program
• Oversee the regular animal record keeping incl. ZIMS with animal transfer dates, identification numbers, and other key data for the captive wildlife global collaboration (may include Veterinarians and Keepers’ reports)
• Conduct and participate in animal inspection rounds with Senior Veterinarian and Head Keeper to discuss and plan treatment and enrichment programs
• Lead the accreditation process for the EAZA (and WAZA) membership
• Act as the site focal contact person for external animal-orientated communications with the EAZA Executive Office, the EAZA Felid TAG and coordinators, the International Studbook Keepers, ZIMS, the IUCN Cat Specialist Group and other specialist groups
•   Provide regular updates to the species’ coordinators/studbook keepers to build on trust and transparency of the center with regional and international colleagues
•   Conduct research, documents findings, and publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals and other publications

Qualifications & Experience Required:

• 6+ years of curatorial experience in zoological parks, supported by at least three references.
•   University degree (MSc or higher) zoology, animal behavior, biology or animal science.
• Exceptional project planning and management skills.
• Proven ability to effectively manage a range of interdisciplinary and multi-cultural teams, both large and small.
• Excellent team player with good communication skills to both staff and external parties
• Member of one or more industry organizations
• Willingness to travel regularly and work outside conventional hours/environments;
• Excellent command of English
• Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

How to Apply

Please send CVs and Cover Letters in one PDF document to the Panthera Careers Page on or before 27 May 2026. CVs must include two professional referees and their contact details. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.