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Animal Encounters Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Oklahoma City Zoo

Camp Assistant

Oklahoma City, OK · On-site

$14/hr

As a Camp Assistant, you'll create unforgettable experiences for campers (ages 5-17) through exciting zoo tours, animal encounters, arts and crafts, games, and more! Work alongside the Camp Lead to ...

Lion Country Safari

Wildlife Support

Loxahatchee Groves, FL · On-site

$15 - $19.75/hr

Operate animal encounters in a safe manner and in accordance with company policies * Learn, comprehend, and communicate educational and conservation messages to general public. * Operate registers in ...

Lion Country Safari

Wildlife Support

Loxahatchee, FL · On-site

$15 - $19.75/hr

Operate animal encounters in a safe manner and in accordance with company policies * Learn, comprehend, and communicate educational and conservation messages to general public. * Operate registers in ...

Camp Timber-lee

Summer Camp Science Center

East Troy, WI · On-site

$13.75 - $18/hr

Lead activities like Creation Walk, fishing, Animal Encounters & more * Help campers engage with God's creation through fun, educational experiences * Welcome and assist campers, staff, and guests

Dallas Zoo

General Application - Animal Care

Dallas, TX

$15.50 - $21/hr

Summary Are you passionate about animal care, welfare, and conservation? Submit your application ... The Wild Encounters team focuses on up-close encounters through structured presentations at our ...

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How much do animal encounters jobs pay per hour?

As of May 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for animal encounters in the United States is $21.05, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.31 and $25.00 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in an Animal Encounters role, and why are they important?

To excel in an Animal Encounters position, you typically need a background in animal science, biology, or a related field, along with experience handling and caring for various species. Familiarity with animal care protocols, safety equipment, and potentially certification in first aid or animal handling is essential. Strong communication, public speaking, and interpersonal skills help you engage and educate diverse audiences while ensuring safety. These skills are crucial for both the well-being of the animals and for providing safe, informative, and engaging experiences to visitors.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in Animal Encounters roles at zoos or wildlife centers?

Professionals in Animal Encounters roles often face the challenge of balancing animal welfare with providing engaging guest experiences. They must ensure that interactions are safe for both animals and visitors, requiring close teamwork with animal care staff and strict adherence to safety protocols. Additionally, adapting educational messages to diverse audiences and managing unpredictable animal behavior are typical aspects of the job. Collaboration with veterinarians, educators, and operations teams is essential to create positive, educational, and safe encounters.

What are Animal Encounters?

Animal Encounters are interactive experiences that allow people to get up close with animals, often in a controlled environment like a zoo, aquarium, sanctuary, or wildlife park. These encounters may include feeding, touching, or learning about different species under the supervision of trained staff. The goal is to educate visitors, promote conservation, and foster a deeper appreciation for animals and their habitats. These programs typically prioritize animal welfare and safety for both the animals and participants.

What is the difference between Animal Encounters vs Animal Care Specialist?

AspectAnimal EncountersAnimal Care Specialist
Required CredentialsBasic animal handling, customer service skillsVeterinary or animal science certifications, animal handling experience
Work EnvironmentZoos, aquariums, wildlife parks, educational eventsAnimal shelters, veterinary clinics, research facilities
Employer & Industry UsageEntertainment, education, tourismAnimal welfare, healthcare, research
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles involving direct animal interaction with visitorsUnderstanding roles focused on animal health and care

Animal Encounters typically involve engaging with visitors through interactive animal experiences, often in entertainment or educational settings. Animal Care Specialists focus on the health, well-being, and medical needs of animals in shelters, clinics, or research. While both roles require animal handling skills, Animal Encounters emphasize customer interaction, whereas Animal Care Specialists prioritize animal health and welfare.

More about Animal Encounters jobs
What cities are hiring for Animal Encounters jobs? Cities with the most Animal Encounters job openings:
What states have the most Animal Encounters jobs? States with the most job openings for Animal Encounters jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Animal Encounters jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Animal Encounters jobs are:
Animal Encounters jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animal Encounters job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 69% Full Time, 28% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $43,783 per year, or $21 per hour.
Animal Nutrition Center Supervisor (Full-Time)

Animal Nutrition Center Supervisor (Full-Time)

ZooTampa

Tampa, FL • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago

Job description

Join ZooTampa as Our Next Animal Nutrition Center Supervisor
Fuel the future of animal care.
At ZooTampa, animal nutrition is a critical component of exceptional care. We're seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Animal Nutrition Center Supervisor to lead the daily operations of our Nutrition Center, ensuring quality, accuracy, and consistency in diet preparation for a wide range of species. This is a leadership role rooted in AZA standards, operational excellence, and teamwork across animal care teams.
Ask Yourself:
  • Do you have experience preparing animal diets and managing nutrition operations at an AZA-accredited facility?
  • Can you lead a team while maintaining the highest standards for sanitation, safety, and compliance?
  • Are you excited to support species wellness through collaboration, precision, and proactive problem-solving?

Ready to make a meaningful impact behind the scenes?
Apply today and bring your skills to a team committed to advancing animal health through exceptional nutrition and care.
Job Description
Position Summary
The Animal Nutrition Center Supervisor is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the daily operations within the Animal Nutrition Center. Working in close partnership with the Animal Operations Supervisor, this role ensures the preparation, quality, and delivery of animal diets. This position plays a key role in maintaining the highest standards of animal care by ensuring that all dietary needs are met efficiently and accurately, while also supporting operational logistics in collaboration with the Animal Operations Supervisor.
Who We Are
ZooTampa at Lowry Park is one of the most popular zoos in the southeastern U.S., with over 1 million visitors annually. We have grown to what now encompasses 56 acres of naturalistic wildlife habitats in a lush, tropical garden setting with wide-ranging activities. The Zoo, accredited by Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), offers popular educational programming, fun recreational amenities, up-close animal encounters and engaging seasonal events for which it has won awards as one of the country's most family-friendly zoos.
Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and care for animals; create exceptional personalized experiences that connect people with wildlife and each other in fun, immersive ways.
Our vision is that everyone we touch is motivated to join us in taking action to protect and preserve wildlife.
Join us and become a part of creating unforgettable natural connections
Your day to day
Essential Functions (including but not limited to):
  • Work with Animal Operations supervisor to oversee scheduling and training of the Animal Nutrition Center staff, interns and volunteers.
  • In conjunction with the animal operations supervisor, responsible for training new staff, interns and volunteers on assembling animal diets, Nutrition Center SOP's and safe handling of equipment.
  • Conducts all activities in alignment with AZA standards and guidelines, all relevant laws and regulations, safety standards, and standards that ensure animal welfare.
  • Prepares animal diets as instructed by Veterinarians and delivers diets to animal areas as needed.
  • Stays current with AZA best practices for animal nutrition.
  • Maintains standards according to OSHA, USDA, AZA and the Health Department.
  • Rotate supply inventories according to the FIFO method.
  • Ensures quality control of all food items and goods and prepares food using proper recipes to provide consistency.
  • Responsible for maintaining proper sanitation in food preparation and keeping equipment, walk-ins, freezers and storerooms cleaned.
  • Follows proper and safe use of Nutrition Center equipment including mechanical slicing equipment and assorted knives.
  • Follows departmental safety procedures and understand Nutrition Center's role in emergency procedures.
  • Responds to and assists with emergency situations within the zoo.
  • Works with the Safety and Compliance Coordinator to ensure SDS data is up to date for all areas of the Animal Department.
  • Assists with stocking, cleaning, and maintaining all kitchen equipment including break-down, maintenance, and restoration of equipment.
  • Assists with school tours and VIP visitors who enter Nutrition Center areas.
  • Assists with ordering and receiving supplies.
  • Assists the Curator of Behavior and Ambassador programs to meet and exceed AZA enrichment standards.
  • Represents to Nutrition Center on the Animal Behavior Management committee.
  • General clerical/office duties as assigned.
  • Assists the Sr. Manager of Animal Dept. Operations with invoicing and generating requisitions.
  • Coordinates and completes additional projects as assigned by management.
  • Ensures that only trained employees have access to food preparation equipment.
  • Prepares and Maintains spreadsheet reports concerning animal diets and cost.
  • Maintains the Zoos Manatee Rescue book in conjunction with the Curator of Florida/Manatee.
  • Collect manatee natural diet at various locations in accordance with our permits.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

What are we looking for?
Qualifications and Experience:
  • High School degree or equivalency preferred.
  • Demonstrated experience in food preparation, nutrition, and record keeping preferred.
  • Three year of paid zoo experience at an AZA accredited facility is preferred.
  • Must be able to work well with minimal supervision.
  • Must have good communication skills and be able to follow written and verbal instructions.
  • Must be able to follow daily routines as assigned.
  • Must be able to maintain work areas in a clean and organized fashion at all times.
  • Must be able to communicate ideas and contribute effectively to the department.
  • Must be multi-task oriented and work in a fast paced environment while maintaining a positive attitude.
  • Be clean, well-groomed and always dressed in a proper uniform.
  • Work cohesively with co-workers, vendors, and management.
  • Deal with conflicts in a professional manner.

Other Requirements:
  • Must be able to bend, lift 50 lbs, and stand for extended periods of time.
  • Ability to work in weather conditions typical to Florida, temperatures sometimes exceeding 90 degrees.
  • Lull/Forklift certified or the ability to obtain certification within 120 days.
  • Ability to work rotating shifts, including weekends and holidays.
  • Completes full suite of San Diego Global courses.

Our Perks at ZooTampa
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance options
  • Life Insurance, and supplemental insurance available
  • 403(b) Pension Plan with a 4% company match
  • Generous PTO plans (Vacation and Wellness time)
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Tuition Forgiveness
  • Discounted gym membership
  • Free admission to the Zoo, MOSI, Glazer Children's Museum, and the Florida Aquarium
  • Free or discounted admission to many attractions in Florida
  • And so much more!

Equal Opportunity Employer & Drug-Free Workplace

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