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Animal Care Specialist – Mammals West

Collaborate with a passionate Zoo Crew in San Antonio
Choosing where to grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the place you choose to work at will support and guide you. With a diversity of passionate people, San Antonio Zoo is a place where you can collaborate with others securing a future for wildlife.

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role
As an Animal Care Specialist with our Mammals West department, you will perform a wide variety of tasks related to providing proper husbandry and ensuring the wellbeing of the animals here. You will be responsible for ensuring suitable medical treatments of zoo animals following instructions of Zoo Veterinarians, daily cleaning and maintenance of animal enclosures and service areas.

As an Animal Care Specialist, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative and diverse people in San Antonio. Here, you will make an impact by:

Daily Care

• General husbandry and daily care of assigned animals, including preparing and distributing approved animal diets.
• Inspect, clean, and maintain both on-exhibit and off-exhibit areas.
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills with the ability to maintain, train, and troubleshoot complex animal behavior daily.
• Maintain detailed daily records on assigned animals.
• Knowledge of safety SOPs, safety concerns, and reporting protocols.
• Demonstrate the ability to assist other team members with their animal-related goals and challenges.
• All work must adhere to the industry best practices, safety protocols, standards, and guidelines established by San Antonio Zoo, governing agencies, and regulatory/accrediting bodies.
• Uphold all company policies as outlined in the Standard Operating Procedures, Team Member Handbook, and Code of Business Conduct.
• Consistently exhibit an attitude of service inside and outside of the zoo, showing hospitality to all.
• Be fully committed to the mission of San Antonio Zoo to create awareness that inspires action to care for the wild world we steward and animals we protect.

Animal Wellbeing

• Utilize daily behavioral observations, animal training, and operant conditioning techniques to maintain current behaviors and build new repertoire in experienced and naïve animals.
• Continually observe and evaluate animal behavior and conditions for animals in the department and report any issues to your manager.
• Perform regular animal wellbeing assessments.
• Maintain detailed daily records on assigned animals.
• Propose and perform species specific enrichment.

Safety

• Exercise sound judgment in analyzing animal concerns or emergencies and respond with the appropriate action
• Work safely around delicate, wild, unpredictable, and potentially dangerous animals.
• Delicately handle, examine, and move without harming sick, injured, or small animals.
• Have sufficient strength, agility, and coordination to net, capture, and/or restrain animals of various sizes.
• Secure animals, their enclosures, and other associated structures for the safety of our internal and external guests.

Collaboration

• Assist veterinary staff in the treatment of zoo animals.
• Assist in animal procedures including, but not limited to, translocations, veterinary practices, and crating.
• Effectively document and communicate issues or concerns to team members and management.
• Participate in or assist with the capture and restraint of a variety of taxa, including dangerous species.

Creating Community

• Engage with the Zoo guests as well as staff and volunteers at habitats to include VIP programs and training demonstrations, and/or shows.
• Promote active guest engagement through interactions during both formal and informal discussions and events.

Staff Management and Development

• Study-specific reference materials pertinent to animal care, behavior, and natural history as assigned.
• Establish and maintain effective working relations with fellow employees.

Other Responsibilities

• Perform other work-related duties as required and assigned.

Your Skills and Expertise
To set you up for success in this role from day one, the San Antonio Zoo recommends the following skills/qualifications:

• Associate degree in wildlife management, zoology, biology, or related field preferred.
• Minimum one-year zoo keeping experience is preferred.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills are preferred.
• You must be 18 years of age or older with a clean driving record for vehicle operation.
• This position requires a valid Class 'C' Texas Driver's License or a valid driver's license from another state with the ability to obtain a Class "C" Texas Driver's License within 45 days of becoming employed.
• Successful candidates must complete a pre-employment drug screening, background check, and TB test.
• Must be able to work in varying climate and weather conditions (rain, snow, hot, or cold).
• We enjoy year-round operation for all staff- must be available days, nights, weekends, and occasional after-hour assignments.

The San Antonio Zoo is an equal opportunity employer. San Antonio Zoo will not discriminate against any applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.