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Animal Care Specialist – Animal Health Center [Temporary Full-Time]

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 Health Center, Animal Care Specialist you will be responsible for the primary care and husbandry of animals housed in the Animal Health Center including animals in quarantine, under medical treatment, and/or emergency care. Husbandry responsibilities include, but are not limited to, safe animal handling and restraint as well as animal training and enrichment. After experience is acquired, you will frequently take on the role of veterinary assistant. As an ACS you will be expected to model behavior that demonstrates the commitment to upholding the standards of excellent veterinary care. You will participate in the guest experience via educational, media, and conservation programs including tours. This position has a start date off immediately and will last until approximately November 6th, 2026.

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:

• Communicate with veterinarians, hospital manager, and veterinary support team the daily behavior and health of animals housed at the animal health center. 

• Ensure all husbandry duties for hospitalized and quarantined animals are completed in a safe and efficient manner.

• Coordinate with veterinary support team members the medical treatments of hospitalized and quarantined animals in accordance with instructions of veterinarians.

• Coordinate and collaborate with team members on enclosure design, preparation and/or construction for hospitalized and quarantined animals.

• Ensure animal husbandry records are notated and entered in a correct, timely, and orderly fashion.

• Assist in the cleanliness, maintenance, and proper stocking of all hospital areas.

• After on-site training, serve as a veterinary assistant during procedures by operating department diagnostic equipment including, but not limited to, digital radiograph machine, dental machine, ultrasound, and endoscope. 

• After on-site training, assist in various laboratory sample procedures involving biological samples, including, but not limited to, feces, blood, and urine.

• After on-site training, assist in pharmacy by preparing prescriptions as instructed by a veterinarian.

• Collaborate in creating, updating, and upholding the standard operating procedures for the veterinary hospital. 

• Upholds all company policies as outlined in the Zoo Standard Operating Procedures, SA Zoo Team Handbook, Safety Handbook, and Code of Business Conduct.

• Constantly exhibit an attitude of service inside and outside 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 the animals we protect. 

Other Responsibilities:

• Performs 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:

• Working knowledge of animal behavior, animal husbandry, and animal training based on experience working with exotics such as small/medium and large birds & reptiles and small/medium primates & carnivores.

• Exercise sound judgment in analyzing animal behavior concerns, emergencies and to respond with appropriate action. 

• Able to work safely around delicate, wild, and occasionally dangerous animals. 

• Able open, enter, exit, and secure animal enclosures and service areas.

• Sufficient strength, agility, and coordination to net, capture, and/or restrain extreme size, strength, and agility animals.

• Sufficient delicacy to handle, examine, and move; without harming; sick, injured, and/or struggling small animals.

• Sufficient field of vision and audio acuity to be aware of animals or vehicles approaching from the rear.

• Able to read, understand, and follow veterinary medical orders, oral and written instructions and communicate in English.

• Safely use common hand power, and yard tools while working from the ground, on a scaffold, or a ladder.

• Must be highly motivated, organized, and demonstrate a willingness to adapt positively to change.

• Possess excellent public speaking skills to deliver quality educational presentations, tours, and potential media requests. 

• Computer literate and able to become familiar with the medical data system (ZIMS).

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in wildlife management, zoology, biology, veterinary science, or combination of training and experience. 

• Two years of zookeeping (husbandry) experience or two years of veterinary exotic clinical experience.

• Zoo, exotic, wildlife, and/or emergency room experience preferred.

• Must be 18 years of age or older with a clean driving record for vehicle operation.

• Valid Texas driver's license or obtain within 3 months of employment.

• Must complete a pre-employment National Sex Offender Search, Criminal Background Check, and Drug Screen. 

• We enjoy year-round operation for all staff: must be available day, nights, weekends, holidays, and occasional special 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.