Dallas Zoo Management Careers

 

The Dallas Zoo is seeking an innovative leader to join our Ambassador Animal Experiences team. The ambassador program has three unique sections directly responsible for the animal husbandry, care, training, and programming of the animals in its respective areas. The Animal Outreach team provides robust and diverse programming on and off-site in the greater Dallas Fort Worth metroplex. This team oversees a varied group of birds, mammals, and reptiles, including prehensile-tailed porcupines, flamingos, tamanduas, penguins, parrots, tortoises, and snakes, to name a few. The Wild Encounters team focuses on up-close encounters through structured presentations at our Wild Encounters stage. Featured animals include Gambian pouched rat, North American porcupine, opossum, southern tamandua, free-flighted black vulture, southern ground hornbill, snakes, lizards, and more! Finally, the Wildlife Show team gives formal, entertaining, scripted presentations on our dynamic stage, showcasing free-flighted birds such as hadada ibis, macaws, birds of prey, pigeons, and trumpeter hornbills. Other cast members include an African crowned crane, bald eagle, ravens, and our newest addition, a white stork. 

 

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team! The Ambassador Department is dedicated to advancing animal care through innovative, creative, and cutting-edge approaches to ambassador animal management. We are seeking a visionary candidate who can bring fresh perspectives and inventive solutions to enhance ambassador welfare through non-traditional housing, progressive training techniques, and engaging presentations.

 

An ideal candidate will be deeply committed to modern, choice-based animal training methodologies and demonstrate a strong understanding of data-driven decision-making to inform programmatic advancements.

 

As Associate Curator, this individual will lead the Managers of Ambassador Animal Experiences and a dedicated team of animal care professionals. Collaboration is key in this role, as it involves working across departments to develop and deliver ambassador-focused presentations, including special events and educational programming.

 

This position plays a vital role in crafting dynamic guest experiences that bring the Dallas Zoo’s mission—Engaging People & Saving Wildlife—to life, while driving our vision of Creating a Better World for Animals.

 

 

 

The Dallas Zoo offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, a 401(k) retirement plan, cell phone stipend, PTO, and sick time. Compensation is salary pay commensurate with experience and education. The Dallas Zoo participates in situ and ex-situ conservation programs and encourages and supports staff to participate. 

 

Located three miles south of downtown Dallas, the 106-acre Dallas Zoo is the oldest and largest in Texas. Founded with just two deer and two mountain lions in 1888 as the first Zoo in the Southwest. This city owned and privately managed zoo is a thriving example of a successful public-private partnership. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) for 35 years, the Zoo provides a home for more than 2,000 animals representing over 400 species. 

 

 

• Direct operations for the Ambassador Animal Experiences listed above.  

• Provide vision, planning, and communication skills to enhance programming and manage resources.

• Ensure high standards for animal welfare and the safety of animals, staff, and guests. This includes working with staff in multiple departments (including advancement and park operations departments) to plan, develop and implement appropriate procedures that ensure high levels of animal welfare and high levels of guest satisfaction.

• Evaluate Ambassador Animal programming on a regular basis to ensure appropriate messaging aligns with our interpretive presentation format.  Evaluation will also include utilizing natural animal behaviors and highlighting positive reinforcement training. Evaluate community and guest impact of messaging, presentation styles, and conservation messaging. 

• Serve as a primary point of contact for the animal health and nutrition departments.  This includes attending Animal Management meetings as needed.

• Hiring, training, scheduling and evaluating staff.  This will often be a collaborative process shared with Zoological Managers.

• Planning, preparing and monitoring budgets on a regular basis.

• Identify and prioritize budgetary requests, including capital improvements, major maintenance, time and material projects, minor tools and equipment, professional services, animal purchase and animal transportation; administer budgets, monitor expense and prepare reports.

• Assist the Senior Curator of Behavior and Ambassadors with strategic planning objectives that provide the necessary resources for program growth and enhancing current and future animal encounters programming.

• Handling, training and presenting ambassador animals for programs as needed.

• Cooperatively develop and implement comprehensive collection plans for each section of the department under the supervision of the Senior Curator; 

• Coordinate and conduct research, and/or produce popular or scientific papers concerning biology and captive management of wild animals; 

• Manage buildings, exhibits, holding areas and grounds of relevant areas; assist in prioritization and coordination of needed maintenance; Responsible for overseeing program reservations systems, team schedules, revenue management, resource management and reporting for all on and off grounds programming as required

• Represent the Dallas Zoo during programming including fundraising or various media events.

• Follow all safety protocols, understanding the Curator’s role in emergency procedures, and serving as a member of Dallas Zoo’s Emergency Response Team.

• Ensuring team members are compliant with all Dallas Zoo policies/procedures/ training, and particularly the Zoo’s environmental training program requirements.  

• Ensuring presentation areas, facilities and vehicles are safe and well-maintained.

• Ability to work weekend days and flexible hours as schedules dictate.

• Other duties as assigned.

 

 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Zoology, Biology, Animal Science, Psychology, or related field preferred.

• Extensive experience in wildlife husbandry and training, with an emphasis on utilizing operant conditioning and positive reinforcement required. With a degree, at least nine years of exotic animal care experience at an AZA accredited facility. Without a degree, eleven years of exotic animal care experience at an AZA accredited facility.

• Five years of AZA supervisory experience.

• Experience in education, interpretation, or customer service based field desired. Candidate will have an understanding of zoological parks and a strong appreciation for wildlife and the environment.

• Minimum 5 years of experience in a manager/supervisor capacity, preferably in an AZA accredited zoological park or aquarium.

• Excellent verbal, written, and problem-solving skills required.

• Candidate must possess excellent organizational skills and the ability to function in a creative team-oriented environment.

• • Excellent facilitation, as well as communication skills, both oral and written.

• Comfort with computer software: MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point.

• Ability to represent the Zoo in a professional manner at all times.

• Ability to exercise sound judgment in emergency situations and to respond with appropriate action.

• Ability to work with minimal supervision, must be self-directed.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with management, other employees & zoo guests.

• Must be able to walk, stand, sit, kneel, stoop, crawl, twist, reach above head, pull, bend, climb stairs and ladders and carry up to 50 lbs.;

• Must be able to work holidays and weekends, assuming and performing similar duties at regular and irregular hours as required

• Must be able to actively work outdoors in hot or inclement weather.

• Successful candidates must pass pre-employment drug screening, background check and TB test.

• Must have a valid driver’s license to operate zoo vehicles and reliable transportation