Dallas Zoo Management Careers

The Registrar serves as a member of the animal management team, monitoring all transactions for adherence to the zoo’s policies, managing accurate animal records (for use in the development of husbandry and breeding programs, preparation of scientific publications, and provision of data for cooperative ventures at both the regional and international levels), serving as liaison to external agencies and organizations as required, and monitoring legislation for compliance with all wildlife laws. This position collaborates closely with curators and supervisors, and provides training and feedback to all levels of animal care staff.

 

• Lead by example: maintain familiarity with all aspects of record-keeping, transactions and permitting.

• Serve as principal advisor to animal managers on records and collections management, adherence to management policies, and legal and logistical aspects of collections activities;

• Monitor collection activity for compliance with all policies and procedures, advising Director of any problems and progress;

• Monitor status of legislation pertaining to wildlife and transport procedures, procuring and maintaining required Federal, State, and local permits as necessary for the maintenance and transport of wildlife in accordance with regulations; 

• File annual reports and renew permits as needed;

• Set procedures for domestic and international shipments of live animals, parts and products: check legal regulations and zoo policies for compliance, direct document preparation, plan some aspects of shipment logistics, and schedule international animal shipments;

• Maintain (via ZIMS) a current inventory of the zoo's animal collection, ensuring all relevant transactions (including shipments, births, deaths), and notes (behavioral, reproductive and medical) are accurately recorded and reported to key appropriate staff;

• Develop procedures and systems for data management, regularly reviewing record-keeping and transaction procedures, then implementing improvements to standards of records management;

• Serve as liaison between the institution and outside organizations/institutions (International Species Inventory System), as well as other departments within the zoo on matters of animal records and related issues;

• Supervise the Assistant Registrar. Duties to include scheduling, training, and performance evaluations.

• Work with curators and keepers through training programs and regular contact to improve record systems and solve problems as they arise;

• Direct composition and administration of loan and donation agreements with administrative, curatorial and legal staff, monitoring the status of all specimens out on loan;

• Maintain files of all documents related to animal transactions (including loan agreements, contracts, permits, etc.);

• Provide institutional data for studbook reports, questionnaires, surveys and Species Survival Plan updates, as requested;

• Evaluate records of animal management programs to determine historical trends and recommend improvements where necessary.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

 

• A Bachelor’s degree in biology or related science field is required;

• Must have knowledge of animal husbandry and record-keeping, with at least two years of experience in a similar position, preferably at an AZA-accredited facility;

• Must be detail oriented and well organized, with good observational and analytical skills;

• Must be solution-oriented, finding creative solutions for complex challenges;

• Must possess strong multi-tasking and time management skills, and be able to handle sensitive information with the highest degree of integrity and confidentiality;

• Knowledge of concepts, principles, and practices of professional museum and zoo registration methods and collection management standards;

• Knowledge of inventory accession and record-keeping practices, as well as zoological nomenclature;

• Knowledge of the laws regulating animal acquisition, disposition, exhibition, husbandry standards, and transportation within the U.S. and abroad is desirable;

• Knowledge of statistical analysis and population management skills is desirable;

• Experience with computers (including MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point) necessary, and experience with animal records software (e.g., ZIMS) preferred;

• Incumbent should have broad interests in research, behavior and conservation;

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

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

• 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 50lbs.

• 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. 

 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by personnel assigned to this job and is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties to be assigned.