Senior Zoologist - Ambassador Animals

This is a senior-level position in animal care and interpretation. The Senior Ambassador Animal Zoologist  is responsible for the operant conditioning training, presenting, care, and husbandry for animals associated with Ambassador Animal Experiences in Outreach. This job encourages and facilitates a strong team and work ethic and a positive attitude in the work environment at all times. The Senior Zoologist will work collaboratively to ensure that animals are utilized safely and appropriately to provide fun and engaging wildlife presentations that convey the Dallas Zoo’s mission of Engaging People & Saving Wildlife and vision of Creating a Better World for Animals. The Senior Zoologist may act as team leaders on specific projects, and provide crucial guidance and training to less senior team members.

• 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 pouch 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.
• While this position will focus on our outreach area, it will also be cross trained to support all ambassador sections.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide overall daily care of assigned animals and exhibits to ensure animal health, safety, and welfare, staff and public safety as set forth by AZA, USDA, and DZM to include:
• Observe and monitor animals’ general health and behavior, reporting any abnormal behavior to supervisor and/or veterinary staff;
• Prepare and provide food for assigned animals, following written instructions, provide water and administer medication as instructed to ensure proper nutrition and health;
• Clean animal areas, holding pens, food prep areas, stage or encounter areas and equipment, maintaining a high level of sanitation, conducting pest control activities and reporting any mechanical defects that would endanger the animal, zoo team members, and/or guests;
• Achieve the highest standards of animal welfare and wellness by providing environmental enrichment and training sessions, using operant conditioning, as applicable;
• Assist team to produce and present Ambassador Animal Experiences that engage and inspire audiences through fun, exciting and professional animal experiences that promote the mission and vision of the Dallas Zoo;
• Prepare and update animal records for husbandry, training, program usage, enrichment, reports and surveys to ensure thorough documentation and enhanced knowledge of animal biology;
• Perform general maintenance and repair of areas;
• Provide assistance with animal transfers and/or procedures as directed;
• Interact positively and professionally with animal care and veterinary staff and volunteers;
• Actively encourage interest in wildlife through positive interaction with zoo guests via educational presentations focused on animals, biology, conservation, and environmental issues;
• Obtain a working knowledge of animal training through operant conditioning, heavily emphasizing positive reinforcement techniques through observing and participating in training sessions.
• Utilize the enrichment item/device proposal form to create new enrichment ideas and items to be added to taxa repertoires and properly record the results of enrichment items after each use;
• Collaborate with other zoo personnel as needed to meet the zoo’s mission. This can include, but is not limited to, assisting and participating in media events, special tours, and public relations projects;
• Participate in and support zoo-wide initiatives, committees, and work groups;
• Understand and support Dallas Zoo’s Strategic and Master Plans and departmental collection plans;
• Study specific reference materials pertinent to animal care, training, behavior and natural history as assigned;
• Follow all safety protocols and understand the Ambassador Animal Specialists role in emergency procedures, responding to emergencies as required;
• Be able to supervise and train volunteers and interns within department as needed; eligible to act as an assigned mentor to interns and volunteers responsible for counseling, coaching, and ensuring follow up on assigned intern/volunteer goals;
• Assist with the beautification of our park by removing trash and debris whenever you see it;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• An Associate’s degree in an animal science, biology, or related science field plus four years of paid animal care experience is required OR A Bachelor’s degree in an animal science, biology, or related science field plus three years of paid animal care experience;
• Must have knowledge of animal care, training, observation and husbandry skills, and at least three years preferred of exotic animal care experience at an AZA-accredited facility (ideally with ambassador animals, and/or comparable taxa);
• Must have public presentation and animal training experience, with the ability to present to both large and small crowds in formal and informal settings.
• Must be a flexible, efficient, self-motivated team player, and solution-oriented: finding creative solutions to complex challenges;
• Must be capable of practicing, or willing to learn, safe methods of capture and restraint for a variety of taxa;
• Must be able to establish and maintain an effective rapport with all levels of management, employees, interns, volunteers, and zoo guests;
• Must be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, following instructions and documenting animal care activities appropriately;
• 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 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, both regular and irregular hours as required;
• Regular, reliable and punctual attendance is an essential function of this position;
• Must be able to actively work outdoors in hot or inclement weather;
• Successful candidates must complete 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.