Zoological Manager - Ectotherms

This is a “working” supervisory position in animal care, working closely with the Curator and Associate Curators to lead a team of Zoologists, providing exceptional care to the animals in the assigned section. The Manager oversees the daily operation of the section, management of personnel and husbandry programs, and maintenance of associated facilities. The Manager will serve as the primary contact and liaison for their assigned section and provide mentoring, leadership, and supervision to animal care staff. This position will be responsible for the team’s training and development, implementing effective animal management practices to ensure that the animals receive exemplary care. The ideal candidate will have husbandry experience with a large variety of reptile, amphibian, and terrestrial arthropod species, including potentially dangerous animals such as crocodilians, large and/or venomous lizards, snakes, and venomous arthropods. Experience in training techniques for reptiles is highly desired.

 

• Organize, coordinate, and establish priorities for assigned section’s daily activities, overseeing animal care staff involved in the maintenance of the animals, providing both written and oral instructions;

• Responsible for the development, implementation, and both written and oral communication with others regarding all aspects, of the animal program;

• Establish plans to mentor and develop employees for professional growth and evaluate employee performance;

• Lead by example: maintain familiarity with all aspects of animal training and husbandry routines;

• Proactively identify, oversee, and participate in operant conditioning and environmental enrichment program goals, communicate plans and needs to Associate Curators/Curator and works closely with Associate Curator of Behavioral Husbandry in regards to training goals for individual animals;

• Oversee behavioral management of animals through observations and interactions

• Responsible for organization and appropriate delegation of tasks to area’s Assistant Supervisors and Lead Zoologists;

• Hire and train animal care staff in all aspects of husbandry: diet preparation, feeding, cleaning and maintenance of exhibits;

• Write annual performance plans and appraisals, offering crucial guidance to direct reports and reviewing performance plans throughout the year, ensuring that protocols are appropriately followed and progress is made towards specified goals;

• Develop and maintain protocols and programs to meet and exceed USDA and AZA standards;

• Regularly observe and monitor the health and welfare of animals in area; 

• Prepare and maintain records of all aspects of animal management – record daily behavior, breeding behavior, restraint, routine and non-routine medical procedures, etc.;

• Confer with the veterinary staff regarding health and preventative medicine programs, reporting relevant health situations to veterinarians and curator, and assisting with veterinary treatments and procedures as necessary;

• Oversee animal propagation, sharing expertise with staff: responsible for implementation and monitoring of breeding protocols, ensuring that facilities and staff are well prepared prior to relevant breeding events;

• Coordinate and manage safe animal capture, restraint, and transfers (both within the zoo and between zoos) in compliance with professional industry standards including: preparation, procedures, quarantines set by the Zoo’s Veterinary Department, and working with the Curator on logistics;

• Communicate thoroughly and efficiently (with direct reports, curatorial and veterinary staff) and ensure accuracy of records in all areas of responsibility: review daily reports, provide written information as directed and suggest potential actions based on data collected;

• Work closely with curatorial staff in all aspects of institutional collection planning and animal acquisition / deacquisition;

• Discuss plans and goals for behavioral management and introductions with Associate Curators/Curator when applicable (including mixed species introductions);

• Ensure exhibits meet high standards of animal welfare and aesthetics, creating an environment where animals are given the greatest opportunity to exhibit natural behaviors: prioritize exhibit enhancement projects, participate in renovations, and demonstrate effective exhibit maintenance strategies;

• Inspect all facilities regularly to ensure compliance with Dallas Zoo, AZA and USDA standards, making reasonable repairs if necessary, and/or communicating needs for major repairs through proper routes of communication;

• Follow all safety protocols to ensure safety of animals, staff, and public in all spaces. Understanding the Manager’s role in emergency procedures, and serving as a member of Dallas Zoo’s Emergency Response Team;

• Responsible for incident reporting, documentation and ensuring that team discussions occur following any incident. Responsible for identification and communication involving any safety issue, including facility issues, to the Curator in a timely manner;

• Under Associate Curators’/Curator’s direction, communicates with vendors, purchasing equipment and supplies, identifying and attaining estimates on Small Capital projects needed for annual budgeting;

• Keeps current with animal/animal research and corresponds with other institutions and private specialists on developments in animal and general animal care;

• Presents animal talks to the Zoo visitors, as well as representing the Zoo in the media and other public presentations;

• Perform other duties as assigned.

 

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

• Must have strong supervisory skills: a demonstrated ability to promote positive morale and productivity in the workplace;

• Must have extensive knowledge of animal husbandry, with at least nine years preferred of exotic animal care experience, at an AZA-accredited facility, three years at a supervisory level 

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

• Demonstrated interest and expertise in management, reproduction, and training;

• Comprehensive knowledge of reproduction, as well as neonate care; 

• Comprehensive knowledge of behavioral management, including operant conditioning philosophy, techniques and terminology, as well as benefits and goals of environmental enrichment;

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

• 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;

• 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. 

 

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.