Assistant Curator, Mammals (Supervisor, Primate Forest)
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Job Location:
Jacksonville, FL - USA
Monthly Salary:
Not Disclosed
Posted on:
30+ days ago
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
Application Deadline:Applications will be accepted until9January 2026 and/oruntil a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. We reserve the right to closethe posting earlyif a well-qualified candidate pool has been established.Early submission is encouraged.Please ensure that your application highlights your experience and qualifications as they relate to the responsibilities of this role.
Lead with Purpose. Shape Animal Care Excellence.Are you passionate about primates and animal care leadership Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardensis seeking a forward-thinking experiencedAssistant Curator to lead animal care operations for a diverse multi-taxa collection. This role is ideal for a collaborative leader who blends hands-on animal care expertise with team development safety leadership and strategic thinking. The position supports the Primate Forestthat includesbonobos gorillas mandrills colobus monkeys and a variety of lemur species.
As an integral member of our leadership team you will guide animal care staff direct husbandry procedures and support enrichment welfare and conservation initiatives for our primate collection. This is a unique opportunity to lead with impact grow your career in zoological management and inspire meaningful connections to wildlife among our guests.
This is a hands-on leadership role for a motivated professional ready to expand their management experience within a collaborative mission-driven environment. You will be directly involved in the care and welfare of highly intelligent and socially complex primate species helping shape the future of their well-being in professionally managed care.
We value safety inclusion and innovation. You will work alongside dedicated professionals who care deeply about the animals they serve and the teams they support. Together we are building a future where collaboration fuels growth technology enhances care and conservation guides every decision.
Help us fulfill our mission: Connecting our communities to wildlife and wild places. Success in this role is defined by how effectively you demonstrate the core competencies in action.
What Youll Do...
- Animal & Wellbeing Management
- Oversee the daily care and welfare ofmoderate-risk and/or safety-sensitivediverse species ensuring exceptional husbandry enrichment behavioral health and social management.
- Partner with Veterinary Services to monitor health implement medical protocols and optimize animal wellbeing.
- Behavioral & Risk Management
- Implement and enforce safety biosecurity and emergency response protocols for both staff and animals.
- Lead behavioral management programs to reduce stress and risk ensuring species-appropriate training and enrichment strategies.
- People Leadership & Performance Management
- Lead mentor and develop animal care staff volunteers and interns fostering a high-performing collaborative and inclusive team.
- Support recruitment onboarding training and ongoing performance evaluation to promote professional growth.
- Communication & Influence
- Collaborate across departments providing clear updates and guidance to staff veterinary teams and operations personnel.
- Represent the organization professionally during guest interactions educational talks tours and community engagement activities.
- Safety Compliance & Decision-Making
- Ensure strict adherence to institutional and regulatory standards including documentation reporting and accreditation requirements.
- Exercise sound judgment in high-pressure or emergency situations making decisions that prioritize safety welfare and operational continuity.
- Strategic Thinking & Organizational Impact
- Participate in programs TaxonAdvisory Groups (TAGS) Species Survival Plan (SSPs) studbooks and Managed Animal Plans (MAP).
- Contribute to long-term collection planning operational improvements and conservation priorities aligning daily work with organizational goals and sustainability.
What you bring...
- Ability to work a schedule of SundayThursday or as operational needs require.
- Professional Experience:
- 5 years of professional animal care experience in a zoo aquarium or wildlife setting preferably across a multi-taxa collection with progressive responsibility in husbandry enrichment social management and participation in AZA programs or conservation initiatives.
- 2 years of supervisory or team leadership experience including mentoring staff development scheduling and performance management.
- Demonstrated experience working safely with moderate-risk and/or safety-sensitive species with the ability to assess hazards and respond calmly in high-pressure or emergency situations.
- Experience collaborating with veterinary behavior and welfare teams on social introductions transfers medical procedures or habitat access coordination.
- Proven ability to adhere to institutional safety biosecurity and emergency protocols while working with species.
- Proficient knowledge of species-specific husbandry enrichment and behavioral management techniques.
- Experience maintaining compliance with USDA FWC OSHA AZA and institutional standards including safety biosecurity and established animal care protocols.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office 365 and willing to learn new systems (e.g. Paycom Paycor PaperSave).
- Proficient using ZIMS or comparable animal records systems.
- A combination of education and experience may be considered. Candidates without a formal degree may qualify through extensive progressively responsible experience in animal care and staff leadership.
- Pre-Employment Requirements: Candidates selected for this position must successfully complete all pre-employment screenings prior to their start date. Compliance with these requirements is mandatory to ensure the safety of staff animals and visitors. These include:
- Verification of professional references.
- Employment history verification.
- Criminal background check.
- 5-panel drug test
- Non-DOT physical examination
- Proof of a current negative tuberculosis (TB) test.
- Documentation of required vaccinations including rabies vaccination or titer.
A Plus...
- Education: Associates or Bachelors degree in Zoology Biology Animal Behavior Conservation Science or a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience demonstrating progressive responsibility in animal care.
- 8 years of experience overseeing or supporting team operations for socially complex primate species including behavioral observation social group management enrichment implementation and risk mitigation in protected- or restricted-contact environments.
- Fine-motor handling & close-contact skills: safely working in proximity to primates during feeding enrichment and medical care.
- Advanced social and cognitive awareness: interpreting subtle behavioral cues hierarchies and social network dynamics.
- Behavioral enrichment & training: applying operant conditioning and positive reinforcement for husbandry and veterinary procedures.
- Medical collaboration: supporting veterinary and behavioral staff in direct hands-on care and behavioral health monitoring.
- Observation & record-keeping: detailed behavioral tracking and cognitive assessment for individual and group management.
- At least 3 years in a formal supervisory or team-lead capacity overseeing staff performance operational safety and area workflows.
- Experience managing budgets resources schedules or operational projects.
- Demonstrated leadership and professional involvement including mentoring and developing staff supporting volunteers or interns and participating in SSPs TAGs MAPs or studbook programs.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- All duties must be performed in accordance with institutional safety biosecurity and operational protocols.
- Work in close proximity to multiple species including large socially complex moderate-risk or safety-sensitive animals and perform tasks such as lifting restraining or safely interacting with animals.
- Consistently adhere to safety and biosecurity protocols including protected/restricted contact procedures emergency response procedures and species-specific handling guidelines.
- Ability to remain standing or sitting for extended periods during animal care observations training or administrative duties.
- Hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills required for grasping turning manipulating or distributing objects of varying size and weight including feed enrichment items bedding medical equipment and tools.
- Ability to lift carry and move objects up to 50 lbs safely including feed bedding enrichment materials veterinary supplies and equipment as required to perform essential job functions.
- Ability to climb ladders access elevated platforms and maneuver safely in confined or elevated enclosures aviaries or aquatic habitats.
- Ability to respond quickly to emergencies including handling animals equipment or hazardous conditions while maintaining team and animal safety.
- Ability to walk bend kneel crouch crawl climb and reach to perform husbandry cleaning enrichment or animal handling tasks.
- Visual acuity to read write monitor animal behavior and observe environmental cues.
- Auditory acuity to hear and respond to verbal commands team communications alarms and animal vocalizations for safe animal care and emergency response.
- Ability to operate motorized carts trucks and power tools safely in accordance with institutional policies.
- Ability to work safely in indoor and outdoor environments including varying weather terrain water access and specialized habitats.
- Ability to follow species-specific handling requirements including restraint enrichment and training protocols for the safety of staff animals and the public.
WORK CONDITIONS
- Exposure to various weather conditions including extreme heat sunlight cold rain and wind.
- Potential exposure to allergens (dust animal dander pollen etc.) bloodborne pathogens zoonotic diseases and injuries from animals.
- Irregular work hours including evenings weekends and holidays are required.
- Exposure to hazards such wildlife waste equipment loud noises chemicals and heights.
- May require being on call for emergencies.
- Must be available to fulfill disaster-response duties as required.
- May Handle remote darting equipment or weapons.
We are an equal opportunity employer and comply with all applicable federal state and local employment regulations
EOE / DRUG FREE WORKPLACE
Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens are committed to providing equal employment opportunities. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role. Candidates are encouraged to request accommodation if needed during the application interview or employment process.
Required Experience:
Manager
Key Skills
- Network Management
- Pest Control
- Developmental Disabilities Experience
- Employee Evaluation
- Hospitality Experience
- Direct Support
- Data Collection
- Materials Handling
- Maintenance
- Experience with Children
- Supervising Experience
- RF Scanner
About Company
Consider a career at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens where you can share your passion about the wonders of wildlife and plants with our community and guests. Join the innovative, award winning Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens family, ranked as a top twenty-five zoo in the USA by Trip Ad ... View more
