Assistant Curator of Mammals, (Supervisor, Africa)

• Animal & Wellbeing Management
  • Oversee the daily care and welfare of safety-sensitive and diverse species ensuring exceptional husbandry enrichment behavioral health and social management.
  • Partner with Veterinary team 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.

• Ability to work a schedule of TuesdaySaturdayor as operational needs require.
• Professional Experience:
  • 5 years of professional animal care experiencein 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 in safety-sensitive or restricted-contact environments.
  • Demonstrated experience working safely with moderate-risk and/orsafety-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 with these requirements is mandatory to ensure the safety of staff animals and 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.

• 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 large socially complex hoof stock and pachyderm species such as elephants giraffes rhinos zebras bongo kudu or warthogs including behavioral observation social group management and risk mitigation in protected- or restricted-contact environments.
  • Physical safety & risk management: understanding the force potential of large animals; maintaining safe distances and following protected/restricted contact procedures.
  • Herd and social group management: recognizing dominance hierarchies conflict and interspecies interactions.
  • Habitat & environmental management: rotational grazing mixed-species habitat design and large-scale enrichment planning.
  • Equipment & infrastructure knowledge: gates chutes barriers and handling tools specific to large ungulates/pachyderms.
  • Behavioral management coordination: facilitating introductions transfers and veterinary interventions safely within herds.
• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Required Experience:

Manager