Animal Care Manager - Primates (SAP)

Socket.dev; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Zoo Atlanta seeks an Animal Care Manager, Primates, to lead the Small Primate area, supervise five keepers, trainees, and volunteers, and partner with the Curator on welfare and project delivery.

The role emphasizes welfare, training, enrichment, habitat upkeep, scheduling, and budgeting; prior primate experience and supervisory skills are strongly preferred.

Qualifications

• Four-year degree in related field preferred.
• A minimum of five years of prior animal care experience at a zoological facility is required.
• Supervisory experience is preferred.
• Experience with husbandry, training, enrichment, and research, preferably at an AZA institution. Familiarity with exhibit design, maintenance, and construction.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours, weekends, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of keepers, volunteers, and interns with professional mentorship.
• Oversee animal welfare, behavior training, enrichment, and habitat maintenance.
• Manage scheduling, budgeting, payroll review, and project oversight.
• Provide guest interactions through keeper talks and special events.
• Serve as Animal Manager on Duty (AMD) several times each month.

Skills

Supervisory experience

AZA familiarity

Flexible hours

Education

Four-year degree in related field

Job description

Job Title: Animal Care Manager

Department: Primates

Reports to: Primates Curator

FLSA Status: Exempt

Job Status: Full-time

Job Purpose: The Animal Care Manager, Primates is responsible for the day-to-day management of Zoo Atlanta’s Small Primate area and, in partnership with the Curator, provides leadership and oversight for five primary keepers, cross-trained staff, volunteers, and interns. The Manager oversees animal welfare and husbandry, including behavioral training, enrichment, habitat maintenance, staff training, and area projects, while assisting with annual budgeting, payroll review and approval, and scheduling for direct reports. Approximately half of the scheduled workweek is devoted to routine animal care, with the remainder focused on administration and project oversight. The Manager must maintain working knowledge of all primate habitats and be prepared to provide coverage across the department as needed.

The Small Primate area includes more than 20 animals representing eight species housed in dynamic mixed-species habitats and is entering an exciting period of growth, including plans to expand and enhance the New World primate habitat and potentially introduce additional species. The successful candidate will help guide the team through this growth while maintaining exceptional standards of animal care, welfare, safety, and teamwork. Prior experience working with primates and supervising staff is strongly preferred.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead by example in support of Zoo Atlanta’s strategic plan, mission, and values, and collaborate with staff across the organization to advance these priorities.
• Set team goals and lead special projects, procedures, and priorities established by the area Curator.
• Provide clear leadership and mentoring while remaining an active, collaborative and positive member of the team. Includes volunteers, team members and interns.
• Always maintain a professional relationship with colleagues and direct reports.
• Conduct mid-year and annual reviews with honest, impartial, and constructive feedback.
• Explain the rationale for decisions, clarify responsibilities, and assign work needed to complete tasks.
• Delegate effectively and empowering Senior Keepers to maintain a healthy and safe work environment. Supporting the development of job knowledge.

Animal Care, Welfare, and Behavioral Management

• Maintain consistently high standards of animal care.
• Coordinate animal-care activities, including behavioral training, enrichment, research, and education.
• Complete Zoo Atlanta’s behavioral management training and apply operant conditioning and enrichment techniques appropriately.
• Complete required animal welfare training, participate in welfare assessments, and follow through on resulting action items.
• Monitor the health and behavior of the animal collection and promptly communicate changes to the Curator and veterinary staff.
• Demonstrate initiatives in continually improving advanced keeper practices and animal-care standards.

Communication, Guest Service, and Professional Development

• Build and sustain professional relationships through positive interpersonal skills.
• Deliver consistently high-quality guest interactions, including scheduled keeper talks and feedings as well as willingness to work special events (occasionally outside normal working hours).
• Communicate clearly and professionally with Leadership and peers and colleagues, both verbally and in writing.
• Participate in Zoo Atlanta’s professional development courses offered by Human Resources.
• Pursue relevant workshops, seminars, activities, and conferences that strengthen job knowledge and benefit Zoo Atlanta.
• Promote communication and information sharing within the zoological community.

Performance, Accountability, and Scheduling

• Take initiative to improve departmental effectiveness and productivity and encourage others to do the same.
• Work independently, manage time effectively, and maintain ownership of assigned responsibilities.
• Approach challenges with a practical, solution-oriented mindset.
• Model dependability and accountability by being punctual, responsive, organized, deadline-focused, and willing to assist colleagues as needed.
• Serve as Animal Manager on Duty (AMD) several times each month.

Qualifications:

• Four-year degree in related field preferred.
• A minimum of five years of prior animal care experience at a zoological facility is required
• Supervisory experience is preferred.
• Experience with husbandry, training, enrichment, and research, preferably at an AZA institution. Familiarity with exhibit design, maintenance, and construction.
• Must be able to support Zoo Atlanta’s mission, values, and department/organizational goals.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours, weekends, and holidays.

Driving Requirements:

• Must obtain and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license with a safe driving record.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

• Must be able to work outdoors in all weather conditions and have the physical ability to routinely perform strenuous work.
• Employee must be able to lift 50 pounds repeatedly.
• After being properly trained, all keepers working with, or around dangerous animals must be able to carry and utilize OC spray.
• Zoo Atlanta is open to the public 363 days out of the year, therefore, all positions at Zoo Atlanta may require employees to work some weekends, holidays, and evenings.
• The position requires flexibility in scheduled days/hours worked.

MISC: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Therefore, the employee may be required to perform other reasonably related duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor or other management. The company reserves the right to revise or change job duties as business requirements dictate. It is mutually agreed that this job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

Zoo Atlanta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides a Smoke-free and Drug-free Work Environment.