Animal Keeper - Elephant Department

Elephant Managers; Cincinnati (OH); Hybrid; USD 33,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Benefits package

Employee Assistance Program

Union pay scale

Job summary

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden seeks an experienced Elephant Keeper to join its Asian Elephant Program, focusing on daily care, behavioral management, and long-term breeding herd success. Strong experience with protected contact, operant conditioning, and welfare monitoring is required.

Ideal candidates will have hands-on experience managing multiple herds, calf care, and breeding management, with excellent teamwork and communication.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years professional elephant care experience in the last 10 years.
• Experience with protected contact management system.
• Demonstrated experience with operant conditioning and positive reinforcement training.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily husbandry care including feeding, habitat maintenance, enrichment, and behavioral observation.
• Participate in protected contact elephant management following established safety protocols.
• Monitor elephant behavior and welfare and report abnormalities to supervisors and veterinary staff.
• Maintain clean and safe indoor and outdoor elephant facilities.
• Support exercise, enrichment, and environmental management programs that promote natural behaviors.

Skills

Elephant care

Protected contact

Operant conditioning

Behavioral observations

Teamwork

Communication

Safety practices

Driver's license

Calf management

Education

Degree in Zoology, Biology, Animal Science, or related field

Job description

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is seeking an experienced Elephant Keeper to join our Asian Elephant Program. This position plays a key role in the daily care, behavioral management, and long-term success of a multi-generational, breeding elephant herd. The successful candidate will have significant experience with protected contact management, operant conditioning, behavioral observations and problem-solving.

Additional consideration will be given to candidates with hands-on experience managing multiple herds, bulls, introductions, and calf management. We are looking for a highly motivated keeper who excels at teamwork and open communication, and who demonstrates strong situational awareness and professionalism when working with large animals.

• Union negotiated pay rates, with a starting hourly rate between $23.83 - $28.24 determined by years of field experience.
• 200 PTO hours accrued throughout the first year of service, 80 of which is loaded into the PTO bank upon hire
• Competitive benefit packages and retirement matching programs
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Facility culture that highlights the following core values:
  • Collaborative Relationships
  • Pride, Passion, and a Sense of Ownership
  • Positivity and Energy
  • Accountability, Mutual Trust, and Respect
  • Progressive Thinking
• Intentional professional development opportunities, for both animal care and "people” skills

Minimum Desired Qualifications:

Preferred candidates will have:

• Minimum 2 years professional elephant care experience in the last 10 years
• Experience working with elephants in a protected contact management system
• Demonstrated experience with operant conditioning and positive reinforcement training

Experience with the following is strongly preferred:

• Elephant introductions and herd management
• Breeding and reproductive management
• Calf care and development
• Elephant foot care and preventative medical training
• Behavioral observation and welfare monitoring
• EEHV monitoring or treatment protocols
• Degree in Zoology, Biology, Animal Science, or related field preferred (or equivalent experience)
• Strong understanding of elephant behavior, husbandry, and safety practices
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• Valid driver’s license and ability to meet CZBG employment requirements
• Provide daily husbandry care including feeding, habitat maintenance, enrichment, and behavioral observation.
• Participate in a protected contact elephant management program following established safety protocols.
• Monitor elephant behavior and welfare and report abnormalities to supervisors and veterinary staff.
• Maintain clean and safe indoor and outdoor elephant facilities.
• Support exercise, enrichment, and environmental management programs that promote natural behaviors and activity.

Behavioral Training

• Participate in an operant conditioning program using positive reinforcement training.
• Train elephants to voluntarily participate in husbandry and veterinary procedures.
• Assist with development and implementation of individual training plans.
• Maintain consistent communication with team members regarding training progress and behavioral changes.

Management

• Assist in management of a multi-generational elephant herd, including monitoring social dynamics and compatibility.
• Participate in elephant introductions and social management under the direction of supervisors.
• Assist with breeding management and reproductive monitoring in coordination with veterinary staff.
• Support calf rearing and maternal care management.
• Participate in husbandry and training programs that support calf development and socialization.
• Participate in preventative care practices including:
  • Foot care
  • Skin care
  • Blood collection and trunk washes
  • Behavioral medical training
  • Maintain accurate daily records related to husbandry, enrichment, behavior, and training.
• Work collaboratively with elephant team members, veterinary staff, and other animal care departments.
• Assist in training and mentoring interns, volunteers, and seasonal staff.
• Maintain strong team communication regarding daily operations and animal management.

Guest Engagement

• Participate in keeper chats, tours, and other educational programs.
• Represent the elephant program professionally when interacting with zoo guests.

Working Conditions:

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; bend; climb or balance; lift, grasp; and negotiate stairs and ladders. In addition, the employee may be exposed to Zoonosis, chemicals, and outside weather conditions; Must be able to lift and move 50 pounds without mechanical assistance; must possess a valid driver’s license (and insurable to drive a Zoo vehicle).

Position Details:

This is a full-time (40 hours per week with benefits) Union keeper position, which is subject to the successful completion of a probationary and the deduction of union dues. This position requires weekend work with regular off-days TBD. This is a 4, 10 hr/day schedule.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden offers a comprehensive benefits package including affordable medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k) plan with company match; flexible spending accounts; generous paid time off (vacation, holiday and sick leave); company-paid disability & life insurance; park discounts and free passes.

Not familiar with Cincinnati? Check out the following:

The Elephant Managers Association (EMA) is an international, 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization.