Animal Keeper - Night Hunters

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits

Job summary

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is seeking a full-time Keeper for Night Hunters, Cat Canyon, to provide daily care for a diverse carnivore collection including Malayan tiger, snow leopard, and other species. The role requires careful observation, record-keeping, enrichment, feeding, and safe handling under supervision.

This position includes a probationary period, union-related deductions, and benefits; regular off-days will be scheduled Tue-Thu.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly with staff and visitors.
• Knowledge of animal husbandry, enrichment, and modern zoological practices.
• Ability to work well in a team and independently as needed.

Responsibilities

• Care for assigned animals, enclosures, and related facilities.
• Inspect enclosures for safety and identify maintenance needs.
• Record health, behavior, enrichment, and feeding data.
• Provide operant conditioning and enrichment programs as assigned.
• Assist with animal handling, transport, and medication administration.
• Support visitor engagement programs and professional interactions.

Skills

Communication skills

Animal husbandry

Teamwork

Adaptability

Decision making

Education

Biological sciences degree

Job description

Description:

This is a full-time (40 hours per week with benefits) Union keeper position, which is subject to the successful completion of a probationary (or trial) period and the deduction of Union dues. Regular off-days will be determined upon hire but will fall between Tuesday thru Thursday.

Summary:

This position encompasses skilled professional and technical work in the routine daily care of assigned animals, enclosures, and related facilities in Night Hunters, including Cat Canyon. Night Hunters offers a diverse collection of animals including Malayan tiger, cougar, snow leopard, clouded leopard, various small carnivores, aardvark, vampire bats, and Indian flying foxes. Duties may include related tasks and/or unrelated duties as assigned.

Duties include:

• Clean animal displays, holding areas, service areas, public sections and grounds.
• Complete inspection of all enclosures to ensure the safety of the animals.
• Identify maintenance issues and correct or repair each as required, reporting non-correctable maintenance issues, including potential safety hazards, to the Lead Keeper and/or Zoological Manager/Curator.
• Observe general animal health and behavior, daily, and report any abnormal circumstances to a supervisor.
• Maintain records of health, behavior, enrichment, operant conditioning, and visitor engagement.
• Prepare and follow prescribed diets and feeding procedures for the animal collection.
• Perform operant conditioning and enrichment programs in assigned areas.
• Assist in the training, supervision, evaluation of volunteers, interns, and vocational students, as needed.
• Assist animal health and curatorial staff with animal handling, capture, restraint, transport, and medication administration.
• Develop and support visitor engagement programs.
• Interact with the public and Zoo staff in a professional and courteous manner.
• Make decisions consistent with the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden policies and procedures, when required.
• Perform daily duties in all sections of assigned department, as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned by your supervisor.

Qualifications:

• Demonstration of excellent communication skills, while applying good judgment, to deliver animal care and guest experiences that meet the highest standards.
• Demonstration of knowledge and successful experience in animal husbandry, operant conditioning, and understanding of modern zoological practices.
• The ability to establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with co-workers (including staff, volunteers, interns, and vocational students)
  • Exhibiting tolerance, trustworthiness, and accountability
• Consistently work in a problem-solving capacity within the department (planning ahead, communicating effectively, support team initiatives).
• Proven team player with the ability to work independently.
  • Exhibiting reliability and adaptability
• A degree in the biological sciences or related field.
• 3 years of keeper experience in an AZA institution preferred, with at least 1 year experience with carnivores.
• Paid experience with big cats and small carnivores preferred.

Working Conditions:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, climb or balance, and grasp objects. In addition, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions. Must be able to lift & move 50 pounds without mechanical assistance. Possess a valid driver’s license (and insurable to drive a Zoo vehicle).

Eligibility:

Any current Zoo employee is eligible to apply; Full-time Union members will receive first consideration

Deadline to Apply:

5:00pm November 7, 2026

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

***Equivalent combinations of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job will be considered***