Assistant Curator of Ambassador Animals/ State Program Admin Supervisor Sr

Association Of Zoos & Aquariums; Apple Valley (MN); On-site; USD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization seeks an Assistant Curator of Ambassador Animals at the Minnesota Zoo, responsible for ensuring animal well-being and public engagement through educational initiatives. Ideal candidates will have extensive animal care experience, leadership skills, and a commitment to diversity, promoting a positive environment both for the animals and visitors. This role is pivotal in connecting the community with wildlife conservation efforts.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in animal care, valid driver's license, and current CPR/1st Aid certifications.
• Experience with various taxa and strong leadership abilities are essential.
• Commitment to work with diverse communities is required.

Responsibilities

• Assist in managing the daily operations of the Ambassador Animal Department.
• Provide industry-leading animal care and supervision.
• Develop innovative interpretations for educational and entertaining presentations.

Skills

Animal husbandry

Leadership

Public speaking

Communication

Conflict resolution

Education

Bachelor's degree in zoology, conservation biology, ecology, or related discipline

Advanced degree in related field

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Teams

ZIMS

Job description

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Assistant Curator of Ambassador Animals/ State Program Admin Supervisor Sr

This position assists with leadership to the Ambassador Animal Section at the Minnesota Zoo in support of the Zoo’s mission to connect people, animals, and the natural world to save wildlife. The incumbent assists with curation of a diverse collection of animals, supervises all aspects of daily operations, and ensures the highest quality professional care, training, and wellbeing for the collection. The position obtains and manages the resources needed to support all Ambassador Animal programs.

This position is a member of the Animal Care leadership team and collaborates with other Zoo departments. They contribute to initiatives of the CHCB team (Care, Health, Conservation and Behavior) as it relates to the Zoo’s strategic priorities in animal care and education.

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Exercise supervisory authority while assisting the Curator in developing, directing, and managing the Ambassador Animal Department’s personnel so that required staffing resources are available and strategically invested and department policies are developed and implemented that most effectively support the Minnesota Zoo’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Provide industry-leading animal husbandry and welfare to departmental animal collection.
• Lead efforts to develop innovative new, and improve current, interpretation of animals in the Ambassador Animal Department so that Minnesota Zoo visitors and others receive educational and entertaining presentations featuring mission driven information.
• Deliver and maintain industry-leading, engaging, animal displays which meet and exceed industry welfare standards.
• Serve as a member of the Animal Care supervisory team ensuring development and accomplishment of the Minnesota Zoo’s mission, strategic priorities, conservation plan, education plan, nature plan and master plan.

Experience Required

Minimum Qualifications• Seven (7) years animal care experience in an AZA or equivalent organization• One (1) year of supervisory or team lead experience in an AZA or equivalent organization sufficient to provide leadership to staff and ensure the care and wellbeing of animals• Valid driver’s license and valid and current passport (or ability to obtain)• Current CPR/1st Aid certifications• Experience working with a variety of taxa including invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, and birds in an ambassador setting including shows, encounters and media events• Expertise in animal care, wellbeing, behavior, training, and sustainable population management• Well-developed human relationship skills sufficient to lead, motivate, mentor, educate and supervise staff and respond with sensitivity to their varied needs• Communication skills sufficient to convey complex biological and scientific concepts to diverse and varied audiences and bring staff and the public to action to support an initiative or program• Computer skills using business and animal management software applications, such as Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, ZIMS, etc., sufficient to create, enter, edit, save, and retrieve memos, data, reports, presentations, or other documents• Demonstrated commitment and ability to work with culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities and/or organizations sufficient to maintain a work environment that respects and values differences and diversity• Ability to manage disagreement, defuse conflicts, and reach constructive solutions while maintaining positive relationships• Ability to act as an official professional representative and promote the philosophy and mission of the Zoo at public speaking events to local, state, and national audiencesPreferred Qualifications• Bachelor’s degree in zoology, conservation biology, ecology, environmental science or other related discipline• Advanced degree in related field• Experience working with and leading others working with carnivores• Work experience with regional, national, and international conservation initiatives• Experience with animal research and conservation projects, including experience publishing results in peer-reviewed journals• Experience in participation or lead work in an AZA management program (TAGs, SSPs, studbook, etc.)• Experience working with State government• Experience working in a union environment• Fluent in a second language, such as Spanish, Hmong, ASL, etc.

Determined based on education and qualifications