Chief Animal Care & Enrichment Officer

Lincoln (United States); Lincoln (NE); On-site; USD 104,000 - 127,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health

Dental

Vision

Employee Assistance Program

401(k) and Matching

Flexible Schedule

Employee Discount

PTO

Lifestyle Savings Account

Job summary

Lincoln Children’s Zoo focuses on enriching lives through hands-on experiences for over 250,000 guests yearly and caring for more than 400 animals. The General Curator leads daily animal care operations, develops ICP per AZA standards, and collaborates with veterinary, nutrition, welfare, and facilities teams to ensure top-tier welfare and records management.

Preferred candidates will have 5–8 years in zoo settings, strong leadership and emotional intelligence, and familiarity with AZA programs

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Zoology, Animal Science or related field preferred; advanced degree preferred.
• 5–8 years of full-time experience in a zoological park or wildlife setting managing a large and diverse animal collection and a multi-disciplined animal care team.
• High level of emotional intelligence and ability to build cooperative relationships across organization functions.
• Clear vision for attracting, developing, and retaining high-functioning engaged team members.
• Familiarity with AZA programs (SAFE, SSP, TAG, PMC) and leadership roles in studbook or Taxon Advisory Groups.
• Working knowledge of AZA Accreditation Standards and USDA Animal Welfare Standards; knowledge of animal diseases.
• Proficient in ZIMS software; experience maintaining records and preparing reports.
• Habitat design and construction experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day animal care operations and staffing.
• Develop and update Institutional Collection Plan per AZA standards.
• Ensure consistent care across taxonomic groups and welfare disciplines.
• Manage animal care staffing and supervision.
• Oversee hiring, training, and performance evaluations.
• Coordinate with veterinary medicine, nutrition, welfare, and facilities.
• Ensure record-keeping policies and registrar information management.
• Comply with AZA, USDA standards and safety initiatives.
• Represent zoo in media, PR, and fundraising activities.
• Support career development and mentorship within the team.

Skills

Emotional intelligence

Leadership

Staff development

Guest interaction

Communication

Team management

Biology knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Zoology, Animal Science or related field

Advanced degree in related field

Tools

ZIMS software

Job description

Lincoln Children’s Zoo focuses on enriching lives through hands-on experiences for over 250,000 guests yearly and caring for more than 400 animals. The General Curator leads daily animal care operations, develops ICP per AZA standards, and collaborates with veterinary, nutrition, welfare, and facilities teams to ensure top-tier welfare and records management.

Preferred candidates will have 5–8 years in zoo settings, strong leadership and emotional intelligence, and familiarity with AZA programs