Senior Zoologist - Primates

Dallas Zoo Management; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Dallas Zoo Management seeks a senior zoologist to lead animal care for designated sections, ensuring health, safety and welfare with adherence to AZA and USDA standards.

You will participate in enrichment, training, research, and educational outreach, while supervising staff and mentoring interns. This role emphasizes collaboration across teams and a commitment to conservation and public engagement.

Qualifications

• Strong observation skills for animal welfare and behavior.
• Flexible, efficient team player with a solutions mindset.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, following instructions.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily care and exhibits for health, safety, and welfare in accordance with AZA/USDA/DZM.
• Observe health/behavior, report abnormalities to managers or veterinary staff.
• Prepare food and water for animals; administer medications as instructed.
• Maintain sanitation, clean exhibits, and conduct pest control activities.
• Provide environmental enrichment and training using operant conditioning.
• Assist with capture/restraint of various taxa, including potentially dangerous species.
• Update animal records and assist with research projects as needed.
• Train and mentor interns/volunteers as assigned.
• Engage guests through educational presentations on wildlife and conservation.

Skills

Observation skills

Team player

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Associate’s degree in animal science or related

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

Senior-level position in animal care, following established protocols to provide outstanding animal care for species in the section: food preparation, feeding, exhibit maintenance, pest control, and reproductive management. Zoologists participate in operant conditioning and husbandry programs, provide approved environmental enrichment, work collaboratively to improve animal exhibits, and prepare and conduct educational presentations and tours for zoo guests. Senior Zoologists may act as team leaders on specific projects, as assigned, and provide crucial guidance and training to less senior staff.The Primate team cares for a wide array of small-to-large primates, ranging from emperor tamarins to two great ape species (gorillas and chimpanzees). Animal care staff on this team have a strong understanding of both natural and individual behaviors of each primate species and incorporate that information into outstanding animal welfare at all levels, including but not limited to training and enrichment.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide overall daily care of assigned animals and exhibits to ensure animal health, safety, and welfare, staff and public safety as set forth by AZA, USDA, and DZM to include:
• Observe and monitor animals’ general health and behavior, reporting any abnormal behavior to manager and/or veterinary staff;
• Prepare and provide food for assigned animals, following written instructions, provide water and administer medication as instructed to ensure proper nutrition and health;
• Clean animal exhibits, holding pens, food prep areas, and equipment, maintaining a high level of sanitation, conducting pest control activities and reporting any mechanical defects that would endanger the animal, zoo staff, and/or guests;
• Achieve the highest standards of animal welfare and wellness by providing environmental enrichment and training sessions, using operant conditioning, as applicable;
• Participate in or assist with the capture and restraint of a variety of taxa including dangerous species
• Prepare and update animal records, reports and surveys, assisting in research projects as necessary to ensure thorough documentation and enhanced knowledge of animal biology;
• Perform general maintenance and repair of exhibits: painting, repairing fences and shelters, abating erosion, planting ground cover and removing weeds;
• Provide assistance with animal transfers and/or procedures as directed;
• Interact positively and professionally with animal care and veterinary staff and volunteers;
• Actively encourage interest in wildlife through positive interaction with zoo guests via educational presentations focused on animals, biology, conservation, and environmental issues;
• Utilize the enrichment item/device proposal form to create new enrichment ideas and items to be added to taxa repertoires and properly record the results of enrichment items after each use;
• Collaborate with other zoo personnel as needed to meet the zoo’s mission. This can include, but is not limited to, assisting and participating in media events, special tours, and public relations projects;
• Participate in and support zoo-wide initiatives, committees, and work groups;
• Understand and support Dallas Zoo’s Strategic and Master Plans and departmental collection plans;
• Study specific reference materials pertinent to animal care, behavior and natural history as assigned;
• Follow all safety protocols and understand the animal keeper's role in emergency procedures, responding to emergencies as required;
• Be able to supervise and train volunteers and interns within department as needed; eligible to act as an assigned mentor to interns and volunteers responsible for counseling, coaching, and ensuring follow up on assigned intern/volunteer goals
• Assist with the beautification of our park by removing trash and debris whenever you see it;
• Assist with and raise awareness for AZA SAFE programs;
• Eligible to serve in Chair positions on Dallas Zoo Management internal committees
• Perform other duties as assigned.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate’s degree in an animal science, biology, or related science field plus four years of paid animal care experience is required; A Bachelor’s degree in an animal science, biology, or related science field plus three years of paid animal care experience is preferred;
• Must have knowledge of animal care and basic husbandry skills, and at least three years preferred of exotic animal care experience at an AZA-accredited facility (ideally with great apes);
• Must be a flexible, efficient, self-motivated team player, and solution-oriented: finding creative solutions to complex challenges;
• Must have basic knowledge of research techniques and practices, with solid observation skills;
• Must be capable of practicing, or willing to learn, safe methods of capture and restraint for a variety of taxa (which may include potentially dangerous species);
• Must be able to establish and maintain an effective rapport with all levels of management, employees, interns, volunteers, and zoo guests;
• Must be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, following instructions and documenting animal care activities appropriately;
• Ability to represent the Zoo in a professional manner at all times;
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in emergency situations and to respond with appropriate action;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with management, other employees & zoo guests;
• Must be able to walk, stand, sit, kneel, stoop, crawl, twist, reach above head, pull bend, climb stairs and ladders and carry up to 50 lbs;
• Must be able to work holidays and weekends, both regular and irregular hours as required;
• Regular, reliable and punctual attendance is an essential function of this position;
• Must be able to actively work outdoors in hot or inclement weather;
• Successful candidates must complete pre-employment drug screening, background check and TB test;
• Must have a valid driver’s license to operate zoo vehicles and reliable transportation.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by personnel assigned to this job and is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties to be assigned.