Supervisor, Animal Nutrition

Houston Zoo

Houston (TX)

On-site

USD 65,000 - 85,000

Full time

6 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical and Prescription Drug

Vision

Basic Life AD&D (Employer Paid)

Short Term Disability (Employer Paid)

Long Term Disability (Employer Paid)

Supplemental Life

401k with employer match

Free Zoo Membership

Free Guest Passes

Discounts on Food, Merchandise, and At

Free parking

Job summary

The Houston Zoo seeks an Animal Nutrition Supervisor to lead the Animal Nutrition Center (ANC) operations, oversee the preparation and delivery of animal meals, and supervise the ANC staff, interns, and volunteers. You will manage purchasing, inventory, and nutrition documentation to ensure compliance with AZA/USDA/HACCP standards.

Qualifications include a BA/BS and 6+ years in a zoological setting, plus strong purchasing and warehouse experience.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) or equivalent combination of education and experience.
6+ years of experience in a zoological facility.
Demonstrated background in purchasing and warehouse functions.
Experience in acquisition, storage, and preparation of animal food items.
Computer proficiency with standard Microsoft Office applications and purchasing systems.

Responsibilities

Oversees day-to-day operations of the Animal Nutrition Center (ANC).
Supervises ANC staff, interns, and volunteers; schedules and assigns work.
Manages inventory, procurement, and warehouse space; tracks supplies.
Ensures nutrition documentation is up to date and compliant (TRACKS, etc.).
Coordinates with Animal Nutritionist on capital planning and vendor selection.
Ensures staff are trained in purchasing policies and safety procedures.
Participates in AZA and Nutrition Advisory Group programs.

Skills

Purchasing

Warehouse management

Animal nutrition

Interpersonal skills

Team leadership

Communication

Microsoft Office

Records management

Education

Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) or equivalent

6+ years in a zoological facility

Purchasing and warehouse experience

Acquisition, storage and prep of animal food items

Valid Texas driver’s license or ability to obtain within 60 days

Tools

Purchasing systems

Animal record keeping software

Microsoft Office

Job description

6200 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030, USA

Job Description

Posted Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 6:00 AM

The Animal Nutrition Supervisor works under the direction of the Animal Nutritionist and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Animal Nutrition Center (ANC), including the acquisition, preparation, and delivery of food items for the animal collection and the supervision of the staff performing those duties.

Our Mission:Houston Zoo connects communities with animals, inspiring action to save wildlife.

Our Vision:Houston Zoo will be a leader in the global movement to save wildlife.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Oversees the day-to-day operations of the ANC, including the acquisition, preparation, and delivery of food items foranimalcollection.
Provides functional supervision, operationalassistance, and technical guidance for ANC keepers, interns, and volunteers in the performance of job tasks.
MaintainsANC staff scheduling and ensuresappropriate dailystaffing.directs, organizes, prioritizes, and schedules work assignments within the section.
Oversees animal nutrition documentationutilizingTRACKS and other softwareprograms;ensures that animal diet sheets aremaintainedand up to date.
Manages the animal food warehouse to ensure effective use of space and optimization of inventory on hand.
Responsible for the recruitment,selection, development, evaluation, and performance management of direct reports.
Collaborates in the development and implementation of standard operating guidelines, safety protocols, and emergency proceduresin accordance withregulatory requirements and guidelines (AZA, USDA, HACCP).
Evaluates the condition of area facilities and equipment; generates and tracks work requests and monitors repair and maintenance work as needed.
Assistsin the development and implementation of preventative maintenance andpurchasingprograms tooptimizethe use of organizational resources.
Assistsin the development of purchasing and inventory reports in collaboration with the purchasing department.
Collaborates in the selection of animal food vendors and service providers, including price negotiations and establishment of price agreements.
Collaborateswith AnimalNutritionist on area capital improvement planning.
Ensures that staff are appropriately trained inpurchasingpolicies and procedures.
Participates in AZA and Nutrition Advisory Group (NAG) programs.
Contributes to saving animals in the wild through reduction of waste, water and energy use andinspiring guests and staff to take wildlife protecting actions.
Contributes to other operational priorities as needed.

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) from four-year college or university;or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum of six (6) years of experience in a zoological facility.
Demonstrated background inpurchasingand warehouse functions.
Experience in acquisition, storage, and preparation of animal food items.
Basic knowledge of the nutritional needs of exotic animals.
Computerproficiencywith standard Microsoft Office applications,purchasingsystems, and animal record keeping software.
Strong interpersonal, team building, and communication skills.
Mustpossessthe ability to effectively partner with other departments and all levels of staff.
Valid Texas driver’s license or ability to obtain one within60 daysof employment.

About the Houston Zoo

The Houston Zoo is made up of many moving parts with over 6,000 permanent residents (our animals) for whom we provide housing, meals, medical care and yes, even education! There are over 2 million guests each year who come to experience our incredible variety of animals and ecosystems, as well as attend special private and public events and entertainment. Our dedicated staff works around the clock to ensure that the Zoo is always running smoothly for the safety and well-being of our residents and guests. We strive to ensure the protection of all the counterparts of the animals we have at the Zoo and in the wild.

Join the Houston Zoo and become a part of an organization that is focused on the preservation of wildlife and their habitats by combining conservation with education and promotion of sustainable livelihoods in the local communities. Houston Zoo is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Disclaimer
The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as a complete inventory of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an at-will basis.
Benefits
Full-time, regular positions are offered the following benefits.