Wildlife Care Biologist - Zoo Conservation & Training Lead

Smithsonian Institution; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Spending Accounts

Health Insurance

Leave

Life Insurance

Long Term Care Insurance

Retirement Program

Job summary

The Smithsonian Institution, located in the Directorate of Animal Care Sciences at the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, seeks an experienced animal care professional. You will manage daily care of exotic and endangered animals, oversee staff, volunteers, and contractors, and support reporting for conservation efforts.

The role emphasizes supervising teams, coordinating training, and ensuring timely completion of priorities and deadlines in a demanding zoological environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in Biological Sciences, Agriculture, Natural resource management, chemistry, or related fields.
• One year specialized experience in care and training of living wild animals in a zoological setting.
• Ability to coordinate animal care, training activities, and monitoring health and exhibit needs.

Responsibilities

• Provides daily care of exotic and endangered animals including enclosure cleaning, diet prep, feeding, and enrichment.
• Coordinates animal training and management activities to support health care, capture, restraint, transport, shifting, and separation.
• Oversee Animal Keepers, volunteers, interns, and contractors to ensure work is scheduled and completed on time.
• Assist in preparing reports and recommendations for conservation and zoological organizations.

Skills

Animal care

Enrichment

Diet preparation

Animal training coordination

Team supervision

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's in Biological Sciences or related field

Job description

The Smithsonian Institution, located in the Directorate of Animal Care Sciences at the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, seeks an experienced animal care professional. You will manage daily care of exotic and endangered animals, oversee staff, volunteers, and contractors, and support reporting for conservation efforts.

The role emphasizes supervising teams, coordinating training, and ensuring timely completion of priorities and deadlines in a demanding zoological environment.