Lead Animal Care Specialist
Carnivores, Small Mammals
Location
Brookfield, Illinois, United States
Work type
Onsite
Employment
Full Time
Experience
4+ years
Compensation
$38 - $38 per hour
Posted
7h ago
Summary and responsibilities
Role overview
Summary
This position involves providing experienced care for carnivores and small mammals, maintaining facilities, and supervising Animal Care Specialists. The Lead Animal Care Specialist will oversee daily operations, staff development, and ensure compliance with animal welfare and safety standards at Brookfield Zoo Chicago.
Lead Animal Care Specialist
Brookfield Zoo Chicago is seeking an experienced Lead Animal Care Specialist to provide high-quality animal care while supporting facility operations, staff development, conservation leadership, and animal welfare. This role provides day-to-day leadership for Animal Care Specialists (ACS) in an assigned area, performs routine duties independently, and supports safe, effective, and innovative animal management with minimal supervision.
Key Responsibilities
Provide proactive leadership and communicate with managers regarding animal care, facility maintenance, staff supervision, and development.
Assist with hiring, scheduling, assignments, departmental goals, and work priorities.
Monitor ACS performance and ensure timely, effective completion of duties.
Prepare and conduct performance appraisals as assigned.
Maintain accurate animal and equipment inventories, schedules, and required reports.
Address personnel matters objectively and consistently in accordance with BZC policies and the union contract.
Order, prepare, and distribute animal food as required.
Ensure compliance with BZC policies, procedures, and emergency protocols.
Observe assigned animals, maintain current records, and apply knowledge and experience to improve animal management.
Monitor enclosures, facilities, equipment, public spaces, plants, and interpretives; report maintenance needs and perform minor maintenance.
Clean animal enclosures, pools, and service areas.
Maintain current knowledge of species natural history, behavior, husbandry, and captive management.
Promote animal and guest safety and protect BZC property.
Engage with guests and enhance their understanding and appreciation of animals.
Lead daily operations within the assigned area and support achievement of short-term goals.
Train and direct interns, seasonal employees, and ACS staff as assigned.
Relieve other Lead ACSs and provide coverage as directed.
Qualifications & Skills
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant biological field or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience; high school diploma or equivalent required.
Minimum 4 years of experience as an Animal Care Specialist or equivalent, with demonstrated exemplary performance in a supervisory keeper role preferred.
Strong supervisory, leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Current knowledge of animal behavior, natural history, husbandry, captive population management, and applicable AZA conservation programs.
Ability to safely work with live animals and recognize changes in animal behavior or condition.
Proven ability to train, mentor, and guide the professional development of others.
Ability to mediate routine personnel issues and resolve conflicts professionally.
Calm, effective decision-making during emergencies.
Strong problem-solving, judgment, initiative, and analytical skills.
Ability to learn and apply information quickly, adapt to change, and work independently with minimal supervision.
Strong organization and time-management skills with flexibility and creativity.
Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding personnel and privileged matters.
Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Microsoft 365, and ZIMS or similar animal-record systems.
Cultural competency and ability to work effectively with diverse, multicultural audiences.
Valid driver’s license required at hire.
Benefits
Time Away: Vacation accrual, 3 personal convenience days annually for union employees, sick leave accruing at 10 days per year, and 10 paid holidays.
Employee Benefits: Brookfield Zoo Chicago pays 100% of medical benefit costs for bargaining-unit employees. Eligible employees are automatically enrolled in retirement savings at 6% pre-tax, with employer matching contributions of up to 3% after one year. Benefits also include employer-paid short-term disability, basic term life insurance, and long-term disability coverage.
Voluntary Benefits: Group accident insurance, critical illness insurance, and identity theft protection.
Updated 7h ago
Candidate fit
Skills and qualifications
Additional skills
Experience
4+ years
Certifications
How this role is positioned
Role classification
Job domains
Industries
Employment
Full Time
Contract duration
Permanent
Hiring type
Direct
Global hiring
Location specific
Offer details
Compensation and benefits
Compensation
$38 - $38 per hour
Location, schedule, and role shape
Work setup
Work conditions
Bandwidth profile
Context on the employer
Company snapshot
Company
Brookfield Zoo Chicago
Team size
Growing team
Location
Brookfield, Illinois, United States
Brookfield Zoo Chicago is dedicated to igniting emotional connections with wildlife to spark conservation action and protect endangered species. Its 235-acre campus serves as a living classroom for over 3,500 animals across 500 species, embarking on an ambitious Next Century Plan for transformative growth.
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Lead Animal Care Specialist
Brookfield, Illinois, United States • Full Time