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Regional hiringpublishedExternal employer
ANAudubon Nature Institute
Audubon Nature InstituteZoo & Aquarium

Zookeeper – River’s Edge & Nocturnal Swing Keeper

Location

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Work type

Onsite

Employment

Full Time

Experience

1-6 years

Compensation

Compensation not disclosed

Posted

1h ago

Summary and responsibilities

Role overview

Summary

This Zookeeper position involves routine animal care duties, habitat maintenance, and enhancing animal welfare for a diverse range of Central and South American species. Responsibilities include daily cleaning, diet preparation, behavioral enrichment, and providing excellent guest experiences. The role requires working across sections, focusing on River’s Edge and Nocturnal House exhibits, and may involve cross-training in other areas.

Reports to the Section Assistant Curator under the general supervision of the Curator of the Louisiana Swamp Exhibit and Jaguar Jungle. Zookeepers perform routine animal care with minimal supervision, including habitat cleaning and maintenance, animal training, behavioral enrichment, welfare management, and guest engagement.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

  • Evaluate animal health, diet, behavior, and emergency situations using sound judgment.

  • Clean and maintain animal habitats, grounds, and off-exhibit areas.

  • Identify and correct routine maintenance issues and report larger needs.

  • Implement behavioral training, enrichment, and welfare programs.

  • Monitor and document animal health and behavior; communicate abnormalities to supervisors and teammates.

  • Prepare and follow prescribed diets and feeding procedures.

  • Participate in shows, chats, feeds, behind-the-scenes tours, VIP/donor experiences, and paid animal encounters.

  • Assist with training new staff and, when needed, selecting, training, supervising, and evaluating volunteers.

  • Assist with new facility development and improvements to existing facilities.

  • Prepare technical reports on animal management and exhibition.

  • Participate in animal capture, restraint, and movement and share effective techniques.

  • Assist veterinary and curatorial staff with animal treatments.

  • Follow Audubon policies and procedures and support daily operations across assigned sections.

  • Lead coworkers, interns, and volunteers on group projects as needed.

  • Take personal responsibility for maintaining a safe, clean, and organized work environment.

Minimum Qualifications

  • High school diploma or equivalent.

  • Strong knowledge of exotic animal management, handling, restraint, and exhibition techniques.

  • Experience with animal training and behavioral enrichment across diverse mammals, birds, and reptiles.

  • Knowledge of zoonotic diseases and prevention.

  • Excellent safety record.

  • Strong teamwork, communication, time management, accountability, and problem-solving skills.

  • Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

  • Ability to work weekends, holidays, overtime, and special/24-hour emergency needs.

  • Willingness to perform pest control and serve on the Zoo’s hurricane Storm Rider Team.

  • Ability to operate power tools, lawn equipment, and learn medium/heavy equipment such as riding mowers and skid-steer loaders.

  • Comfortable working around large bodies of water and operating non-motorized boats.

  • Valid Louisiana driver’s license.

  • Current TB test and tetanus vaccination.

  • COVID-19 vaccination series required when working with COVID-susceptible species.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience at an AZA-accredited zoological facility.

  • College degree or coursework in zoology, biology, animal science, or related field; substantial experience may substitute.

  • First Aid/CPR certification.

  • Experience with or willingness to work around venomous snakes.

  • Experience with or willingness to learn life-support systems and water-quality management.

  • Experience with ZIMS, TRACKs, or similar animal-records software.

  • Current rabies vaccination as required by the department; Audubon will cover vaccination if hired.

Physical & Work Environment

  • Ability to work outdoors in extreme heat, humidity, heavy rain, and other challenging conditions.

  • Ability to sit, stand, bend, and stoop as required.

  • Safely lift up to 100 lbs., with frequent lifting/carrying of up to 50 lbs.

  • Periodic exposure to predictable hazards associated with wild animals and zoonotic diseases.

  • Exposure to heavy machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, and other workplace hazards.

  • Ability to work in a nocturnal setting.

Updated 1h ago

Candidate fit

Skills and qualifications

Additional skills

Exotic Animal Management • 1+ yrs
Animal Training • 1+ yrs
Behavioral Enrichment • 1+ yrs
Animal Care • 1+ yrs
Time Management • 1+ yrs
Teamwork • 1+ yrs
Microsoft Office • 1+ yrs
Zoonotic Disease Prevention • 1+ yrs

Experience

1-6 years

Certifications

TB Test • Required
Tetanus Shot • Required
COVID-19 Vaccine Series • Required
Louisiana Driver's License • Required
Rabies Vaccinations • Required

How this role is positioned

Role classification

Job domains

Operations

Industries

Wildlife & Conservation

Employment

Full Time

Contract duration

Permanent

Hiring type

Direct

Global hiring

Location specific

Offer details

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

Compensation not disclosed

VisibilityShared on listing
CurrencyUSD
PeriodYearly

Location, schedule, and role shape

Work setup

Work conditions

Primary locationNew Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Work typeOnsite
Global hiringNo

Bandwidth profile

peopleMedium7/10
physicalHigh9/10
cognitiveMedium7/10
executionHigh8/10
creativityMedium6/10
uncertaintyMedium7/10
communicationMedium7/10

Context on the employer

Company snapshot

Company

Audubon Nature Institute

Team size

Growing team

Location

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Audubon Nature Institute comprises Audubon Park, Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium, Audubon Insectarium, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, and Audubon Wilderness Park. At Audubon Nature Institute, we are more than a collection of parks, museums, and conservation centers—we are a dedicated team with a shared mission to celebrate, protect, and connect people to the wonders of nature.

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Zookeeper – River’s Edge & Nocturnal Swing Keeper

New Orleans, Louisiana, United StatesFull Time