General Curator

General Curator

We are seeking a General Curator to oversee the strategic and operational management of the Park’s animal collection, including animal care, welfare, husbandry, regulatory compliance, collection planning, acquisitions, transfers, and staff development. The General Curator will lead the Wildlife Department, maintain high standards of animal care, work closely with veterinary professionals and other park departments, and support the Park’s mission of connecting people with wildlife. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, organization, communication, adaptability, teamwork, and a genuine commitment to animal welfare, conservation, and professional growth.

Key Responsibilities: Manage and supervise all animal care and husbandry programs, ensuring animals receive appropriate daily care consistent with established practices, regulatory requirements, and industry standards. Develop and maintain welfare programs covering nutrition, preventative health, veterinary care, enrichment, husbandry, habitat management, and behavioral monitoring. Collaborate with veterinary professionals and animal care staff on preventative health and treatment plans, and assist with veterinary procedures, restraint, treatments, and emergency animal-care needs as appropriate. Monitor animal behavior and condition, ensuring welfare concerns are promptly identified, documented, and addressed.

Work with other departments to develop safe, engaging, and educational animal encounters and guest experiences while prioritizing animal welfare, employee safety, and guest safety. Evaluate existing animal programs and recommend improvements. Develop long-term collection plans aligned with the Park’s mission, facilities, operational capabilities, and strategic objectives.

Lead, supervise, schedule, train, mentor, and develop zookeepers and Wildlife Department employees. Assist with recruitment, interviews, hiring, onboarding, and required company documentation. Establish daily and weekly priorities, coordinate staff training and professional development, and promote a positive, professional, collaborative work environment.

Ensure compliance with USDA regulations, ZAA accreditation standards, and applicable local, state, and federal requirements. Maintain permits, licenses, certifications, records, and documentation; coordinate regulatory inspections and accreditation reviews; conduct self-audits; stay current on regulatory and industry developments; and develop policies and procedures covering animal care, welfare, safety, and compliance.

Oversee animal acquisitions, transfers, dispositions, and transportation logistics, including scheduling, permits, documentation, and communication with participating institutions. Evaluate collection changes based on animal welfare, social needs, available facilities, operational capabilities, and long-term collection goals. Maintain accurate animal records using AnimalCare Software or similar systems, including identification, husbandry, veterinary care, transfers, breeding, behavior, and regulatory information.

Oversee purchasing and inventory of animal feed, supplies, equipment, enrichment materials, and other department requirements. Maintain organized schedules, records, policies, procedures, and administrative documentation. Respond to animal-related emergencies, escapes, and urgent operational needs, including after-hours situations when necessary. Support emergency preparedness, special events, daily park operations, guest experiences, and other departments as required.

Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Zoology, Wildlife Biology, Animal Science, or a related animal field, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience. Minimum 6–10 years of professional experience in zoo, wildlife, exotic animal, or related animal management, including supervisory or leadership experience. Strong knowledge of animal husbandry, welfare, enrichment, nutrition, preventative health, animal behavior, USDA requirements, ZAA standards, and zoological facility regulations. Experience managing diverse animal collections and supervising, training, and developing animal-care staff is required. Experience with animal acquisitions, transfers, transportation, and related documentation is preferred.

Candidates must be 18+, pass pre-employment screening, have dependable attendance, a valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and reliable transportation, and occasionally use a private vehicle for work-related tasks. A negative TB test and recent tetanus vaccination are required. The role requires flexible availability for weekends, holidays, early mornings, evenings, and emergencies, as well as the ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, lift and move up to 70 pounds, remain on your feet for extended periods, and safely perform physical tasks such as walking, standing, kneeling, bending, climbing, reaching, and working around diverse exotic and domestic animals.

Necessary Skills: Strong leadership, interpersonal, communication, decision-making, problem-solving, organizational, and teamwork skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities independently in a fast-paced environment, with excellent attention to animal welfare, safety, compliance, and record keeping. Proficiency with AnimalCare Software or similar animal-record systems and Microsoft Office. Basic administrative and organizational skills, willingness to learn, and adaptability to the Park’s unique operational needs are essential.

What We Offer: Opportunities for education and professional development, team member appreciation events, free Park admission for employees and family and friends on days off, in-Park discounts on retail and select animal encounters, Paid Time Off with increasing accrual rates based on tenure, and subsidized health insurance.