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DZDenver Zoo Conservation Alliance
Denver Zoo Conservation AllianceZoological Services

Animal Care Specialist II - Float

Location

Denver, Colorado, United States

Work type

Onsite

Employment

Full Time

Experience

2-10 years

Compensation

$24 - $29 per hour

Posted

2d ago

Summary and responsibilities

Role overview

Summary

The Animal Care Specialist II - Float supports all Animal Care teams at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, ensuring safe exhibition, handling, feeding, and husbandry of all animal species. This role involves providing innovative animal husbandry, assisting with veterinary care, implementing behavioral programs, and interacting with guests.

Animal Care Specialist II - Float

Position Overview:

The Animal Care Specialist II - Float supports all Animal Care teams and advances Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance (DZCA) goals by providing safe, high-quality exhibition, handling, feeding, training, and husbandry for a variety of animal species. Candidates must be available for flexible schedules, including weekends, with schedules varying according to operational needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide animal husbandry in accordance with AZA and USDA standards, including enclosure and life-support system maintenance, diet preparation and feeding, animal handling/restraint, veterinary support, preventative care, and health monitoring.

• Care for eggs, neonates, and young animals, including outside normal hours when required.

• Monitor animal physical and behavioral health and implement approved behavioral, enrichment, breeding, operant conditioning, and training programs.

• Capture, handle, move, and transport animals for medical procedures, shipping, internal transfers, and routine care.

• Perform scuba diving for exhibit maintenance, animal capture, and repairs when applicable.

• Maintain animal, facility, water-quality, and daily records and prepare required reports.

• Provide guest engagement through keeper talks, tours, special events, and educational programs.

• Train keepers, interns, and volunteers on standard animal-care procedures.

• Respond to animal-related emergencies and coordinate contractors or maintenance personnel working in animal areas.

• Collaborate with education, maintenance, horticulture, veterinary, conservation, research, and other teams.

• Follow safety, sustainability, health, confidentiality, and organizational policies and demonstrate DZCA values of Welcoming, United, Curious, Courageous, and Transformative.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in an animal-related or animal behavior-related field plus 2 years of full-time zookeeping experience caring for, feeding, and handling exotic animals at an AZA-accredited institution; comparable facilities may be considered.

OR

• Associate degree or equivalent college credits in an animal-related/animal behavior field plus 4 years of full-time zookeeping experience at an AZA-accredited institution. Denver Zoo animal-department internships may count toward AZA experience when the candidate has at least an Associate degree in biological sciences.

OR

• Candidates without a degree may be considered with 10+ years of full-time zookeeping experience involving exhibition and husbandry of varied exotic animals at an AZA-accredited institution.

• Must be able, with appropriate training, to work across animal care, husbandry, and training functions within the assigned department.

Position Conditions:

• Must be at least 21 years old with a valid driver’s license and clean driving record.

• Must pass a physical examination, background check, and pre-employment drug/alcohol screening.

• Must provide a negative TB test and complete a rabies titer.

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.

• On-campus position with flexible scheduling, including weekends.

Compensation & Benefits:

Hourly pay: $24.50–$29.65.

Benefits include medical, dental and vision coverage, 403(b) retirement plan with employer match, paid vacation/sick/personal leave and holidays, family DZCA membership, event ticket discounts, concession and retail discounts, and free parking.

Updated 2d ago

Candidate fit

Skills and qualifications

Additional skills

Animal Husbandry • 1+ yrs
Animal Handling • 1+ yrs
Behavioral Enrichment • 1+ yrs
Operant Conditioning • 1+ yrs
Veterinary Care Assistance • 1+ yrs
Data Recording • 1+ yrs
Communication • 1+ yrs
Scuba Diving • 1+ yrs

Experience

2-10 years

Certifications

Negative TB Test • Required
Rabies Titer • 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

$24 - $29 per hour

VisibilityShared on listing
CurrencyUSD
PeriodHourly

Benefits and perks

Free Parking

Location, schedule, and role shape

Work setup

Work conditions

Primary locationDenver, Colorado, United States
Work typeOnsite
Global hiringNo

Bandwidth profile

peopleMedium6/10
physicalHigh8/10
cognitiveHigh8/10
executionHigh8/10
creativityMedium6/10
uncertaintyMedium6/10
communicationMedium7/10

Context on the employer

Company snapshot

Company

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance

Team size

Growing team

Location

Denver, Colorado, United States

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance (DZCA) is a leader in animal care, wildlife conservation, and education. We are passionate about our commitment to excellence in support of our mission of Inspiring Communities to Save Wildlife for Future Generations.

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Animal Care Specialist II - Float

Denver, Colorado, United StatesFull Time