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FWFort Wayne Zoo
Fort Wayne Zoo•Zoo

Animal Care Specialist

Location

Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States

Work type

Onsite

Employment

Full Time

Experience

1-3 years

Compensation

Compensation not disclosed

Posted

6h ago

Summary and responsibilities

Role overview

Summary

The Animal Care Specialist is responsible for the daily husbandry of small carnivore species, ensuring their wellbeing through operant conditioning and enrichment strategies. This role involves maintaining clean and safe habitats, monitoring animals, and engaging with guests to promote positive experiences.

Applications are being accepted for a full-time Animal Care Specialist with the Fort Wayne Zoo. This year-round position requires 40 hours per week and is responsible for daily husbandry of small carnivores and other species in the African Journey, including banded mongoose, radiated tortoise, cape porcupine, bat-eared fox, and serval.

The Animal Care Specialist provides high-quality daily animal care, promotes animal wellbeing, and performs husbandry practices including operant conditioning, enrichment, habitat furnishing, and behavioral management. The position works with animal care leadership and behavior staff, contributes to positive guest experiences, supports Zoo operations and education, and assists with special projects.

Responsibilities include maintaining clean and safe habitats; preparing and providing food and water; monitoring animal health and behavior; reporting observations; conducting and documenting wellbeing assessments; using operant conditioning to support training, health, and welfare; providing approved enrichment and species-appropriate habitat furnishings; developing training and enrichment plans; maintaining accurate animal records; collecting weights and other monitoring data; assisting with enclosure design and husbandry improvements; hand-rearing animals as needed; providing treatments as directed; performing minor habitat repairs; maintaining tools and equipment; transporting supplies, equipment, and animals; and supporting maintenance, operations, education, and guest engagement.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED and a valid driver's license. A bachelor's degree in an animal-related field and at least one year of zoological experience are preferred. Candidates should have knowledge of animal care, handling, natural history, and animal wellbeing; be able to identify native trees and shrubs for browse; remain effective during high-stress situations; communicate professionally; troubleshoot and make sound decisions; manage time and multiple priorities; use Microsoft Office; follow safety procedures; maintain reliable attendance; and work independently and collaboratively. Flexibility to work weekends, evenings, holidays, and irregular hours is required. The successful candidate must represent the Fort Wayne Zoo professionally when interacting with guests, partners, volunteers, and the community and support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging.

Physical requirements include operating computers and office equipment, moving throughout assigned areas, working in confined spaces, handling and restraining small animals, lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, standing and sitting for extended periods, and maintaining attention to detail. Work occurs indoors and outdoors in extreme temperatures and inclement weather, including wet, icy, or muddy conditions. The position may involve exposure to hazardous materials, fumes, odors, dirt, dust, potentially dangerous or venomous animals, zoonotic diseases, noxious plants, and biting insects or arthropods.

Updated 46m ago

Candidate fit

Skills and qualifications

Additional skills

Animal Care • 1+ yrs
Operant Conditioning • 1+ yrs
Enrichment Strategy • 1+ yrs
Animal Wellbeing Assessment • 1+ yrs
Habitat Maintenance • 1+ yrs
Observation & Reporting • 1+ yrs
Troubleshooting • 1+ yrs
Communication • 1+ yrs

Experience

1-3 years

Certifications

Valid driver’s license • Required

How this role is positioned

Role classification

Job domains

Operations
Education

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 locationFort Wayne, Indiana, United States
Work typeOnsite
Global hiringNo

Bandwidth profile

peopleMedium • 7/10
physicalHigh • 8/10
cognitiveMedium • 7/10
executionHigh • 8/10
creativityMedium • 6/10
uncertaintyMedium • 6/10
communicationHigh • 8/10

Context on the employer

Company snapshot

Company

Fort Wayne Zoo

Team size

Growing team

Location

Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States

The Fort Wayne Zoo is dedicated to providing quality animal care, ensuring animal wellbeing, and fostering positive guest experiences. The organization is committed to the continued growth of diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging for its team members, volunteers, guests, and supporters.

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Animal Care Specialist

Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States • Full Time