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Zoo Keeper
Ambassador Animals / Animal Care Technician 3
Location
Apple Valley, Minnesota, United States
Work type
Onsite
Employment
Full Time
Experience
3+ years
Compensation
$56.1K - $74.7K per year
Posted
6h ago
Summary and responsibilities
Role overview
Summary
This position provides comprehensive animal and habitat care, ensuring the health and welfare of animals while maintaining attractive and instructive exhibits for guests. The role involves performing animal husbandry, preparing diets, observing behaviors, and participating in interpretive programs to educate visitors about wildlife conservation.
Job Title: Zookeeper / Animal Care Specialist
Organization: Minnesota Zoo
Position Overview:
This role provides daily care and habitat maintenance for animals to ensure high standards of health, welfare, and exhibition quality. The position supports the Minnesota Zoo mission to connect people, animals, and nature to save wildlife. Work takes place across a large campus, requiring independent travel between buildings and worksites, safe vehicle operation, and occasional offsite travel under 5 percent.
Key Responsibilities:
* Perform daily animal husbandry and feeding according to established protocols to maintain animal health and welfare.
* Maintain, clean, and sanitize animal habitats, holding facilities, and public viewing areas.
* Deliver educational presentations, animal encounters, and interpretive talks to zoo visitors, volunteers, and staff.
* Monitor animal health, observe behaviors, and maintain accurate care and medical records.
* Design and implement goal-based behavioral enrichment and positive reinforcement training.
* Safely operate fleet vehicles across campus to move supplies, gear, and personnel.
Minimum Qualifications:
* 3 years of full-time experience as a Zookeeper at an accredited facility, or 3 years of direct animal care experience in a veterinary hospital within the last 10 years.
* Proven experience handling ambassador animals in educational programs, shows, and media appearances.
* Direct care experience across invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, and birds.
* Practical knowledge of animal diet preparation, behavior monitoring, and detailed recordkeeping.
* Experience in operant conditioning using positive reinforcement for husbandry and show behaviors.
* Strong interpersonal communication and customer service skills for engaging with staff and visitors.
* Ability to understand animal management literature and promote an inclusive workplace environment.
* Valid, unrestricted Class D Driver License with a clean driving record.
Preferred Qualifications:
* Bachelor degree in Biology, Zoology, Wildlife Management, Ecology, or related discipline.
* Prior animal care and handling background at an AZA-accredited zoo or aquarium.
* Active open water SCUBA certification.
* Current CPR and First Aid certifications.
* Willingness and ability to serve on the campus firearms team.
Physical and Environmental Requirements:
* Must have or obtain Rabies vaccination, negative TB test, and complete ongoing titer testing.
* Ability to work outdoors in all seasonal weather conditions and navigate uneven terrain.
* Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds, push or pull up to 90 pounds, and team-lift heavy items.
* Physical capability to shovel, climb stairs and ladders, bend, crouch, and walk or stand for extended shifts.
* Ability to grip 34 pounds to operate power washers intermittently for up to 60 minutes.
* Visual ability to distinguish colors and capacity to wear N95 respirators.
* Tolerance of high noise levels and routine exposure to zoonotic risks, chemical agents, and farm or wild animals.
Additional Requirements:
* Must pass a pre-employment background screening including fingerprinting, reference, criminal, and credential checks.
* Proof of eligibility to work in the United States upon hire.
Updated 6h ago
Candidate fit
Skills and qualifications
Additional skills
Experience
3+ 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
$56.1K - $74.7K per year
Benefits and perks
Location, schedule, and role shape
Work setup
Work conditions
Bandwidth profile
Context on the employer
Company snapshot
Company
Minnesota Zoological Garden
Team size
Growing team
Location
Apple Valley, Minnesota, United States
The Minnesota Zoo encompasses a 485-acre campus and is home to nearly 5,000 animals with about 1.5 million guests visiting annually. The Zoo is a coordinator of international conservation and breeding programs and is the State’s largest environmental educator. Its conservation programs protect endangered species and preserve critical ecosystems, and its education programs engage audiences at the Zoo, throughout the region, and around the world.
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Zoo Keeper
Apple Valley, Minnesota, United States • Full Time