Assistant Curator- BioPark

Position Summary

The Assistant Curator role is a dynamic leadership position at the ABQ BioPark Zoo. This role oversees a variety of animal care staff and will demonstrate hands-on leadership within the hoofstock department. This Assistant Curator position will work with rhinos, giraffes, warthogs, and hippos and plays a key role in meeting and exceeding the BioPark’s animal welfare goals. Supervise, plan and coordinate staff engaged in a variety of ABQ BioPark services, activities and operations with the focus on providing highly responsible care and husbandry of the BioPark's diverse living collection.

About the Role

This assignment will be in one of the BioPark facilities: Zoo (exotic animals); Botanic Garden (plants, trees, farm animals and displays); Aquarium (salt and fresh water aquatic animals and plants).

Essential Functions

• Coordinate the organization, staffing and operational activities for a variety of Biological Park services, activities and operations including the care and husbandry of animals; the care of Botanical Garden displays including trees, farm crops, the maintenance of animal enclosures and facilities and the provision of educational services.
• Participate in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies and priorities; recommend and implement resulting policies and procedures.
• Identify opportunities for improving service delivery methods and procedures, identify resource needs; review with appropriate management staff, implement improvements.
• Monitor animal diets, enclosures and transportation; ensure health and welfare of animals and farm crops.
• Conduct research on assigned sections of the plant or animal collections; maintain and update collection inventory and records.
• Assist with the evaluation of exhibit needs and tree health care; participate in the design, construction, and security of various animal habitats; coordinate assigned tasks with maintenance and construction divisions and staff as specified; manage facility as designated.
• Assist with monitoring animal husbandry methods, diets, enclosures and transportation; ensure health and welfare of animals; consult with veterinarians as directed.
• Assist in selection, training and evaluation of animal care personnel and the coordination of staff training.
• Assist Bio Park Curator as needed.

Supplemental Functions

• Participate on a variety of committees and boards relative to assigned area of responsibility; prepare and present staff reports and other correspondence as necessary.
• Attend and participate in professional group meetings, seminars training sessions as needed.
• Stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of Zoo, Aquarium and Botanical Garden operations, including arboriculture; maintain awareness of new developments in the field assigned; incorporate new developments as appropriate into programs.

Minimum Education, Experience And Additional Requirements

• Education and experience directly related to the minimum requirements below may be interchangeable on a year for year basis.
• When Assigned To The Zoo:
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in zoology, animal husbandry or biology;
• and Three (3) years of management of exotic animals and exotic animal husbandry experience;
• To include one (1) year of supervisory or lead experience.
• Experience working in an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited facility preferred.
• Possession of a valid New Mexico Driver's License or the ability to obtain within ninety (90) days from date of hire.
• Possession of a City Operator's Permit (COP) within six (6) months from date of hire.
• Physical Essential and supplemental functions may require physical condition necessary for; light to heavy lifting; for walking, standing, sitting, bending, stooping; kneeling, crawling for prolonged periods of time; operating motorized equipment and vehicles.