Ectotherms Supervisor - Conservation

Summary

This position will supervise the Zoo's conservation area within the Ectotherms Department. It leads and participates in complex work while overseeing staff and maintenance of a variety of animals and buildings, with a special focus on ectothermic species; assists veterinary staff as needed; and performs a variety of technical tasks relative to assigned areas of oversight.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a positive team environment alongside supervisor peers and curators to oversee facilities, animals, staff, and conservation initiatives while providing optimal animal care and unique visitor experiences.
• Coordinate with supervisors and produce weekly staff work schedules, ensuring adequate staffing, venomous‑animal coverage, and completion of keeper/visitor interactions.
• Communicate regularly with peers to oversee all staff and building operations; provide supervisor coverage when other managers are absent.
• Properly maintain building systems, monitor equipment/vehicles, and submit maintenance orders as needed.
• Maintain inventory and ordering of building supplies, equipment, live‑food cultures, and food items.
• Ensure exhibits are pristine, interactive electronics are functional, and public walkways are free of clutter and safety hazards.
• Conduct daily checks on all animal enclosures, focusing on feed cards, log sheets, animal condition and behavior, enclosure cleanliness, and environmental parameters.
• Keep keeper work areas clean and supplied with appropriate equipment; keep building areas free of clutter and debris.
• Implement regular maintenance schedules for all life‑support system (LSS) functions, including filter changes and backwashes.
• Maintain standards and testing in aquatic and terrestrial areas and ensure SOPs are current.
• Work with curators, veterinary/nutritional services, and staff to implement quarantine protocols, administer medical treatments, monitor health cases, and provide optimal animal welfare.
• Train and oversee new staff as directed, assign duties, and participate in venomous/dangerous‑animal training.
• Monitor work of assigned employees for accuracy, proper methods, techniques, and compliance with applicable standards.
• Provide back‑up coverage as needed and verify staff maintain adequate records and follow protocols (e.g., daily TRACKs entries, feeding, diet changes, weighing, population censuses, egg incubation, behavior, training, enrichment, introductions, breeding, water chemistry, health assessments, UV lighting, LSS maintenance).
• Guide implementation of breeding plans, seasonal hibernation schedules, and record‑keeping in concert with curators.
• Provide oversight of the department’s target‑species breeding plans and reports.
• Participate in conservation program field and research projects as requested.
• Assign animal sections to keeper staff as needed and ensure research and biosecurity protocols are implemented.
• Assist with animal shipments (pre‑shipment testing, packing, transport, etc.).
• Report safety hazards and maintain a safe work environment for employees and volunteers, including equipment, MSDS binders, and safety kits.
• Communicate orally with staff daily; participate in coaching and disciplinary actions as needed.
• Mentor staff in husbandry skills, efficient work practices, and time management.
• Conduct tours and interviews as requested.
• Fulfill other duties as assigned and those presented in the Animal Collections Supervisor Job Description.
• Supervisory responsibilities: Exercise supervision over assigned staff and volunteers for all areas of collection care and professional conduct.
• Participate in selection, hiring, training, and evaluation of staff.
• Monitor staff work environment and assist with disciplinary actions in coordination with Curatorial and Human Resources staff.
• Schedule staff and maintain up‑to‑date standard operating procedures for assigned areas.
• Ensure a safe working environment for staff and animals.
• Demonstrate leadership through ongoing training on laws, zoo policies, business conduct, ethics, and quality service delivery.

Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• Valid driver’s license with an acceptable motor‑vehicle record to meet zoo insurability standards.
• Preferred experience with conservation breeding of amphibians and reptiles.
• Preferred experience managing biosecure animal areas.
• Preferred experience with aquatic systems and water‑quality maintenance.
• Preferred experience in research and data collection.
• Ability to independently perform the most difficult animal‑care and handling duties.
• Ability to interpret, explain, and enforce department policies and procedures.
• Ability to work independently in the absence of immediate supervision.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Clear and concise oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Sound decision‑making, good judgment, and ability to prioritize work activities.
• Ability to foster and maintain a cohesive team environment.

Education & Experience

• Minimum: 3 years of increasingly responsible zoo‑keeping experience; 1 year of supervisory experience preferred.
• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Bachelor’s degree in wildlife management, zoology, animal behavior, biology, ecology, psychology, or related field preferred.
• Specialized training in zoology or a related field desirable but not required.
• Taxa‑specific expertise may be assigned (e.g., venomous reptile handling, incubator work, hand‑rearing).

Physical Demands

The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and talk or hear. Frequent lifting and moving of 50 lb is required, sometimes up to 75 lb with assistance.

Work Environment

• Team‑oriented environment.
• Ability to work irregular hours, including holidays and weekends.
• Outdoor work in heat, cold, and inclement weather.
• Exposure to chemicals (cleaning agents, water chemicals, additives, etc.).
• Participation in special events and functions as required.
• Safety‑sensitive position; may work around animals susceptible to specific diseases, requiring regular tuberculosis and rabies titer testing and routine use of personal protective equipment such as gloves and face masks.

Benefits

• Medical and prescription drug coverage (Employee 90% employer‑paid; Dependent 55% employer‑paid).
• Vision and dental coverage.
• Basic life and AD&D (100% employer‑paid).
• Short‑term and long‑term disability (100% employer‑paid).
• Supplemental life insurance.
• Flexible Spending Account.
• 401(k) plan.
• Paid Time Off (accrual equivalent to 5 weeks per year) with rollover and sell‑back options.
• Free zoo membership and guest passes.
• Discounts on food, merchandise, attractions, admission, and programs.