Associate Director, Carnivore/Small Mammal Care & Conservation

About this role

Join the PRIDE and Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s mission to ignite emotional connections with wildlife that spark conservation action while leading vital programs to protect endangered species.  Our beautiful 235-acre campus offers a living classroom that is home to over 3,500 animals representing 500 species. Brookfield Zoo Chicago is embarking on a groundbreaking, ambitious Next Century Plan to achieve our vision. It is the beginning of an exciting transformative journey! The Associate Director, Carnivore/Small Mammal Care & Conservation is a full-time salaried position grade 08 with an expected hiring range of $69,583 to $76,541 annually.  Please follow the below link or copy and paste it in your internet browser to see Compensation and Benefits Summary.

Benefits Overview Non-union Full-time

https://assets.ctfassets.net/y4b3fp715dyu/5r0XxOaOuC8bMYn6BkYkbu/56786a6bd10e28f79848d821ae2ae31e/Benefits-overview-non-union-full-time.pdf

This position contributes to the success of Brookfield Zoo Chicago (“BZC”) by providing operational leadership and management for the Carnivore/Small Mammal Department, ensuring the effective implementation of animal care, welfare, staffing, training, safety, and departmental priorities. Serving as the primary operational leader and partner to the Director of Carnivore/Small Mammal, this position supports Brookfield Zoo Chicago's mission and strategic pillars of Innovations in Science, Education, Training, and Animal Welfare, Institution of Choice, and Extraordinary Guest Experience through exceptional animal management, employee development, regulatory compliance, and organizational effectiveness.

PRIMARY JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions of the position.

• Provide operational leadership for the Carnivore/Small Mammal Department by implementing departmental priorities, coordinating daily operations, and ensuring continuity of animal care, staffing, and departmental functions.
• Oversee animal management activities, including population management initiatives, animal welfare programs, veterinary procedures, transfers, introductions, training, and husbandry practices to support exceptional standards of animal wellbeing.
• Lead departmental workforce management through employee scheduling, recruitment, onboarding, training, coaching, performance management, staff development, and succession planning.
• Ensure departmental compliance with accreditation standards, regulatory requirements, institutional policies, safety programs, and operational procedures while maintaining inspection readiness and risk mitigation practices.
• Oversee departmental resources, including facilities, equipment, budgets, records, and operational systems, and recommend improvements that enhance efficiency, safety, and animal care outcomes.

Other related duties as assigned.

• Denotes Essential Job Function(s)

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Zoology or related field or five years’ equivalent combination of training and/or experience required. High school diploma or educational equivalent (e.g., GED.) required.

Minimum 5 years of captive management experience in a zoo or large-scale animal care facility or equivalent experience required within the taxon specialty.

Minimum 2 years of supervisory experience required.

Understanding of practical principles of animal behavior and the ability to work with live animals safely.  Ability to perceive and act upon relevant changes in animal behaviors and conditions routinely.

Strong interpersonal and communications skills, including verbal, written, and listening skills.

Proficiency in MS Office applications (word processing and database management) essential.

Cultural competency; experience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audience.   English fluency at a professional working proficiency.

Valid driver’s license required.  Illinois residents must possess a valid Illinois license within 90 days of hire.  Valid out-of-state license required for out-of-state residents.

DESIRABLE/PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Multilingual ability, Spanish fluency a plus.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  This position description summarizes the primary duties and functions of this position, but should not be considered a complete listing of every duty the incumbent may ever be called upon to perform.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago may require an employee to take and pass a physical examination to determine the employee’s ability to meet the essential functions of the job.  This may include vaccinations, blood tests, hearing tests, or other such medical testing or procedures as deemed reasonably necessary for the job and/or required by law.

OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS: See Occupational Requirements Form.

001316/08/101626

Brookfield Zoo Chicago is open 363 days each year.  Work schedules vary with each position.  This position may require the ability to work a non-traditional schedule on-site that may include holidays, weekends, mornings and/or evenings.

The mission of Brookfield Zoo Chicago is to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people to wildlife and nature. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, American Humane, and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. Brookfield Zoo Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Please note that portions of our recruitment and selection process may involve the support of AI tools to help ensure efficiency and consistency.