Animal Ambassador (AAT) [Full-Time]

Choosing where to grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the place you choose to work at will support and guide you. With a diversity of passionate people, San Antonio Zoo is a place where you can collaborate with others securing a future for wildlife.

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role

• As an Animal Ambassador, you will perform various tasks related to the handling and care of animals and their environments.
• You will work an amount of independent action with less immediate supervision earned after the experience is acquired. Additionally, animal Ambassadors provide educational information to the public through professional interpretative presentations and animal interactions.
• You will work daily with various mammals, including dangerous carnivores, birds, reptiles, and invertebrates.
• The Animal Ambassador Team participates in onsite and offsite animal programs, events, and outreach in addition to their work on zoo grounds.
• As an Animal Ambassador, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative and diverse people in San Antonio.

Here, you will make an impact by:

• Observe, evaluate, and report animal behavior and condition to the manager daily.
• Perform routine and special duties involved in the daily care and maintenance of animals in captivity, including regular maintenance of animal habitats and facility renovations
• Exchange information with management staff and coworkers regularly
• Handle and display presentation animals for both onsite and offsite programs, providing the public with educational information in a fun, professional manner
• Daily behavioral observation and animal training. Utilize operant conditioning techniques to maintain current behaviors and build new repertoire in experienced and naive animals
• Clean and maintain animal enclosures, service areas, and holding facilities using rake, shovel, wheelbarrows, ladders, and other tools daily and as required
• Assist in treating zoo animals under instructions of a manager or zoo veterinarian
• Professionally represent San Antonio Zoo through daily programs, special events, and media appearances
• Participate in events, media, outreach, and other requests on and off zoo grounds
• Travel with the animal ambassador team and ensure safety and welfare of animal collection
• Assist with animal transfers and procedures
• Assist in the design, construction, and maintenance of animal habitats and displays
• Successfully secure animals, their enclosures, and other associated structures
• Provide information and assistance to the public, supporting the Zoo’s mission and vision.
• Upholds all company policies and procedures.
• Constantly exhibit an attitude of service inside and outside of the zoo, showing hospitality to all.
• Be fully committed to the mission of San Antonio Zoo to create awareness that inspires action to care for the wild world we steward and the animals we protect.
• Performs other work-related duties as required and assigned

Your Skills and Expertise

• To set you up for success in this role from day one, the San Antonio Zoo recommends the following skills/qualifications:
• Ability to safely work around delicate, wild, and potentially dangerous animals
• Ability to create, plan, implement, and execute a variety of activities in the Animal Ambassador program
• Ability to communicate effectively, presenting biological, historical, and conservation information in a professional and engaging manner.
• Strong desire to work with the public. 
• Knowledge of animal behavior and experience in the application of operant conditioning techniques
• Associate degree in wildlife management, zoology, biology, or related field preferred
• Minimum one-year progressive zookeeping experience in an AZA-accredited facility or similar
• Sufficient delicacy to handle, examine and move without harming sick, injured, or small (often neonatal) animals
• Sufficient strength, agility, and coordination to net, capture, and/or restrain animals of varying size, strength, and agility.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office and ability to learn other software platforms.
• Must be 18 years of age or older with a clean driving record for vehicle operation.
• Successful candidates must complete a pre-employment National Sex Offender Search, Criminal Background Check, and Drug Screen.
• The San Antonio Zoo is an equal opportunity employer. 
• San Antonio Zoo will not discriminate against any applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.

Perks

• We offer robust benefits including medical, dental, vision and 403B.
• As well as Zoo memberships and Zoo discounts throughout the park.

Salary

• $15.50/HR