This is a full-time position requiring availability for a 40-hour work week year-round. Full-time benefits include Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Long-Term Disability Insurance, 403b Plan, 403b Matching, Employee Assistance Program, Paid Days Off, Paid Holidays, Paid Health & Wellness Days, and Paid Parental Leave as well as optional Dental, Vision, Life, and Pet Insurance Programs. All team members receive Team Member Perks such as a free Staff Membership, concessions and retail discounts, development opportunities, and appreciation programs.
- Application Deadline: April 3, 2026
- The Animal Quarantine Specialist assists the Animal Health Team with quarantine procedures and husbandry, hospitalized animal care, and maintenance of the veterinary hospital and all quarantine facilities, both terrestrial and aquatic. This position also strives to embody the Zoo’s values at all times, contributes to positive guest experiences, and performs other duties as required.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
- To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Provides daily food, water, enrichment, and observation for animals housed in the vet hospital holding areas, quarantine building, and aquatic quarantine areas. Cleans holding and quarantine animal enclosures daily and maintains aquatic quarantine systems.
- Obtains regular weights of animals housed at the vet hospital or in quarantine.
- Coordinates with Animal Care Supervisors and Area Curators to set up holding and quarantine enclosures prior to animals arriving (e.g., collecting and installing perches, obtaining proper food/water containers, stocking with proper supplies and cleaning tools, establishing appropriate water quality and acclimation procedures, etc.).
- Maintains holding and quarantine facilities in a clean, working order (e.g., stocking, sweeping, cleaning counters, cleaning drains, etc.); breaks down and disinfects quarantine facilities following the end of a quarantine period, based on veterinary recommendations.
- Conducts and documents regular animal wellbeing assessments.
- Engages with guests both informally and through formal presentations (e.g., Keeper Chats, Wild Encounters, VIP tours, etc.).
- Cleans and disinfects shipping crates used for new animal acquisitions; returns cleaned crates to the sending institution if requested.
- Provides feeding and care for injured/orphaned wildlife and coordinates transferring the wildlife to licensed rehabilitators.
- Maintains the veterinary hospital, quarantine building, and aquatic quarantine area in a clean, organized, professional order. Sweeps, mops, and cleans the vet hospital garage, attic, and the paved areas outside the vet hospital. Sweeps and organizes the aquatic quarantine garage and storage room. Sweeps, mops, and organizes all areas of the quarantine building. Makes appropriate lighting and climate system updates as needed for all animal areas within these buildings.
- Assists the Veterinary Technicians with daily treatments of hospitalized animals and provides daily treatments in the absence of the Veterinary Technicians.
- Assists the Environmental Quality Technician with water quality testing as needed.
- Maintains and processes regular garbage and recyclable materials.
- Picks up medical supplies, drugs, and other items from in-town vendors; delivers supplies and prescription refills to other areas of the zoo.
- Prepares and delivers packages for air or ground delivery.
- Picks up and delivers animals from/to other institutions as needed.
- Operates vehicles to transport animals and medical supplies within the zoo and between other facilities.
- Supports the Zoo’s commitment to continued growth of diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging for team members, volunteers, guests, and supporters.
- Assists with special projects and helps other team members as needed.
- Actively contributes to positive guest experiences.
Education and Experience
- To perform this job successfully, an individual must have the following education and/or experience.
- High school diploma or GED is required.
- Valid driver’s license is required.
- Bachelor’s degree in an animal-related field is preferred.
- Two years of experience working in a zoological setting is preferred.
- Familiarity with all taxonomic groups, both terrestrial and aquatic, is preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Knowledge of advanced animal care and handling.
- Ability to endure high-stress situations such as examining, restraining, or treating animals.
- Knowledge of the natural history for the species under direct care.
- Knowledge of animal welfare concepts and ability to apply that knowledge to assess the welfare of individuals or groups of animals.
- Ability to utilize specialized tools (ladders, spin trimmers, mowers, hand drills, etc.).
- Ability to identify native trees and shrubs when providing browse to animals.
- Ability to adapt to a rapidly changing, dynamic work environment.
- Ability to professionally and effectively communicate with others through written correspondence.
- Ability to troubleshoot, analyze situations, and make sound business decisions.
- Ability to make independent decisions and manage time effectively.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office software.
- Strong organizational skills.
- Ability to work a highly flexible schedule as required to successfully perform the requirements and functions of the position, including required weekend, evening, holiday, and irregular hours.
- Ability to handle confidential information.
- Ability to understand and follow all safety regulations.
- Ability to track and manage multiple tasks and priorities.
- Ability to arrive at work when scheduled and maintain a positive attendance record.
- Ability to serve as a goodwill ambassador, in every respect and at all times, for the Fort Wayne Zoological Society and the Fort Wayne Zoo in contacts with guests, partners, and the community.
- Ability to deal tactfully and politely with guest questions and misbehavior.
- Excellent communication skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships with team members, volunteers, partners, and the community.
Physical Demands
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Ability to operate office equipment, including computers, copiers, fax machines, and phones.
- Ability to professionally and appropriately interact and communicate with others, both in person and through phone, email, and written correspondence.
- Ability to regularly travel assigned areas several times per day and efficiently enter all assigned areas.
- Ability to negotiate a confined workspace while working with one or more coworkers.
- Ability to properly lift and carry items up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to stand and sit for periods of time and to move intermittently throughout the workday.
- Ability to perform focused work with close attention to detail.
- Ability to work both indoors and outdoors, with exposure to extreme temperatures and inclement weather conditions; the environment may include wet, icy, or muddy conditions.
- This position may include exposure to hazardous materials, fumes/odors, dirt, and dust; potentially dangerous or venomous animals; zoonotic diseases; noxious native plants; and native biting insects and arthropods.
- This description is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this position.
- It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.
