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: May 19, 2026
- The Commissary Assistant performs the essential duties of the Zoo’s commissary, including food preparation and storage.
- 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.
- Prepares animal diets in accordance with the appropriate species-specific Diet Worksheets.
- Assists the Commissary Supervisor with ordering of all animal food and related supplies, maintaining an adequate animal food inventory.
- Properly rotates animal food stocks to ensure that older items are used first.
- Routinely inspects expiration dates of food items and supplies to ensure that they are used prior to expiration or discarded after expiration.
- Ensures that animal food is being stored properly to maximize freshness and to minimize contamination, pests, and spoilage.
- Maintains the kitchen and all food storage areas, including walk-in freezers and refrigerators, in a clean, organized fashion consistent with industry standards and regulations.
- Performs maintenance on all food preparation and storage facilities and equipment as instructed by the Commissary Supervisor.
- Ensures that animal food is of an appropriate quality through inspection at arrival and at the time of preparation, as well as through submission of diet samples to appropriate labs for nutritional analysis.
- Operates vehicles to transport animal food within the Zoo and from other facilities.
- Communicates with the Commissary Supervisor, Director of Animal Health and Conservation, Staff Veterinarian, Area Curators, and Animal Care Supervisors to address diet-related issues.
- 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 preferred.
- One year of experience in a food preparation role is preferred.
- Valid driver’s license is required.
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.
- 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.
- 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 safely handle and operate sharp knives and food preparation equipment.
- 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.
