Director of Behavioral Husbandry

Philadelphia Zoo works to fulfill our mission as an animal care organization, as a resource to schools and families, and as an ark and advocate for endangered animals around the world.

What makes the Zoo a unique place to work? Whether you are involved with caring for animals, educating our visitors or working in a behind-the-scenes position in administration, maintenance or garden services, all of our positions share our institutional mission, purpose, and core values.

Who We Are Looking For:

• Classification: FULL TIME 
• The Director of Behavioral Husbandry provides strategic, operational, and cultural leadership in advancing the scientific approach of behavioral health and welfare of the Zoo’s animal collection.
• Reporting to the Senior Director of Animal Care, this position oversees the design, implementation, and evaluation of enrichment, training, and behavioral management programs across all departments.
• The Director champions excellence in behavioral husbandry practices while fostering a culture of compassion, collaboration, innovation, and accountability aligned with the Zoo’s mission of animal well-being, conservation, and education.

What You Will Do: 

Essential Skills:

• Acts as a resource and subject matter expert across departments to ensure behavioral husbandry is embedded in animal care.
• Animal care & operational oversight as needed.
• Staff management & development as needed.
• Assists directors with onboarding and training for new Assistant Directors, staff, and other zoo staff; ensures continuity of knowledge, consistency, and succession planning.
• Collaborates with animal management team to ensure excellence in all aspects of husbandry, welfare, enrichment, training, and animal health.
• Leads wellbeing evaluations to ensure compliance with AZA/USDA regulations and evolving best practices.
• Maintains accurate documentation of training plans, behavioral case studies, and program progress.
• Collaborates with directors on breeding recommendations, SSP program goals, and collection planning.
• Facilities, safety & strategic projects as needed.
• Collaborates with directors on facility needs including repairs, upgrades, cleanliness, equipment use, and exhibit function.
• Contributes to master planning, exhibit design, construction projects, and space-use planning for future growth.
• Leads the development and implementation of behavioral husbandry SOPs, protocols, and safety standards for all staff and areas.
• Serves as a trained member of the animal escape and recapture response teams and coordinates team training.
• Serves as a contributing member of the Animal Management Team (AMT).
• Represents the department in internal meetings, AZA committees, and external professional settings as needed.
• Partners across departments (e.g., Education, PR, Conservation, Development) to support Zoo-wide initiatives.
• Participates in strategic planning efforts, data collection/reporting, and department-wide goal setting.
• Oversees budget development and execution to ensure alignment with organizational objectives.

Culture & Team Development:

• Values-aligned culture that centers on animal wellbeing, safety, communication, and shared accountability.
• Demonstrates empathy, patience, and awareness when navigating complex team dynamics or responding to staff concerns.
• Identifies and addresses cultural drift; promotes psychological safety and collaborative decision-making across animal teams.
• Models the Zoo’s values by fostering inclusivity, innovation, and continuous learning within and across departments
• Ability to clearly and respectfully communicate across all levels of the organization—from staff to executive leadership.
• Skilled in active listening, asking thoughtful questions, and incorporating diverse perspectives into decision-making.
• Build trust and rapport with peers and partners to encourage voluntary adoption of behavioral best practices.
• Balances long-term vision with present-day team needs.

What This Role Requires:

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, zoology, animal science, or related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum five years of progressive experience in animal care, including two or more years in a supervisory or leadership role at an AZA-accredited institution.
• Deep knowledge of a variety of taxa, AZA welfare standards, and behavioral husbandry.
• Advanced knowledge of animal welfare assessments, behavioral research methods, and data analysis.
• Strong leadership skills with a demonstrated ability to build team culture, drive results, and develop people.
• Familiarity with AZA Animal Care Manuals, accreditation standards, and SSP roles.
• Clear, confident communication style—both written and verbal—with strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with software and systems related to scheduling, records, and reporting.

Additional Requirements:

• No allergies related to plants or animals that may interfere with the ability to work.
• Successful completion of a medical screening with emphasis on cardiovascular, respiratory and skeletal systems and drug test prior to starting work.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Ability to remain on feet for extended periods, climb stairs, bend and stoop
• No impairment of sight, smell, hearing, touch, balance or agility of movement that might interfere with the ability to work
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Immunocompetence (possible exposure to infectious and parasitic diseases.)
• Ability to be trained to use firearms and act as a member of the Animal Escape Team.
• Engages in professional development as part of a commitment to excellence, innovation, and the Zoo’s mission of growth and leadership in animal care and conservation.

Physical and Medical Requirements: 

• Successful completion of a post-offer criminal background check prior to start working including, but not limited to FBI fingerprinting and Child Abuse History Clearance.
• Must successfully complete drug test and tuberculosis test prior to assuming position; ability to life 15lbs, may require combination of sitting, standing, walking throughout the Zoo.

Traits We Are Looking For:

• High EQ
• Effective listener
• Respectful, fair and tactful
• Curious and continuous learned
• Collective under pressure

What We Can Offer You:

• Competitive Pay – We recognize talent and we pay to keep it
• Medical, Dental, Vision –While you have our back on the grounds, we cover yours’ with health insurance 
• Annual Leave – We all need a break from time to time
• 401K – There will come a time, when you are ready to retire
• Family membership pass with complimentary tickets – (Warning: You will become a celebrity amongst your friends once they hear you work for America’s 1st Zoo)

Salary

• 70k-80k