Curator of Behavioral Husbandry & Ambassador Animals

Milwaukee County oversees operations from our Airport, Behavioral Health, Child Support Enforcement, Combined Court Operations, Sheriffs Department, Community Reintegration Center, Human Services, Parks, Public Safety, Public Works, Fleet Operations, Transportation, and at the Zoo. Our departments are also dedicated to our Seniors in the Department on Aging, those with Disabilities, and Veterans Affairs. Our employees also remain committed to serve the cultural, human, recreational and social needs of the entire community.

Milwaukee County offers a wide variety of interesting jobs for people who want to make a difference in our community. Milwaukee County provides a competitive benefit package and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If disability related accommodations are needed, please contact 414-278-3936.

We are searching for Changemakers to come and join our team and discover our diverse and versatile community of independent spirits and unique talents, we are redefining the way you think about Milwaukee County!

Curator of Behavioral Husbandry & Ambassador Animals

Milwaukee County Zoo

Salary Pay Range: $67,017.60 - $87,110.40

Closing Date: 3/7/2025 or upon receipt of the first 50 applications

Summary: This position will oversee the division-wide Behavioral Husbandry Program, enhancing animals' wellbeing through the development and implementation of a sustaining, comprehensive plan focused on building staff competencies in operant conditioning and enrichment. This position will also manage the Family Farm and Wild Encounters team.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Manage employees providing leadership through motivation, engagement, feedback, support, and development or corrective action. Maximize employee and team effectiveness. Schedule and direct work assignments and authorize time recording. Recruit, hire, welcome, orientate, and train new employees. Set employee goals. Evaluate performance and goal achievement through organizational tools and processes. Maintain a positive culture of collaboration, accountability, and respectful behavior.
• Provide leadership and oversight to division-wide behavioral husbandry and ambassador animal programs. Work closely with team curators and veterinarians to develop, implement, and evaluate animal training and enrichment programs. Teach courses on various operant conditioning and enrichment applications to facilitate enhanced animal wellbeing, increased safety, and improve guest experience.
• Ensure high standards of care and welfare for the zoo animal population. Coordinate and review animal population welfare assessments in accordance with established standards. Inclusively develop and implement population plans, husbandry protocols, habitat enhancements, and behavioral husbandry programs. Ensure positive collaboration with veterinary, horticulture, and Zoo records teams. Facilitate the communication, documentation, and transport for animal acquisitions and dispositions of assigned populations.
• Establish positive rapport within mission-parallel professional organizations, participating in associated conferences and training opportunities. Collaborate with other zoos, researchers, and wildlife organizations to advance the zoo's mission and animal programs. Serve as the Zoo's Institutional Representative for Association of Zoo & Aquariums breeding programs. Ensure effective communication regarding animal populations, and collaboration with breeding and transfer recommendations. Participate in program leadership as practicable.
• Serve as the point-person for the Animal Care team (Curator of the Day) as assigned (approximately 20% of schedule). Monitor Zoo operation as Senior Staff (Manager on Duty) on intermittent basis. Serve on Zoo committees and parallel teams.
• Participate in the design, construction, and enhancement of buildings, habitats, and interpretive content. Coordinate ongoing maintenance in collaboration with Facilities and Horticulture teams. Ensure environmental control systems run optimally and according to all regulations. Develop consistent detail and documentation to plan, organize, and control resources for effective project management facilitation.
• Develop budgets and prioritize expenditures, including supplies, tools and equipment, professional services, minor capital projects, professional development and travel, and animal transfers. Monitor and evaluate payroll and overtime utilization, managing adjustments in staffing in a way that minimizes expenses. Monitor expenses and submit reports as requested.
• Proactively engage with volunteers and visitors to enhance their experience. Represent the county and the zoo to outside organizations through public speaking, tours, and zoo training. Maintain positive, collaborative relationships wth maintenance, grounds, creative, and all other zoo departments.
• Daily use of machinery such as county vehicles, snow blowers, forklifts, or pressure washers.
• Daily use of hand tools/instruments such as firearms, office equipment, and laboratory equipment.
• Preform all other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• Valid United States Driver's License, maintained throughout employment.
• Intermediate knowledge of all related computer and software applications, such as word processing and spreadsheets.
• Intermediate knowledge of Zoological Information Management Systems (ZIMS).
• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Biological Sciences, Business, Psychology, or a related field.
• At least five (5) or more years of experience in animal care, husbandry training, operant conditioning, and animal presentation at an accredited zoo facility.
• At least five (5) or more years of management, leadership, and team accountability experience.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. and to push and pull up to 25 lbs.

NOTE: This Original application is open to qualified residents of the United States. Appointee must establish Wisconsin State residency within six (6) months of starting date. Candidates need to submit a full account of their training and experience (i.e., by submitting an up-to-date resume or by fully completing the application) during the application process and may also be asked to take additional written or performance tests as part of the selection process.

APPLICANTS MUST POSSESS MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AT TIME OF FILING APPLICATION

Milwaukee County is committed to fostering an equitable working environment, free from discrimination and harassment, on the basis of any characteristic protected by law. We prohibit any form of discrimination, harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, pregnancy related condition, national origin, age, disability, FMLA status, sexual orientation, military status, marital status, or any other category or status that is now or in the future protected by federal, state, and local law. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing, background checks and pre-employment physicals subject to job requirements. If special accommodations are needed, please contact 414-278-3936.

• Milwaukee, WI, USA