Are you passionate about connecting people with wildlife? Join our team as an Ambassador Animal Program Coordinator , where you’ll lead the daily care, training, and presentation of the Zoo’s incredible ambassador animals! From shaping positive behaviors to inspiring guests during up-close encounters, you’ll play a key role in educating visitors and promoting the Zoo’s mission of conservation.

Employment Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Pay Rate: $21.20 - $26.50/hr

Experience Required : Three (3) years of experience working with animals OR, an equivalent combination of education and experience to successfully perform the essential duties Minimum Education Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Zoology, Psychology or related field.

Department: Conservation, Education, and Science

Direct Supervisor: Behavioral Husbandry Coordinator

Supervisory Responsibility: Direct (0); Indirect (X) Varies depending on assignment.

Primary Work Location: Zoo setting both indoors and outdoors.

Certification: Valid Oklahoma driver’s license within thirty (30) days of hire and pass driver’s history check.

Other: This position is safety sensitive. It is subject to pre-employment and/or periodic background checks, and drug testing. This position works around animals susceptible to specific respiratory diseases, thus is subject to annual tuberculosis testing.

Job Summary: The ambassador animal program coordinator position coordinates the daily husbandry, welfare, and behavioral training activities for the ambassador animal program. The ambassador animal program coordinator also trains staff and volunteers to safely perform husbandry tasks and to present animals for a variety of educational programs while ensuring animal wellbeing. The position also assists with collection planning, exhibit maintenance, and enhances guest experience by presenting animals and interacting with guests to provide positive, memorable experiences. Overall, the position performs a variety of skilled work required for the care and safety of animals, OKC Zoo staff and volunteers, and the public.

Essential Job Functions

An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the following essential duties:

Perform and coordinate daily animal husbandry tasks and assessments related to: food, water, cleanliness, health, animal transfers, behavior, and welfare, while demonstrating technical skills to perform daily advanced husbandry and medical care skills and mentoring immediate work group in best practices
Assist Behavioral Husbandry Coordinator in daily implementation of policies, procedures and protocols while modeling ideal performance, ensuring compliance, and providing guidance or redirection to peers as needed. Perform additional leadership responsibilities as directed by the Behavioral Husbandry Coordinator.
Train staff and volunteers on presentation techniques and ambassador animal training for educational programs; monitor the use of animals to ensure proper handling is performed and welfare standards are met.
Independently maintain, repair, and renovate exhibits, service/ work areas, and equipment; including power tools.
Monitor animal health, report concerns, and assist in veterinary medical procedures; provide medication and treatment to animals as directed by veterinary staff. Participate in and coordinate veterinary procedures.
In collaboration with the Behavioral Husbandry Coordinator, mentor immediate work group in the application of operant conditioning principles to train ambassador animals for educational programs, husbandry, veterinary procedures, while developing and implementing comprehensive training plans.
Understand and follow all of the Zoo’s safety and emergency protocols. Ensure staff and volunteers follow all of the Zoo’s safety and emergency protocols while working under coordinator’s supervision. Participate in and respond to safety-related issues and drills.
Provide feedback to the Behavioral Husbandry Coordinator regarding hiring needs, selection, and performance management of immediate work group.
Identify, initiate, and organize work projects for the areas assigned including adapting and solving challenges as they arise; acquire supplies and resources.
Ensure purposeful daily enrichment and associated documentation to promote, encourage, and evaluate natural and engaging behaviors while mentoring and supporting immediate work group in refining and evaluating behavioral goal-based enrichment plans.
Maintain accurate records and clear communication related to animal care, training, enrichment, welfare assessments, and ambassador animal requests to ensure consistency and compliance with established protocols.
Assist with the planning and completion of animal transfers.
Facilitate and schedule ambassador animal presentations.
Educate and interact with guests in both formal and informal settings; provide positive, memorable guest experiences.
Represent the Zoo knowledgeably and professionally during all working hours, including at external community events.
Participate in conservation activities that supports the zoo’s mission.
Collaborate with other Zoo departments and coordinate ambassador animal requests to assist other departments in meeting their program and revenue goals
Participate in collaborative efforts to gather information about and understand natural behaviors and life histories of the ambassador animals; conduct research on both current species and new species, as assigned.
Value and support all work group members, including volunteers, offering assistance to ensure each other’s and the whole team’s success.
Support OKC Zoo’s strategic plan and institutional goals.
Practice and model the Zoo’s values centered on wildlife and wild places, conservation, people, and leadership.
Drive motor vehicles within and outside the Zoo perimeter in support of operations and educational programming all seasons of the year, including animal transports.
Work in a manner that supports and protects the health of the assigned collection, to include wearing assigned PPE and limiting exposure to known contagions.

Non-Essential Job Functions

Perform other duties as assigned.

Oklahoma City is one of the fastest-growing metros in the United States and is the 20th largest city in the nation. For nearly two decades our residents have continually invested in our community to make it a place people can find belonging, visit and call home. Our employees are at the heart of those investments–delivering essential services our residents expect and creating a strong and thriving city for all people.
The Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden connects people with our world’s vanishing wildlife and wild places to inspire conservation action. We’re seeking candidates who are passionate about the planet and all that inhabit it. Join our team of hardworking experts and get ready for a career that you’re wild about! To learn more about the Oklahoma City Zoo and our conservation efforts, please visit www.okczoo.org.

City of Oklahoma City

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Ambassador Animal Program Coordinator