Director of Animal Care and Conservation
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Location: Wildlife Prairie Park – Hanna City, IL
Position Summary
Wildlife Prairie Park has often been referred to as a jewel in the Midwest. Located just
outside of Peoria, IL, this 1,800-acre zoological park is home to more than 180 animals
representing over 60 native Illinois species, including wolves, bison, black bear, elk,
cougars, and otters. Since opening in 1978, Wildlife Prairie Park has remained
dedicated to its mission of conservation, education, and recreation.
The Director of Animal Care and Conservation is a key member of the executive team,
responsible for the strategic direction, leadership, and daily management of the Park’s
animal care, conservation and education programs. This position advances animal
welfare, habitat management, staff performance and development, educational
programming while leading the Park toward ZAA accreditation. The Director ensures
compliance with all zoological regulatory agencies, partners with veterinary
professionals, fosters community and professional engagement, and implements
sustainable practices that create an enriching environment for animals, guests, and
staff.
This role also plays a vital part in revenue development through innovative programs,
partnerships, and collaborations that attract funding opportunities and support
attendance growth. The Director works closely with the executive team to ensure
strategic alignment, cohesive leadership, and operational excellence across the Park
while upholding the highest ethical standards in animal care and conservation.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership and Strategic Vision
Align animal and education department objectives with the Park’s strategic plan,
ensuring individual staff goals support departmental priorities.
Develop and manage comprehensive project plans and timelines to ensure
successful completion of multiple projects.
Lead ZAA accreditation efforts within the animal and education departments,
ensuring readiness, documentation, and compliance with USDA and all
applicable zoological regulatory agencies.
Conduct regular departmental meetings and staff check-ins to ensure
communication, accountability, and progress toward goals.
Provide strategic input to the executive team on animal care, conservation,
research, and education.
Develop and enforce departmental SOPs to ensure consistent, safe, and
compliant practices.
Promote a culture of excellence, innovation, collaboration, and continuous growth
that empowers staff to take initiative and embrace positive change.
Foster an inclusive workplace that values diversity, equity, and ensures equitable
opportunities for staff, volunteers, and interns.
Establish and track KPIs to measure animal welfare, regulatory compliance, and
education program impact.
Mentor and develop departmental leaders, ensuring succession planning and
professional growth opportunities through conferences and other organizational
learning opportunities.
Communicate departmental vision clearly to staff and represent zoological
operations to the CEO.
Attend conferences, workshops and other professional development
opportunities.
Attend department meetings, board meetings etc.
Other duties as assigned.
Animal Welfare and; Operations
Provide oversight of husbandry, enrichment, training, and behavioral care to
meet or exceed professional standards.
Ensure proper use of ZIMS/Species360 through staff training, compliance audits,
and accurate reporting for accreditation and decision-making.
Manage animal collection planning, acquisitions, transfers, and documentation in
accordance with ethical, regulatory, and accreditation standards.
Collaborate with veterinary providers on preventive health programs, treatments,
and emergency care while ensuring USDA compliance.
Implement animal welfare assessments and ensure adherence to ZAA/AZA
standards.
Maintain quarantine, biosecurity, and disease prevention protocols for all species.
Oversee permitting, transport, and regulatory compliance for animal acquisitions,
transfers, and dispositions.
Support staff in the use of positive reinforcement training programs to enhance
husbandry and veterinary procedures.
Lead long-term collection and exhibit planning to advance conservation goals,
guest engagement, and educational impact.
Ensure compliance with USDA, IDNR, AZA/ZAA, OSHA (as applicable to animal
operations), and other federal, state, and local regulations.
Education, Research and Conservation
Provide vision and oversight for education and conservation programming to
ensure alignment with the Park’s mission and strategic plan.
Collaborate with the marketing department to integrate conservation messaging
into programs, exhibits, and interpretive materials.
Oversee the development and evaluation of curricula, interpretive messaging,
and public programs for accuracy, accessibility, and mission alignment.
Expand public engagement opportunities such as animal encounters, keeper
talks, behind-the-scenes tours, and presentations that promote conservation
awareness, guest experience and generates revenue.
Build and maintain strong partnerships with schools, universities, conservation
organizations, and community groups to expand reach and impact.
Mentor education staff in best practices for conservation education,
interpretation, and guest engagement.
Identify and pursue conservation-based research opportunities and partnerships
with academic institutions, government agencies, and conservation
organizations.
Ensure all research conducted at the Park meets ethical, legal, and institutional
standards.
Collaborates with the development department for external funding to support
education, conservation, and research initiatives.
Translate conservation science and research into accessible content for guests,
volunteers, and stakeholders.
Personnel Management
Supervise, mentor, and evaluate departmental leads and staff, fostering
accountability, collaboration, and professional growth
Grow the internship program for succession planning purpose.
Conduct weekly one-on-one meetings with supervisors and daily team meetings
to ensure operational alignment and communication.
Ensure appropriate staffing levels and workforce planning to support animal and
education operations and accreditation standards.
Collaborate with HR to create and implement professional development
pathways, leadership training, and succession planning.
Provide consistent and fair performance management through annual reviews,
ongoing feedback, and corrective action as needed.
Promote a strong safety culture by ensuring staff receive training in OSHA
standards, animal care protocols, and emergency procedures.
Model effective communication, transparency, and conflict resolution to maintain
a respectful workplace.
Financial and Grant Management
Develop and manage departmental operating budgets in partnership with the
CFO, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with Park-wide goals.
Monitor expenses, track performance against budget, and identify cost
efficiencies without compromising animal welfare or staff safety.
Develop and oversee revenue-generating initiatives tied to animal programs,
education, tours, and guest experiences.
Support Identification, writing and administration of grants to support animal care,
research, conservation, and education programs, ensuring compliance with
reporting requirements.
Participate in capital planning to identify long-term zoological facility needs and
ensure sustainability of departmental operations.
Use data-driven decision-making to evaluate ROI and ensure responsible
resource allocation.
Facilities and Enclosures
Ensure animal habitats and enclosures meet or exceed standards for safety,
welfare, enrichment, and cleanliness.
Ensure proper tools, equipment and training are completed to ensure animal
department staff are maintaining animal habitats.
Oversee preventive maintenance, inspections, and repairs of habitats, life-
support systems, and animal care facilities.
Lead habitat renovation, construction, and upgrade projects in collaboration with
facilities and grounds staff.
Integrate sustainability practices and innovative designs into habitats to minimize
environmental impact while enhancing animal welfare.
Ensure exhibits incorporate guest engagement and education while prioritizing
animal well-being.
Oversee pasture management, herd health, and sustainability of the Park’s bison
and elk herds.
Lead herd development initiatives in partnership with the National Bison
Association and other conservation partners.
Plan and implement an on-site animal clinic to support preventive care, medical
procedures, and accreditation readiness.
Participate in capital planning and fundraising efforts tied to zoological
operations.
Emergency Preparedness and Safety
Develop and maintain animal- and education-specific emergency response plans
in alignment with the Park’s crisis response framework led by the COO.
Conduct routine safety drills and training for zoological staff.
Ensure compliance with OSHA and Illinois workplace safety standards.
Coordinate with local emergency responders to strengthen partnerships and
protocols.
Collaborate with leadership on crisis communication to ensure timely and
transparent messaging to staff, stakeholders, and the public.
Public Relations & Community Engagement
Represent the Park at professional conferences, community forums, and media
events.
Serve as spokesperson for animal care, conservation, and education matters.
Develop and promote guest-facing programs (specialty tours, donor experiences,
conservation events) that enhance mission impact and generate revenue.
Build partnerships with conservation and education organizations to expand
visibility and impact.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Zoology, Biology, Animal Science, or related field required;
Master’s preferred.
Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive leadership in zoological operations, with
significant supervisory experience.
Experience with AZA or ZAA accreditation strongly preferred.
Demonstrated record of research involvement, conservation partnerships, and
successful grant acquisition.
Advanced knowledge of animal welfare, enrichment, husbandry, collection
planning, and regulatory compliance.
Proficiency in ZIMS/Species360 and ability to analyze data for decision-making.
Strong leadership, interpersonal, and organizational skills with the ability to
motivate and develop staff.
Strong Project Management skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking and
media relations.
Proven ability to manage budgets and secure external funding.
Valid Illinois Driver’s License.
Ability to work outdoors year-round in varied weather conditions.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call as needed.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in Zoology, Animal Science, Wildlife Management, or related
discipline.
Experience in capital project planning related to zoological facilities.
Professional affiliations with AZA, ZAA, or related conservation organizations.
Experience developing donor engagement programs tied to animal care and
conservation initiatives.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person