Animal Experience - Associate (Seasonal)

Join the PRIDE and Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s mission to ignite emotional connections with wildlife that spark conservation action while leading vital programs to protect endangered species. Our beautiful 235-acre campus offers a living classroom that is home to over 3,500 animals representing 500 species. Brookfield Zoo Chicago is embarking on a groundbreaking, ambitious Next Century Plan to achieve our vision. It is the beginning of an exciting transformative journey!


Exciting New Opportunity! Multiple Openings! The Animal Experience Associate (Seasonal) contributes to the success of Brookfield Zoo Chicago (“BZC”) by courteously and efficiently accommodating guests’ admission needs to public interaction programming and ensuring that all transactions are accurate to assure guests have a quality and enjoyable experience, thus contributing to BZC’s goals of providing an extraordinary guest experience and generating revenue.

This is a non-union seasonal/temporary position, grade GS002, with a pay rate of $16.60/hour (effective 04.01.25). For our Benefits Summary Information, follow this link to our Benefits Table or you may copy/paste the following in a new browser tab www.brookfieldzoo.org/custom.czs/files/06/06337b2c-b3db-45a2-8eb2-f8362486bd0e.pdf or scroll to the end of the job description information. (For this position, please refer to the non-union, seasonal employee section).

Brookfield Zoo is open 363 days a year, the work schedule involves working various shifts, including weekdays, weekends, and holidays. We especially appreciate candidates who can commit to consistent weekday availability throughout the year. To ensure that BZC can provide reliable service and maintain a consistent quality experience for our guests, availability of a minimum of three days per week including one day on the weekend is strongly desired. Work schedules are based on the needs of the operation. This position requires the ability to move across Zoo grounds, remain stationary for long periods of time and perform work in a variety of weather conditions. Minimum age of 16.

PRIMARY JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions of the position.

1. * Obtain knowledge about park-wide public animal experience interaction programming and demonstrate effective customer service skills. To provide guests with essential information to assist them for the best interaction during their animal experience visit.
2. * Validate experience reservations sold at the paid animal experience check-in areas for guest admittance. Greet and escort guests for paid animal experiences. Collect and record guest participant information needed for guest animal experiences (names, permissions, behavior agreements, minor verifications.)
3. * Engage guests in celebrating animals and nature by providing participating guests with meaningful and quality experience by providing information about the animals in our care.
4. * Enforce and communicate safety rules and protocols to guests that are participating in a paid experience and/or engaging with animals in their habitats. Know the communication channels to report animal or guests’ behavior that would need additional support while in animal habitat areas.
5. * Learn point-of-sale (POS) system including basic data entry for onsite animal experience fulfillment. When needed, process revenue for and up-sell animal experiences, packages, and sales and other initiatives as instructed.
6. * Must familiarize oneself with the zoo and its attractions and be able to enthusiastically and accurately relay information to guests.
7. * Maintain assigned area to ensure it is clean and presentable to guests and in accordance with department standards.
8. * Follow and enforce all applicable institutional policies and departmental procedures.
9. Other related duties as assigned.

* Denotes Essential Job Function(s)
POSITION REQUIREMENTS AND SPECIFICATIONS:

• Accurate basic math skills required.
• Strong customer service skills required with genuine passion for providing exceptional customer care.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to communicate with the public required.
• Cultural competency; experience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audience.


DESIRABLE/PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or educational equivalent (e.g., GED.) preferred.
• Ability to operate a point-of-sales (POS) system desired.
• Prior customer service experience helpful.
• Multilingual ability, Spanish fluency a plus.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
This position description summarizes the primary duties and functions of this