Behavioral Husbandry Coordinator

Help shape the future of animal care! As a Behavioral Husbandry Coordinator, you’ll guide Zoo-wide training, enrichment, and welfare programs that ensure animals thrive while inspiring guests. From advancing welfare research to leading our ambassador animal team, this role makes a lasting impact for wildlife, staff, and visitors alike.

Employment Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Starting Pay Rate: $23.32/hr - $29.15/hr

Experience Required: Three (3)-years of experience with animal husbandry, public presentations, and animal training, and 1-year of experience with animal ambassador programs, preferably in a zoo or aquarium setting. Supervisory experience and/or Experience with animal behavior observation in a research, welfare, and/or training context is also preferred. 

Minimum Education Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in biology, zoology, psychology, or relevant field

Department: Conservation, Education, & Science

Direct Supervisor: Behavioral Husbandry and Welfare Manager

Supervisory Responsibility: Direct (2); Indirect (0) 

Primary Work Location: Zoo Setting both indoors and outdoors

Certification: Valid Oklahoma driver’s license and completion of HSI Learning Management system training in the first six (6) months of employment

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 Behavioral Husbandry and Welfare department works in partnership with the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden’s (Zoo) animal management teams and is responsible for guiding development and continuity of the animal training, enrichment, and welfare programs across all animal departments. The Behavioral Husbandry and Welfare department’s goals are to continuously improve the Zoo’s training and enrichment programs, ensure consistency of implementation, create superior guest experiences, develop the technical skills of the animal care staff, document training and enrichment activities, and conduct behavioral monitoring for welfare assessments and research. Under general supervision, the role of behavioral husbandry coordinator actively participates in developing and advancing zoo-wide training, enrichment, and welfare goals. In addition, this role supervises the day-to-day operations of the ambassador animal program and associated staff. This position also collaborates with other Zoo departments in the presentation and development of guest experiences to support and model the Zoo's mission, vision and values.

Essential Job Functions

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

• Supervise the animal ambassador program, including the ambassador animal coordinator, animal ambassador caretakers, and volunteers for the day-to-day operations. Serve as safety trainer (a second untasked trainer) as needed for presentations, training, lock checks, etc. within specific animal team protocols.
• Coordinate and implement training for ambassador animal caretakers, animal presenters and volunteers in: 1) safe and appropriate methods of presenting animals within the ambassador collection, and 2) following standard operating procedures for animal care. Participate in and provide leadership during safety drills, emergency training, and planning. 

• Recruit and select new personnel for the animal ambassador program with assistance from the Behavioral Husbandry and Welfare Manager.

• Manage staff performance and scheduling with assistance from the Behavioral Husbandry and Welfare Manager. Supervise staff development and overall training. Ensure compliance with and maintenance of all standard operating procedures, safety policies and Zoo policies throughout the animal ambassador team. 

• Assist with budget planning as directed.

• Review and maintain all aspects of team