Associate Director, Carnivore/Small Mammal Care & Conservation

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!


Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Animal Care and Programs unit is searching for an Associate Director of Carnivore/Small Mammal Care and Conservation. With the newly completed institutional master plan, we are preparing to undertake a series of large projects over the next decade. Our Carnivore/Small Mammal Department will be included in some of the first projects and we are looking for a person to help lead that effort. The new and updated facilities will provide an opportunity for collection redirection and development. The successful candidate will lead their team of talented and energetic Animal Care Specialists through these changes. This position will also participate in the development and management of our carnivore and small mammal focused conservation programs. This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of a dynamic and growing institution.

This position contributes to the success of Brookfield Zoo Chicago (“BZC”) by leading the overall direction and operations of the assigned department/taxon specialty in accordance with BZC’s long-range plans for animal welfare and conservation.

This is a non-union full-time salaried position, grade 8 with an expected hiring range of $69,583.33 to $76,651.67 per year. For our Benefits Summary Information, follow this link to our Benefits Table or copy and paste the following in your internet browser www.brookfieldzoo.org/custom.czs/files/06/06337b2c-b3db-45a2-8eb2-f8362486bd0e.pdf (please refer to the non-union, full-time employee section) and/or refer to the benefit details provided below after the job description information.

Primary job duties and responsibilities:
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
1. *Responsible for maintaining the highest quality of daily husbandry and welfare of assigned animal collection, collection planning, the supervision and development of the assigned animal care specialists.
2. *Responsible for the creation and management of the departmental budget.
3. *Responsible for the management of assigned facilities.
4. *Develop and manage conservation programs related to the taxon specialty.
5. *As part of the Animal Care and Programs management team, participate in the development and implementation of ACP programs, guidelines and procedures, and participate in facilities design, donor cultivation, and research.
6. Performs other related duties as assigned to assure achievement of annual goals and objectives.
* Denotes Essential Job Function(s)

Position requirements and specifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Zoology or related field or eight years’ equivalent combination of training and/or experience required. High school diploma or educational equivalent (e.g., GED.) required.
• Minimum 5 years of captive management experience in a zoo or large-scale animal care facility or equivalent experience required within the taxon specialty.
• Minimum 5 years of supervisory experience required (not limited to but including front-line department operations.)
• Positions managing aquatic taxa may require SCUBA certification.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills, including verbal, written, and listening skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (word processing and database management) essential.
• Cultural competency; experience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audience.
• English fluency at a professional working proficiency.
• Valid driver’s license required. Illinois residents must possess a valid Illinois license within 90 days of hire. Valid out-of-state license required for out-of-state residents.


Desirable/preferred qualifications:
• Familiarity with animal record keeping systems, studbook programs preferred.
• Multilingual ability, Spanish fluency a plus.


Additional information:
• Familiarity with animal record keeping systems, studbook programs preferred.
• Multilingual ability, Spanish fluency a plus.

If interested in being considered for this opportunity, please visit the BZC Career Portal www.brookfieldzoo.org/careers and use the Advanced Search feature to look for requisition 202 to obtain more details about the position and to apply by submitting your profile.

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