Carnivores/Small Mammals - Lead Animal Care Specialist

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!


Come work in Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Carnivore/Small Mammal department where our department includes the Desert with Meerkats, Cape Porcupine, Pallas’s cat, Bat-eared Fox, Genet, Sand Cat, and mole-rats; and our forest area including Prevost’s squirrels, Binturongs, Ring-tailed lemurs, Clouded Leopards; and an Australian area including Echidna, Kangaroos, Brush-tailed bettong, Emu, Cape Barren geese, Rodrigues Fruit bats Wallabies and Wombat.

This position contributes to the success of Brookfield Zoo Chicago by providing experienced care for animals and performing related work of maintaining buildings, grounds, and interpretives in assigned area, under the direction of area managers or supervisors. Perform a wide variety of departmental supervisory activities, including supervising and instructing Animal Care Specialists (“ACS”) in assigned area and to support innovations in Conservation Leadership and Animal Welfare. Relieve other Lead ACSs as directed. Perform all routine duties independently and new duties with minimal direction.

This is a full-time union position, with a starting pay rate of $36.25 per hour and requires a union initiation fee upon hire and monthly union dues/fees. The Benefits Summary Information (for this position, please refer to the full-time union employees’ section. You may also copy and paste this link in your browser for ease of viewing: https://www.brookfieldzoo.org/custom.czs/files/5d/5dfac8db-5b35-45d1-8e3c-b37c698b6d43.pdf

Primary job duties and responsibilities:
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions of the position.

1. * Perform in a proactive leadership role and communicate regularly with area supervisors/ managers regarding animal management, facility maintenance, and staff supervision and development.
2. * Assist in departmental hiring, scheduling, and work assignments, and the development of departmental goals and plans. Establish work priorities for the department.
3. * Routinely monitor and review the work performance of ACS staff in assigned area and ensure completion of tasks in a timely and effective fashion.
4. * Prepare and conduct performance appraisals as assigned.
5. * Responsible for current animal and equipment inventory. Verify employee work schedules. Provide written reports as assigned.
6. * Handle personnel situations in a timely, objective, and consistent manner and in accordance with BZC policies and the union contract.
7. * Order, prepare, and distribute food to animal areas as required.
8. * Ensure compliance with all BZC policies and procedures.
9. * Observe assigned animals closely and objectively. Apply knowledge and prior experiences to affect or implement change where appropriate. Maintain and utilize animal records.
10. * Observe condition of assigned area(s), animal enclosures, and equipment. Monitor and clean public space(s), plants, and interpretives as required. Report maintenance needs as appropriate and perform minor maintenance tasks.
11. * Clean animal enclosures, pools, and service areas as required.
12. * Maintain detailed and current knowledge of natural history, husbandry, and captive management of species and individuals in assigned areas.
13. * Maintain proficiency in area routines and specialized procedures.
14. * Monitor guests to ensure animal and human safety and protection of BZC property.
15. * Communicate with and assist guests. Take initiative to facilitate guests’ appreciation of animals and enjoyment of their visit.
16. * Serve in a leadership role in directing the management and operations within assigned area and ensure short-term goals are developed and achieved. Solicit input on improving operations and animal management procedures.
17. * Demonstrate knowledge of and implement BZC-wide and area emergency procedures as directed.
18. * Train and direct work of interns, seasonal employees, and full-time ACS staff as assigned.
19. Other related duties as assigned.
* Essential Job Function(s)

Requirements:
• Bachelor's degree in relevant biological field or equivalent combination of training and experience required. High school diploma or educational equivalent (e.g., GED).
• Minimum four years