Ambassador Animal Program Supervisor

Audubon Institute•New Orleans, LA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Ambassador Animal Program Supervisor (“Supervisor”) is a key member of the Learning & Engagement (L&E) Team and is responsible for supporting and supervising the overall daily care and management of the Ambassador Animal program at Audubon Zoo under the guidance of the Ambassador Animal Program Manager. With guidance and input from the Director of Learning and Engagement, the Ambassador Animal Program leadership team works in close collaboration and partnership with the Zoo Engagement Program leadership team to ensure we maintain a cohesive and effective system to deliver engaging programming with our ambassador animals while providing an excellent level of animal welfare. The main responsibilities of this position are daily oversight of a team of Ambassador Animal Care Specialists, interns and volunteers (including scheduling, training, coaching and support), partaking in daily husbandry, animal training and behavior management for the Ambassador collection, and coordinating animal scheduling, usage and analytics. As a leader on the Ambassador Animal team, the Supervisor will provide leadership and support to the team including but not limited to payroll, staff scheduling and communication, coaching and feedback, and more. This position will also play an integral role in the training and certification process for use of ambassador animals, both in development of policies and the recordkeeping and training of other staff, interns and volunteers. To support the many diverse programming needs within the L&E team, this position will manage the animal requests and animal usage data and collaborate with other Engagement team leadership to analyze and assess the data. This position will directly support programming which may include but is not limited to onsite guest-facing ambassador programming, special event encounters which may be evening hours (both onsite and off), outreach, media programming, premium experiences, tours and more. The Supervisor may be called upon as a leader to provide general operational support for the zoo as needed. As a leader on the L&E team, the Supervisor participates in strategic and financial planning, effective resource management, proactive communication both internally and externally, and promotes appropriate professional development opportunities for the entire team. As a member of the L&E Department, this position will participate in and support a variety of educational and volunteer programming as necessary. The Supervisor will support the needs of Audubon Nature Institute and its various facilities as required.

Requirements

3+ years working experience in an Ambassador Animal program
Experience with team leadership and coordination
Experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating educational programs tailored to diverse audiences
Bachelor’s degree required in Education, Biology, Zoology, Communications, Ecology, Environmental Education, or a related field, and/or equivalent work experience.
Demonstrated experience working with a wide variety of species including reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, mammals and birds.
Demonstrated experience with operant conditioning and environmental enrichment
Demonstrate ability to develop partnerships and good working relations with others.
Demonstrate knowledge of wildlife conservation and environmental issues.
Demonstrate awareness and understanding of customer service and service recovery.
Must have a valid, state-issued driver’s license.
Must be able to work holidays, weekend and occasional after hour events.
Ability to stand and walk for up to 2/3 of the day.
Ability to pass annual TB tests.
Ability to lift and carry objects up to 50 pounds.
Must be able to reach above shoulder level, stoop and squat to retrieve kennels and animals, which also may require stepping on stools.
Ability to perceive visual, odor, or behavioral changes in animals to determine changes in animals’ stress level or general wellbeing. Must have excellent peripheral vision, depth perception, and quick motor response for animal and audience control during presentations.
Ability to speak loudly to crowds in a variety of situations included moderate to loud crowds.
Frequent use of hands and arms to operate office equipment and manual tools.
Visual ability to read, write, and operate standard office machinery.

Nice To Haves

Experience in an AZA institution and familiarity with AZA standards
Experience with free flight training and programming
Formal leadership/supervisory experience
Experience working with or overseeing volunteers
Extensive knowledge of wildlife conservation
Experience working with program accessibility and inclusion
Certified Interpretive Guide certification or equivalent credential

Responsibilities

Supervising, scheduling, training and coaching Ambassador Animal Program staff, interns and volunteers at Audubon Zoo
Working with the Ambassador Animal Program Manager to recruit, interview and hire Ambassador Animal program staff and interns.
Working with the Ambassador Animal Program Manager to develop and implement multi-faceted training and support resources for Ambassador Animal staff, interns, and volunteers.
Providing excellent daily care and welfare to a group of ambassador animals that provide unique engagement opportunities for our guests.
Maintaining the health and wellbeing of all ambassador animals through daily observation, active communication with veterinary staff, and assistance with medical procedures and treatment as needed.
Maintaining all necessary daily records and communications for the collection to adhere to best practices and to meet all required standards and regulations.
Delivering and maintaining a robust enrichment and behavioral management program for all animals in the collection including operant conditioning and environmental enrichment
Supporting and participating in the development and delivery of a variety of programs that utilize ambassador animals
Collecting data and feedback on programming and interpretive impact.
Communicating clearly and professionally with other departments to promote a cooperative work environment and ensure that guests have positive interactions and appropriate programming during their visit.
Actively collaborating with Marketing, Development, Membership and Special Events to support non-routine special events.
Ensuring all the Learning & Engagement spaces are well maintained and organized.
Maintain a positive attitude and a strong sense of accountability, fostering a collaborative team environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute.
Thrive in a team environment, using your organizational and technical skills to ensure the smooth execution of creative projects that resonate with our audience.
Celebrate the successes of your team and bring enthusiasm to your work, reflecting the joyful culture that is at the heart of Audubon’s mission.
Stay adaptable and open to learning new skills, embracing change and innovation as opportunities to lead and grow.