Pinniped Internship 2026

Columbus Zoo Family of Parks • Powell, OH

77d

About The Position

The goal of this internship is to provide a basic understanding of general husbandry of the animals located in the Pinniped Departments of Wild Encounters. Students will gain hands-on experience in the field while learning the day-to-day responsibilities of a full-time keeper.

Requirements

• Student or recent graduate (2 years or less) in biology, zoology, psychology, or any similar related major
• 3.0 or above accumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with all Columbus Zoo Family of Parks team members and contacts
• Ability to work independently and effectively manage time
• Ability to maintain courteous and helpful behavior
• Strong computer skills. Experience with MS Office preferred
• Must be neat in appearance and maintain courteous behavior at all times
• Ability to work in all weather conditions (i.e. heat, cold, rain, snow)
• Ability to hold a flexible schedule including weekends, evenings and holidays (July 4th, Memorial Day, Columbus Day) required
• Subject to Drug Free Workplace Policy
• Subject to BMV check and Criminal Background check

Nice To Haves

• CPR/First Aid/AED certification preferred

Responsibilities

• Assisting full-time keepers in preparing animal diets
• Cleaning and maintaining animal enclosures and exhibits
• Observing animals and reporting any behavioral changes
• Designing and delivering educational interpretation to the general public regarding animal behavior, habitat and conservation issues
• Maintaining area grounds and buildings
• Performing other duties as assigned
• Completing various quizzes, trainings, projects, and a final reflection paper assigned by the department
• Observing training sessions to gain a basic understanding of training fundamentals
• Assisting with Pinniped enrichment program as needed – cleaning, placement, removal of enrichment items
• Adhering to all safety protocols within the Pinniped department and the Columbus Zoo

Benefits

• Hands-on experience in animal husbandry
• Opportunity to learn from full-time keepers
• Educational experience in animal behavior and conservation

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees