Senior Animal Keeper

Z&A Management • Layton, UT

9h

About The Position

The Senior Animal Keeper is a leadership-level role supporting the health, welfare, and environmental integrity of aquatic and terrestrial animal collections. The position combines advanced animal husbandry, environmental quality oversight, life support systems coordination, and team leadership. The Senior Animal Keeper collaborates with curators, veterinary teams, national husbandry partners, and facilities staff to maintain exhibits, habitats, and animal care programs in accordance with professional and regulatory standards. The role emphasizes mentorship, operational excellence, and cross-functional collaboration rather than a specialized technical track.

The position includes daily animal care and welfare oversight; monitoring animal condition and environmental parameters; assisting with veterinary procedures and quarantine; coordinating life support system inspections, maintenance, and repairs; supporting nutrition programs; mentoring and training keepers; preparing reports; and helping ensure compliance with applicable regulations and facility safety procedures. The role is physically demanding and may involve weekend, holiday, or after-hours work for operational needs or emergencies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Zoology, Marine Biology, Animal Science, Environmental Science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• At least 3 years of experience in a zoo, aquarium, or similar animal care facility.
• Demonstrated experience with advanced animal husbandry for aquatic and/or terrestrial species.
• Working knowledge of environmental monitoring, water quality management, and life support systems.
• Proven leadership or mentorship experience.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and work in varied indoor and outdoor conditions.
• Ability to work weekends, holidays, or after hours when required for operational needs or emergencies.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working across multiple husbandry disciplines, such as aquatics, wildlife, environmental quality, or life support systems.
• Familiarity with USDA or similar professional standards.
• SCUBA certification or willingness to obtain certification, where applicable.
• Experience assisting with exhibit design or habitat upgrades.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and support daily care for aquatic and terrestrial species in accordance with facility SOPs and best practices.
• Monitor animal behavior, health, and condition, and promptly communicate concerns to curators, veterinary staff, and national husbandry teams.
• Assist with medical procedures, treatments, and examinations under veterinary direction.
• Support quarantine procedures for new or ill animals, including enhanced monitoring and recordkeeping.
• Monitor environmental parameters, including water quality, temperature, humidity, air quality, and substrate conditions.
• Ensure habitats meet species-specific environmental requirements and regulatory standards.
• Troubleshoot environmental or parameter deviations and coordinate corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate records of environmental readings and habitat conditions.
• Support oversight of life support systems, including filtration, plumbing, mechanical systems, HVAC, and temperature and humidity regulation.
• Conduct regular inspections and preventative maintenance checks in alignment with SOPs.
• Coordinate with facilities, curators, and environmental staff on system malfunctions, repairs, or upgrades.
• Assist in planning and implementing new exhibits or habitat modifications from an animal-care perspective.
• Support species-appropriate feeding programs and dietary plans in collaboration with curators, veterinarians, and national husbandry teams.
• Oversee food preparation, distribution, intake monitoring, and inventory support as assigned.
• Document diets, supplements, and feeding changes accurately.
• Assist curators in supervising, mentoring, and training Animal Keepers across functional areas.
• Model professional standards of animal care, safety, and teamwork, and support keeper onboarding and ongoing skill development.
• Help ensure compliance with safety protocols, SOPs, and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with veterinary teams, national husbandry partners, facilities staff, and other Senior Keepers.
• Participate in meetings related to animal welfare, environmental quality, and operational planning.
• Prepare and contribute to reports on animal health, environmental conditions, and operational issues.
• Represent the facility professionally and support continuous learning and improvement.
• Maintain a safe working environment for staff, animals, and guests and enforce facility SOPs and safety protocols.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior