Senior Animal Care Professional - Tampa, FL

Senior Animal Care Professional – Aquatics · Join the ZooTampa Team · Step into a senior role where your aquatics expertise shapes animal welfare, team development, and operational excellence. As a Senior Animal Care Professional at ZooTampa, you'll work with complex aquatic habi ...

Job description

Senior Animal Care Professional – Aquatics

Join the ZooTampa Team

Step into a senior role where your aquatics expertise shapes animal welfare, team development, and operational excellence. As a Senior Animal Care Professional at ZooTampa, you'll work with complex aquatic habitats and species, apply advanced husbandry and SCUBA skills, and lead by example in training, safety, and behavioral observation. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact while contributing to one of the most respected animal care teams in the region.

Position Summary

The Animal Care Professional is responsible for the daily care and feeding of assigned animals of assigned animals, maintenance of animal habitats and night-houses, behavioral observations, record keeping, animal enrichment and training, assistance with veterinary procedures, operation of utility vehicles, guest interactions and encounters.

You may be a strong match if you:

• Bring advanced aquatics experience—including SCUBA certification, aquatic husbandry, and confidence working in and around diverse aquatic systems and species.
• Excel in animal behavior, operant conditioning, and detailed observational assessment across aquatic and mixed-species environments.
• Enjoy leading, coaching, and developing teammates, elevating standards and supporting a collaborative, mission-driven culture.

Who We Are

ZooTampa at Lowry Park is one of the most popular zoos in the southeastern U.S., with over 1 million visitors annually. We have grown to what now encompasses 56 acres of naturalistic wildlife habitats in a lush, tropical garden setting with wide-ranging activities. The Zoo, accredited by Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), offers popular educational programming, fun recreational amenities, up-close animal encounters and engaging seasonal events for which it has won awards as one of the country's most family-friendly zoos.

Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and care for animals; create exceptional personalized experiences that connect people with wildlife and each other in fun, immersive ways.

Our vision is that everyone we touch is motivated to join us in taking action to protect and preserve wildlife.

Join us and become a part of creating unforgettable natural connections

Your day to day

Essential Functions (including but not limited to)

• General and advanced husbandry care of assigned animals, including preparing and distributing approved animal diets
• Close observation of animal behaviors with a particular focus on appropriate appetite, mobility, and waste production to monitor health of animals; notification of appropriate animal care staff of any concerns
• Shift animals according to area's standard operating procedures (SOP)
• Advanced animal capture, restraint and handling techniques
• Engage with Zoo guests at habitats, encounters, chats, training demonstrations, and/or connections.
• Maintain detailed daily records on assigned animals
• Strong knowledge of zoo layout and general animal collection to respond quickly during animal emergencies and also assist guests on a daily basis with exhibit location
• Initiates and completes area projects with management's approval
• Adherence to area's standard operating procedures (SOP)
• Knowledge of safety SOP, safety concerns, and reporting protocols
• Knowledge of husbandry requirements, and the prevention of zoonotic diseases
• Knowledge of basic nutrition requirements for assigned area(s)
• Assist registrar in area's record keeping
• Inspect, clean, and maintain both exhibit and off-exhibit areas
• Propose and perform species-specific enrichment
• Actively seek opportunities to participate in guest engagement through interaction with guests during both formal and informal discussions, during events, and as otherwise assigned
• Report animal illness, maintenance, safety, horticulture, or other needs to appropriate staff
• Assist in animal procedures including trans-locations, veterinary procedures, and crating
• Respond to and assist management in guiding the resolution of emergency situations (e.g., Code I, II, III) within the zoo
• Lead, coach, and assist in the development of co-workers.
• Promote a positive, supportive, and collaborative working environment
• Observe safety policies and procedures in regards to the use of zoo equipment, materials, chemicals, and vehicles
• Act as point person during supervisor's absence
• Coordinate activities between departments (photo shoots, etc.)
• Train staff best practices in area(s) of responsibility
• Senior level for ACP also requires demonstrated willingness and ability to perform additional responsibilities or assigned roles in designated area(s) or in support of the Zoo as whole
• Support media relations as needed, including but not limited to assisting with interviews and media requests
• Assist with external programs as needed, including SAFE initiatives, SSP programs, and other local, national, or global conservation efforts.

What are we looking for?

Qualifications and Experience

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED); AA degree or higher preferred
• Five or more years paid keeper experience in an AZA accredited institution
• SCUBA and First-Aid Certification required for aquatics and manatee teams.
• Knowledge of Word Processing software and Spreadsheet software
• Must have good written and oral communication skills and ability to effectively participate in guest engagement activities
• Must be self-motivated and goal-oriented
• Must be able to maintain discretion with confidential information
• Ability to appropriately apply animal training through the use of operant and classical conditioning, with an emphasis on understanding the principles of behavior modification to effectively shape and reinforce desired behaviors.

Other Requirements

• Conducts all activities in alignment with AZA standards and guidelines, all relevant laws and regulations, safety standards, and standards that ensure animal welfare
• Ability to work in extreme weather conditions typical to west central Florida (i.e., heat, rain, or cold)
• Possess visual, hearing and other sensory and cognitive capacity appropriate for animal care and general safety practices
• Ability to use radio, telephone, and computer to communicate and follow written and verbal instructions
• Must be able to work in a variety of physical positions, including sitting, bending, standing, and walking, and to engage in physical labor (raking, sweeping, shoveling)
• Must have ability to navigate paved as well as rough terrain on foot and by vehicle
• Must be able to safely and effectively engage in heavy lifting (up to 50 pounds)
• Ability to work long hours and varying shifts, including nights and week-end, to support special events and the needs of the collection
• Attend and complete all required employee trainings.
• Thorough knowledge of zoonotic diseases and prevention
• Advanced knowledge of husbandry requirements
• Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with members of all departments and to work effectively alone and in a group setting
• Ability to complete projects in a reasonable time frame, to the satisfaction of management
• Deal courteously and tactfully with employees, peers, superiors, and the general public even under difficult circumstances
• Strong knowledge of occupational hazards and appropriate safety precautions
• Ability to follow specific instructions and also be comfortable self-directing with minimal guidance
• Must be flexible and have the ability to multi-task in a fast paced environment while maintaining a positive attitude with the public, peers and management
• Capacity to anticipate: ability to think ahead and plan
• Capacity to change: ability to identify and correct operational problems quickly
• Must be able to think logically and solve problems with minimal guidance
• Capable of influencing without direct authority to help guide the development of less experienced staff

Our Perks at ZooTampa

• Medical, Dental, Vision and supplemental insurance plans,
• 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Generous PTO time (Vacation and Wellness)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Forgiveness
• Discounted gym membership
• Free admission to the Zoo, MOSI, Glazer Children's Museum, and the Florida Aquarium
• Free or discounted admission to many attractions in Florida
• And so much more

Equal Opportunity Employer & Drug-Free Workplace