Assistant Curator Family Farm - AZA : Job Details

Milwaukee County Zoo

Assistant Curator Family Farm

This role manages a dynamic team of animal care professionals, ensuring high standards of animal care, health and safety, quality control, and respectful workplace behavior. Responsible for the coordination and quality control of daily husbandry routines, team dynamics, animal well-being, public engagement, and tidiness of assigned facilities. Program oversight includes training and enrichment programs, education ambassador animals, animal encounters, goat feeding, dairy production and public milking demos. This is a working management role over a single Animal Division sub-department which may oversee Zookeepers, Heritage Farm Attendants, seasonal employees, interns and volunteers.

Job Responsibilities

* Animal Care & Health - Supervise, coordinate and participate in the daily care of assigned zoo animals ensuring high standards of animal care, health and safety, and quality control. Order, prepare and present approved diets. Observe, evaluate, record and report animal activities, behavior and physical condition with consideration of patterns and natural history. Collaborate with veterinary team to promote animal health and nutrition. Train, manually restrain, capture and/or transport animals to facilitate medical procedures. Administer approved medications and treatments as prescribed.

* Behavioral Husbandry & Welfare - Facilitate and participate in animal training and enrichment programs in alignment with established targets for species behavior and wellbeing. Coordinate welfare assessments for assigned animal population in accordance with established standards.

* Leadership & Human Resources - Supervise the work and performance of the Family Farm team, providing leadership through motivation, engagement, feedback, support and development. Maximize employee and team effectiveness. Schedule and direct work assignments and authorize time recording. Coordinate the recruitment, hiring, orientation, training, and evaluation of the team. Train animal care professionals, seasonal employees, and education staff in ambassador animal care and handling. Maintain a positive culture of collaboration, accountability, and respectful behavior.

* Operational Oversight - Coordinate and direct Family Farm contractors including the farrier, milk hauler, field representatives, equipment techs, beekeeper, and animal vendors. Serve as animal area liaison for assigned sub-department. Support the curators with feedback for collection planning, budgets, facility design, husbandry programs, and employee performance evaluation. Procure supplies and maintain supply inventory to operate and service the farm milking equipment and animal collection. Coordinate the acquisition and disposition of the Family Farm animal population in accordance with established standards.

* Facilities Management - Coordinate the tidiness, hygiene, and maintenance of animal enclosures, service areas, milking equipment and surrounding facilities. Operate and maintain animal life-support systems and environmental controls. Identify and report maintenance and pest control needs.

* Administration & Records - Report and maintain daily records (e.g., animal feeding habits, diets, breeding behavior, health status, physical conditions, enrichment and training) for quality control and preservation in the Zoo Information Management System (ZIMS). Complete and maintain copies of work orders and other records regarding the operation and use of the animal area facilities.

* Public Engagement - Proactively engage with volunteers and visitors to enhance their experience. Conduct formal and informal public presentations including: animal care, natural history, conservation and research. Assist in the training of educators, tour guides and volunteers. Maintain positive, collaborative relationships with maintenance, grounds, creative, and all other Zoo departments.

* Ability to properly or safely operate: County vehicles, snow blowers, incubators, waterers, milking equipment, hand tools, power tools, laboratory equipment, computers and general office equipment.

* Ability to push and pull up to 25 lbs.; ability to carry and lift up to 75 lbs.

* Other duties as assigned.

Experience Required

Required Education, License/Certification and Experience Valid Driver's License required and must be maintained throughout employment Bachelor's degree or higher in Biology, Animal Science, Zoology, Wildlife Conservation/Management, Marine Biology or a closely related field required Five (5) years or more of Animal Care work experience at an accredited Zoo facility required One (1) year or more of Leadership, Supervision or Management experience required Intermediate knowledge of Zoological Information Management Systems (ZIMS) required Intermediate knowledge of all related computer and software applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Teams required

Salary

$52,873.60 - $60,964.80

How to Apply

Apply on the Milwaukee County Careers website at:

Assistant Curator - Family Farm - Career Portal

Milwaukee County Zoo

10001 W. Bluemound Rd

Milwaukee, WI 53226

Phone: 414#######

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