Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoo Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Zoo Coordinator is a mid-level animal care and operations professional who oversees daily exhibit operations, coordinates animal care and enrichment programs, liaises with veterinary and conservation teams, ensures regulatory compliance, and delivers excellent visitor-facing conservation education. This role acts as the operational hub between keepers, veterinary staff, educators, maintenance, and management to ensure animal welfare, safe exhibits, and engaging public experiences. Ideal candidates combine hands-on animal husbandry experience with strong organizational, communication, and regulatory knowledge (AZA, USDA, state permits).

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Zookeeper / Lead Keeper
Animal Care Specialist or Wildlife Technician
Field Biologist / Rehabilitation Specialist

Advancement To:

Curator of Animals / Assistant Curator
Director of Animal Care / Head of Collections
Operations Manager or Conservation Program Manager

Lateral Moves:

Education and Outreach Coordinator
Horticulture / Exhibit Design Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and oversee daily animal husbandry programs for assigned species and exhibits, including feeding plans, behavioral monitoring, transfer and quarantine procedures, and species-specific welfare protocols in alignment with AZA and USDA standards.
Create, maintain, and evaluate detailed animal care plans and records (including ZIMS or other animal management databases), ensuring accuracy of feeding logs, medical records, enrichment schedules, behavioral observations, and transport documentation for audits and veterinary review.
Design and coordinate enrichment programs tailored to species-specific behavioral needs, implementing cognitive and physical enrichment devices and measuring enrichment efficacy through behavior data collection and analysis.
Coordinate and supervise daily keeper teams, volunteers, and seasonal staff — assigning duties, creating work schedules, delivering on-the-job training, conducting performance feedback, and fostering a safety-first culture.
Act as primary liaison between animal care staff and veterinary services, coordinating medical exams, treatments, anesthesia procedures, sample collection, and post-procedure animal monitoring while ensuring clear pre- and post-op protocols are followed.
Plan, supervise, and execute safe animal transfers, interstate and international shipments, and quarantine procedures; prepare all required permits, health certificates, and transport crates to meet regulatory and welfare standards.
Monitor animal health and behavior proactively, conduct routine welfare checks, document abnormalities, and escalate concerns to veterinary and management staff; participate in necropsy reviews and clinical case debriefs for continuous improvement.
Oversee exhibit maintenance and habitat improvements by coordinating with facilities and horticulture teams to maintain secure fencing, water systems, substrate, microclimates, and enrichment mounting points that meet species needs and safety codes.
Ensure all exhibits and animal handling areas comply with occupational health and safety standards, risk assessments, emergency procedures, and zoonotic disease prevention measures; lead emergency response for escapes, injuries, and severe weather events.
Manage budgetary items for animal care operations including procurement of feed, enrichment materials, medical supplies, and PPE; negotiate with vendors and maintain inventory systems to control costs and ensure continuity of supplies.
Lead or contribute to species survival plans, conservation projects, and population management activities, including breeding recommendations, genetic record-keeping, and collaboration with external conservation partners and AZA SSP programs.
Develop and deliver interpretive keeper talks, guided tours, school programs, and behind-the-scenes experiences to educate visitors on animal behavior, conservation priorities, and zoo mission while ensuring animal welfare and safety during interactions.
Coordinate training programs for animals (positive reinforcement training) to facilitate husbandry, voluntary medical behaviors, and public demonstrations; document training progress, reinforce target behaviors, and mentor keepers on best practices.
Produce and submit regulatory and accreditation documentation, including USDA/State inspection responses, AZA accreditation materials, incident reports, and grant or donor reports related to animal collections and conservation initiatives.
Conduct daily audits of animal enclosures, safety locks, perimeter integrity, and public barriers; schedule preventative maintenance and track completion to reduce safety incidents and maintain exhibit readiness.
Manage and analyze animal behavior and welfare data, preparing reports and presentations for leadership, curators, and conservation partners to inform collection planning and welfare improvements.
Support animal acquisition and disposition processes by researching potential exchanges, performing suitability assessments, coordinating logistics, and ensuring all legal, quarantine, and welfare conditions are met.
Oversee volunteer and internship programs related to animal care and public engagement, developing training materials, supervising placements, evaluating performance, and creating a positive learning environment.
Facilitate cross-departmental projects that affect animal operations such as exhibit redesigns, educational initiatives, fundraising events, and onsite research; act as project manager to coordinate timelines, budgets, and stakeholder communication.
Maintain and continuously update SOPs, emergency action plans, and animal care manuals; train staff on new procedures and ensure version control and accessibility of critical documentation.
Participate in public-facing media opportunities and community outreach, preparing talking points and ensuring communications align with institutional policies and conservation messaging while representing animal welfare priorities.
Support permit applications, CITES documentation, import/export health compliance, and state wildlife permitting by preparing paperwork, coordinating veterinary endorsements, and maintaining timelines for renewals.
Lead continuous professional development by staying current with best practices in animal welfare, enrichment science, positive reinforcement training, and husbandry innovations; implement evidence-based improvements across the collection.

Secondary Functions

Coordinate and maintain animal care data systems (ZIMS, MedARKS, or internal databases) and support ad-hoc reporting requests for management or external partners.
Assist with scheduling and staffing for special events, seasonal programs, weekend operations, and emergency call rosters to ensure full coverage of animal care responsibilities.
Contribute to grant writing, donor reports, and conservation program proposals by supplying animal welfare metrics, program outcomes, and logistical plans.
Support the education team by providing animal-related content for marketing, interpretive signage, and social media that highlights conservation messages and visitor engagement goals.
Help manage capital projects affecting animal spaces by working with exhibit designers and contractors to ensure species needs and animal safety are integrated into project plans.
Coordinate training sessions and continuing education for animal care staff on topics such as animal handling safety, zoonotic disease prevention, enrichment design, and data collection protocols.
Assist with recruitment and onboarding of new keeper staff and volunteers, participating in interviews, practical assessments, and new-hire orientation focused on culture and safety.
Provide logistical support for field collection or rescue operations when applicable, including transport coordination, temporary housing logistics, and quarantine staging.
Maintain supply ordering workflows and vendor relationships for food, bedding, medical supplies, and enrichment materials; troubleshoot shortages and identify cost-saving opportunities.
Participate in institutional committees, accreditation preparation teams, and cross-functional task forces that influence animal care standards, conservation strategy, and visitor experience.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Advanced animal husbandry for a broad range of taxa (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians) with demonstrated species-specific knowledge and practical care experience.
Proficient in animal health recordkeeping systems (ZIMS, MedARKS, TrackWise, or equivalent) and strong data-entry accuracy for medical, behavioral, and inventory records.
Experience designing and implementing enrichment programs and assessing behavioral outcomes using observational data and welfare indicators.
Practical skills in positive reinforcement training and husbandry conditioning to facilitate voluntary medical procedures and reduce animal stress.
Knowledge of regulatory frameworks and compliance: AZA accreditation standards, USDA Animal Welfare Act, CITES, state wildlife permits, and local health and safety ordinances.
Experience coordinating animal transport, quarantine protocols, and international shipping logistics including health certificate and permit preparation.
Familiarity with basic veterinary procedures, sample collection, anesthesia monitoring, and post-operative care protocols in collaboration with veterinary teams.
Facility and exhibit systems knowledge including water systems, HVAC for animal spaces, safe exhibit construction, and basic mechanical troubleshooting.
Budget and inventory management skills including procurement, vendor negotiations, and expense tracking for feed, medical supplies, and enrichment budgets.
Proficient in Microsoft Office suite, Google Workspace, and basic data visualization/reporting tools to prepare operational reports and presentations.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and team management abilities with proven experience supervising frontline staff, contractors, and volunteers.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for cross-departmental coordination, public interpretation, and regulatory reporting.
High situational awareness and sound judgment under pressure — capable of leading emergency response efforts and making rapid welfare-based decisions.
Outstanding organizational skills with strong attention to detail for recordkeeping, scheduling, and SOP management.
Collaborative mindset and ability to cultivate partnerships with educators, veterinarians, facilities, and external conservation organizations.
Public speaking and interpretive presentation skills suited to visitor engagement, media interviews, and community outreach events.
Problem-solving orientation with the ability to identify root causes, propose practical solutions, and implement improvements.
Cultural sensitivity and professionalism when working with diverse teams, stakeholders, and international partners.
Time management and prioritization skills for balancing hands-on animal care with administrative and project responsibilities.
Commitment to continuous learning and the ability to translate new science and best practices into operational changes.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Associate degree in zoology, biology, animal science, wildlife management, or related field; or equivalent professional experience in animal care.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree in zoology, wildlife biology, animal behavior, conservation biology, or related discipline.
Certifications such as Certified Zoological Professional (AZA pathways), OSHA or First Aid/CPR, and animal handling/transport certifications.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Zoology
Wildlife Biology
Animal Science
Animal Behavior
Conservation Biology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of progressively responsible experience in zoo animal care, wildlife management, or related animal husbandry roles.

Preferred:

5+ years of zoo or aquarium experience with demonstrated leadership, regulatory compliance, and exhibit management.
Prior experience with AZA-accredited institutions, species management programs, or conservation partnerships is highly desirable.
Demonstrated experience coordinating veterinary care, transport logistics, and quarantine protocols.