Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoo Curator

🎯 Role Definition

The Zoo Curator is the senior animal-care and collections manager responsible for the welfare, health, and strategic development of a facility’s animal collection. This role leads animal husbandry programs, collection planning, regulatory compliance, staff supervision, and public-facing conservation education. The ideal candidate combines deep species-specific husbandry knowledge with leadership experience, strong project and budget management skills, and a commitment to animal welfare and conservation science. Keywords: Zoo Curator, animal husbandry, AZA accreditation, collection management, conservation, species survival plan (SSP), exhibit design, wildlife management.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Zookeeper / Lead Keeper with demonstrated supervisory experience and advanced husbandry skills.
Assistant Curator or Collection Manager with responsibility for one or more taxonomic groups.
Wildlife Biologist, Animal Scientist, or Veterinary Technician with relevant zoo or field experience.

Advancement To:

Head Curator / Director of Animal Collections
Director of Conservation, Research & Education
Chief Operating Officer or Executive Director (zoo or wildlife organization)

Lateral Moves:

Conservation Program Manager or Species Program Coordinator
Education Director or Public Engagement Manager
Exhibit and Facilities Project Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Oversee the daily welfare, husbandry and long-term health management of the facility’s animal collection, ensuring species-appropriate diet, enrichment, social grouping and behavioral management aligned with best practices and welfare science.
Develop, implement and regularly review comprehensive animal care protocols, quarantine procedures and preventative health plans in collaboration with veterinary staff to minimize disease risk and ensure prompt medical response.
Lead collection planning and species management decisions according to institutional goals, AZA standards, and participation in Species Survival Plans (SSP) or regional studbooks, including breeding recommendations, transfers and genetic management.
Manage, mentor and evaluate animal care teams (keepers, senior keepers, assistants), including staffing plans, shift scheduling, training programs, performance reviews and professional development.
Direct exhibit design and enclosure refurbishment projects from concept through completion, coordinating with architects, exhibit designers, operations, safety and construction teams to deliver safe, naturalistic and educational habitats.
Ensure regulatory compliance with federal, state and local wildlife permits (e.g., USDA, USFWS, CITES), maintain accurate permitting records and lead permit application and audit processes.
Maintain and update electronic collection management records (e.g., ZIMS, ARKS or institutional databases), ensuring accurate documentation of births, transfers, medical treatments and behavioral observations.
Collaborate with the veterinary team to prioritize animal health cases, plan surgical or medical interventions, and implement post-procedural care and rehabilitation plans.
Lead and contribute to conservation science and research initiatives, including coordinating field partnerships, facilitating in-house studies, publishing husbandry and behavioral research, and integrating findings into care practices.
Create, manage and report on curatorial budgets for animal care, enrichment, feed, veterinary supplies and capital projects; identify cost-saving measures without compromising welfare or safety.
Develop and implement enrichment and behavioral husbandry programs that promote physical and psychological well-being, using evidence-based methods and measuring outcomes for continual improvement.
Plan and execute animal transfers, quarantine protocols and transport logistics, including risk assessment, crate design, transport permits and coordination with sending/receiving institutions.
Represent the institution in external professional networks, AZA committees, SSP working groups and conservation coalitions; attend conferences and maintain active relationships with peer institutions.
Oversee biosecurity protocols, emergency preparedness and disaster response planning for the animal collection, including spill containment, evacuation procedures and continuity of care plans.
Lead recruitment, onboarding and training for volunteer and docent programs that support animal care and public engagement, ensuring volunteers are integrated into a safe, compliant workflow.
Design and evaluate visitor-facing interpretation and conservation education experiences related to the collection, working with education and marketing teams to amplify conservation messaging and increase audience impact.
Supervise acquisition and inventory control for animal feed, enrichment materials and specialized husbandry supplies, establishing supplier relationships and ensuring nutritional standards.
Conduct animal welfare assessments and internal audits, prepare reports for senior management and trustees, and develop corrective action plans to address welfare or compliance gaps.
Coordinate behavioral training programs for animals to facilitate veterinary procedures, transport, and husbandry tasks through positive reinforcement, and maintain training records.
Facilitate cross-departmental collaboration with facilities, safety, education, guest services and finance to ensure exhibits functionally support animal needs and visitor experience while meeting operational constraints.
Serve as the primary curatorial contact for incident investigations involving animals, leading root-cause analysis, stakeholder communication and policy revision as required.
Lead grant writing, fundraising collaborations and donor stewardship efforts tied to animal care projects, new exhibits, conservation programs and research initiatives.

Secondary Functions

Support public-facing programs by assisting with keeper talks, educational demonstrations and behind-the-scenes tours that align with conservation messaging.
Contribute to institutional strategic planning, including long-term collection goals, sustainability initiatives and conservation priorities.
Assist with recruitment and professional development plans for the broader animal care department, helping create competency matrices and career ladders.
Participate in community outreach and partner with schools, NGOs and research institutions to expand conservation partnerships and volunteer pipelines.
Oversee data-driven evaluation of animal care programs, using metrics and KPIs to inform resource allocation, enrichment effectiveness and exhibit impact.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Advanced animal husbandry expertise across mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians or selected taxonomic groups; demonstrated ability to design species-specific care plans.
Strong knowledge of AZA accreditation standards, Species Survival Plans (SSP) processes, and familiarity with studbook management.
Proficiency with collection management software (e.g., ZIMS, ARKS, PopLink) and strong record-keeping practices for births, transfers and medical histories.
Experience coordinating veterinary care and preventative medicine protocols; ability to interpret health data and collaborate on clinical decision-making.
Expertise in exhibit design requirements related to animal behavior, environmental enrichment, safety and biosecurity principles.
Comprehensive understanding of federal, state and local regulations including USDA, USFWS and CITES permit processes and compliance documentation.
Project and budget management skills: developing capital project scopes, cost estimates, procurement, and overseeing contractors/vendors for exhibit and facility projects.
Practical skills in animal training using positive reinforcement techniques for husbandry and veterinary purposes, documenting training outcomes.
Emergency response and disaster preparedness planning for animal collections, including quarantine management and continuity-of-care logistics.
Competence in grant writing, fundraising collaboration, and donor reporting to secure funding for conservation projects and exhibits.
Data literacy for analyzing welfare indicators, enrichment efficacy and operational metrics; ability to translate data into actionable programs.
Familiarity with conservation biology principles, field research protocols and translating research into husbandry or education programs.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and team-building abilities; proven track record managing multidisciplinary teams and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous learning.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for public speaking, reports, permit applications and cross-departmental collaboration.
Strategic thinker with the ability to balance short-term operational needs and long-term institutional collection planning.
Problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to respond to animal welfare issues, regulatory challenges and operational constraints under pressure.
Empathy and ethical decision-making anchored in animal welfare, conservation outcomes and public trust.
Relationship-building skills to liaise with external partners, donors, government agencies and professional networks.
Time management and organizational skills to prioritize competing demands across care, projects, and outreach responsibilities.
Conflict resolution and coaching skills to support staff development and maintain a positive, safety-focused workplace culture.
Adaptability and resilience in dynamic environments, including handling seasonality, emergencies and high-profile public situations.
Collaborative mindset with a passion for conservation education and inspiring public stewardship.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Zoology, Animal Science, Wildlife Biology, Biology, Ecology, or a related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Zoo and Aquarium Studies, Wildlife Conservation, Biology, or related discipline; or DVM (veterinary degree) with zoo medicine experience.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Zoology / Animal Science
Wildlife Biology / Conservation Biology
Ecology / Environmental Science
Veterinary Medicine / Zoo Medicine
Animal Behavior / Ethology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5–10+ years of progressive experience in zookeeping, animal care, or wildlife management with increasing supervisory responsibility; minimum 3–5 years in a lead or assistant curator role strongly preferred.

Preferred:

7+ years of curatorial or senior animal-care experience in an accredited zoo or aquarium.
Proven participation in AZA accreditation, SSP programs, or equivalent international species management frameworks.
Demonstrated experience managing budgets, leading exhibit projects, and working with veterinary teams on clinical cases.
Track record of conservation program involvement, research collaboration or publications related to husbandry, welfare or species recovery.