Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoo Manager

🎯 Role Definition

The Zoo Manager is a senior operational leader responsible for ensuring the health and welfare of captive animals, the safety and enrichment of exhibits, regulatory compliance, financial and staff management, and the delivery of engaging public programs. This role blends animal husbandry expertise with strategic operations, people leadership, and stakeholder engagement to deliver a mission-driven visitor experience while advancing conservation and education goals.

Key SEO keywords: Zoo Manager, animal welfare, exhibit operations, zoo leadership, conservation program management, staff supervision, public safety, regulatory compliance.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Zookeeper or Lead Animal Keeper with multi-species experience
Assistant Curator / Associate Curator for mammals, birds, reptiles or aquatics
Wildlife Biologist or Conservation Program Coordinator with field and captive-care experience

Advancement To:

Curator of Animals / Head of Animal Programs
Director of Animal Operations or Director of Conservation & Science
Executive Director / CEO of zoological organization

Lateral Moves:

Conservation Program Manager or Wildlife Rehabilitation Director
Education & Outreach Manager or Guest Experience Director

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Oversee daily animal care and husbandry programs for all exhibits, ensuring species-appropriate diets, enrichment plans, behavioral monitoring, and veterinary coordination to maximize welfare and comply with AZA/NAZ/ESA standards.
Lead and supervise a multidisciplinary animal care team (keepers, curators, veterinary technicians, interns), including hiring, performance management, scheduling, training, and professional development to maintain high-quality care and operational continuity.
Develop, implement, and audit comprehensive animal health and preventive medicine protocols in partnership with the veterinary team, including quarantine procedures, vaccination schedules, diagnostic testing, and emergency medical response.
Manage exhibit operations and infrastructure, coordinating with facilities and maintenance to ensure enclosures, barriers, water systems, HVAC, and life-support systems meet safety, biosecurity, and behavioral needs of the animals.
Create and administer annual and multi-year budgets for animal programs, including forecasting for feed, medical supplies, enrichment, staffing, capital improvements, and grant-funded projects; monitor expenditures and report variances to leadership.
Design and oversee animal enrichment and behavioral research programs that improve welfare, promote natural behaviors, and generate actionable data for husbandry improvements and scientific publication.
Ensure regulatory compliance with federal, state, and local agencies (USDA, state wildlife authorities, local health departments), maintaining permits, records, transport documentation, and reporting requirements for collections management.
Lead animal acquisition, disposition, and transfer programs in accordance with conservation priorities and Species Survival Plans (SSPs), including negotiation, transport logistics, and quarantine coordination.
Oversee collection planning and species management to balance conservation goals, genetic diversity, exhibit storytelling, and visitor interest while mitigating disease and biosecurity risks.
Serve as primary incident manager for animal-related emergencies (injury, escape, zoonotic exposure), coordinating cross-departmental emergency response, media messaging, post-incident review, and corrective action plans.
Collaborate with curatorial, conservation, and research partners to develop, implement, and evaluate in-situ and ex-situ conservation initiatives, grant proposals, and scientific collaborations that support the institution’s mission.
Partner with education, marketing, and guest experience teams to develop animal-focused interpretation, behind-the-scenes experiences, keeper talks, and volunteer programs that enhance public understanding and support for conservation.
Implement and enforce occupational health and safety programs for animal care staff, including PPE protocols, zoonotic disease prevention, safe animal handling procedures, and regular training updates.
Maintain accurate and auditable record-keeping systems for animal medical histories, breeding, behavioral observations, feeding logs, and inventory of regulated substances to support animal welfare and legal compliance.
Coordinate long-term capital projects for exhibit upgrades, habitat renovations, and new-builds, working with designers, contractors, and stakeholders to ensure animal welfare and operational functionality are central to design decisions.
Develop contingency and continuity plans for animal care during extreme weather, natural disasters, or facility closures, including off-site relocation strategies and staff cross-training.
Drive continuous improvement through data-driven review of husbandry practices, animal health trends, and exhibit performance metrics; implement process improvements and staff training based on findings.
Build and maintain strong partnerships with academic institutions, NGOs, wildlife agencies, and other zoos to support species management, research, and educational programming.
Represent the organization at professional conferences, industry meetings, and community events; present on husbandry innovations, welfare outcomes, and conservation impact to peers and stakeholders.
Lead ethical review and compliance for animal-based research and public interactions, ensuring institutional review board processes and welfare safeguards are observed.
Manage vendor relationships and procurement for specialized feed, enrichment products, veterinary supplies, and animal transport services, negotiating contracts to balance cost and quality.
Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion within the animal care team and public-facing programs, ensuring that hiring, interpretation, and outreach practices reflect institutional values and community needs.

Secondary Functions

Support fundraising and grant-writing efforts by providing technical content, data on program outcomes, and cost estimates for animal program needs.
Assist guest services and operations with emergency guest management protocols related to animal incidents or exhibit closures.
Mentor interns, volunteers, and early-career staff in best practices for animal husbandry, career development, and professional conduct.
Provide input to human resources on role design, compensation benchmarking, and succession planning for animal care roles.
Participate in cross-functional leadership meetings to align animal program priorities with marketing, education, conservation, and development strategies.
Maintain active certifications and professional development (e.g., AZA workshops, animal behavior courses) and coordinate team access to continuing education opportunities.
Track KPI metrics for animal welfare, exhibit uptime, and program engagement; produce regular reports for senior leadership and the board.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Animal Husbandry: Demonstrated expertise in multi-species husbandry, nutrition planning, enrichment design, and behavioral observation protocols.
Veterinary Collaboration: Experience working with veterinarians on preventive medicine, anesthesia, surgical support, diagnostics, and treatment plans.
Regulatory Compliance: Knowledge of USDA, state wildlife, and AZA standards and experience maintaining permits, inspections, and audit-ready records.
Exhibit & Facility Systems: Understanding of enclosure design requirements, life support systems (aquatic), HVAC considerations, and animal-safe building materials.
Emergency Response: Proven ability to lead emergency animal incident response, escape protocols, zoonotic exposure procedures, and post-incident analysis.
Collection & Species Management: Experience with acquisition/disposition logistics, transport regulations, quarantine procedures, and SSP coordination.
Budgeting & Financial Management: Ability to build and manage program budgets, forecast spending, and prepare financial reports related to animal operations.
Data & Record Systems: Proficiency with animal management databases (e.g., ZIMS, MedARKS) and experience using data to inform husbandry decisions.
Project Management: Track record of planning and delivering exhibit renovations, capital projects, and cross-functional initiatives on time and within budget.
Conservation Program Development: Skills in designing or partnering on in-situ and ex-situ conservation projects, monitoring outcomes, and reporting to funders.
Vendor & Contract Management: Experience sourcing specialized suppliers and negotiating contracts for feeds, enrichment, and transport services.
Training & Development: Ability to design and deliver training for safe animal handling, enrichment implementation, and welfare monitoring.

Soft Skills

Leadership: Strong people-management skills with experience coaching multidisciplinary teams, resolving conflicts, and building a positive culture.
Communication: Clear verbal and written communicator comfortable presenting to boards, media, donors, and scientific audiences.
Problem-Solving: Strategic thinker who uses data and collaboration to solve complex animal welfare and operational challenges.
Attention to Detail: Meticulous record-keeping and procedural adherence to ensure animal health and legal compliance.
Decision-Making Under Pressure: Calm, decisive leadership during animal emergencies, public safety incidents, or high-stress situations.
Stakeholder Management: Ability to build relationships across departments, external partners, regulators, and the public.
Ethical Judgment: Commitment to animal welfare, conservation ethics, and transparency in decision-making.
Adaptability: Comfortable operating in a dynamic environment with shifting priorities, seasonal workloads, and unforeseen events.
Teaching & Coaching: Skilled at educating staff, volunteers, and the public about animal behavior, conservation, and safety.
Cultural Competence: Inclusive leadership style that respects diverse backgrounds and promotes equity within programs.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Zoology, Wildlife Biology, Animal Science, Ecology, Conservation Biology, or a closely related field plus demonstrated practical animal care experience.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in Wildlife Conservation, Zoo Management, Animal Behavior, or related discipline, or equivalent advanced professional training and certifications.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Zoology / Animal Biology
Wildlife Biology / Conservation Science
Animal Science / Veterinary Technology
Ecology / Environmental Science
Animal Behavior / Psychology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5–12 years of progressive experience in animal care, with at least 3–5 years in supervisory or leadership roles within zoos, aquariums, wildlife centers, or similar institutions.

Preferred: 7+ years managing multi-species collections, proven experience with regulatory compliance (USDA/AZA), budget responsibility, and demonstrated success leading teams through exhibit projects and conservation programs.