Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoo Supervisor

🎯 Role Definition

The Zoo Supervisor is a hands-on leader who oversees day-to-day animal care operations, supervises keepers and volunteers, ensures animal welfare and regulatory compliance, manages exhibit maintenance and supplies, coordinates with veterinary teams, implements enrichment and training programs, and represents the animal department in institutional planning, safety and conservation initiatives. This role requires a balance of technical animal husbandry, staff management, policy compliance, emergency response and public-facing education duties.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Zookeeper / Lead Animal Keeper with multi-species experience and demonstrated leadership.
Veterinary Technician or Animal Health Specialist transitioning to operational supervision.
Assistant Curator or Animal Programs Coordinator with supervisory responsibility.

Advancement To:

Curator of Animals / Head of Animal Collections
Director of Animal Care & Conservation Programs
Operations Manager / Executive Director (for smaller institutions)

Lateral Moves:

Education & Public Programs Manager (zoo education and outreach)
Facility Operations Manager (exhibit, grounds, and building systems oversight)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Supervise, train and evaluate a multi-disciplinary team of zookeepers, aquarists, interns and volunteers, setting clear performance expectations, conducting regular performance reviews, and coaching staff to meet animal welfare and operational standards.
Oversee daily animal husbandry operations including feeding, cleaning, behavioral observation, health assessment, record-keeping, and the implementation of individualized care plans for animals across mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and/or aquatic species.
Coordinate with veterinary staff to schedule preventative health care, diagnostics, treatments, anesthesia and post-operative care, ensuring timely communication and follow-through on medical protocols and quarantine procedures.
Design, implement and evaluate species-specific enrichment and behavioral husbandry programs that promote natural behaviors, mental stimulation and physical health; document outcomes and adapt programs based on animal response and data.
Manage exhibit operations and maintenance by coordinating enclosure repairs, habitat improvements, landscape and water systems upkeep, safety inspections, and ensuring all habitats meet welfare, hygiene and biosecurity standards.
Ensure compliance with all relevant laws, regulations and accreditation standards (e.g., USDA/APHIS, AZA, local and state permits), prepare documentation for inspections, maintain permits and implement corrective actions when required.
Create, administer and monitor departmental budgets, including forecasting supply needs, procuring feed and equipment, negotiating vendor contracts, tracking expenses, and reporting budget variances to senior leadership.
Develop and maintain detailed animal records and husbandry logs (feeding charts, medical records, breeding histories, enrichment schedules) using institutional databases and ensure data accuracy for regulatory reporting and institutional planning.
Lead or participate in animal acquisition, disposition and transfer processes, including quarantine management, transport logistics, permit coordination, welfare risk assessment and adherence to institutional animal selection policies.
Implement and train staff on emergency response and disaster preparedness plans, including animal evacuation procedures, emergency medical triage, hazardous material incidents, and after-hours emergency call protocols.
Develop and deliver staff training programs that include safe animal handling techniques, restraint methods, specialized husbandry protocols, use of equipment (hoists, winches, lifters), and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements.
Serve as the primary liaison between animal care, education and guest services teams to coordinate keeper talks, demonstrations, behind-the-scenes programs, guided tours and public-facing activities while safeguarding animal well-being and visitor safety.
Supervise breeding and population management initiatives, maintain studbooks or breeding recommendations, consult on genetic and welfare considerations, and work with conservation partners on species propagation efforts.
Conduct regular welfare assessments and behavioral audits, identify signs of stress, illness or behavioral problems, and implement intervention plans in collaboration with veterinary and behavior specialists.
Oversee procurement, inventory management and staging of animal diets, medications and husbandry supplies, ensuring proper storage, stock rotation, and cost-effective purchasing practices that support uninterrupted animal care.
Investigate and document animal-related incidents and staff/visitor safety events, prepare detailed reports, recommend corrective actions, and lead follow-up training or procedural changes to reduce recurrence.
Develop and maintain SOPs (standard operating procedures) for daily care, cleaning, restraint, enrichment, enrichment documentation, exhibit maintenance and safety protocols; ensure SOPs are accessible and regularly reviewed.
Lead or support conservation, research and educational projects by collecting husbandry data, contributing to institutional research protocols, collaborating with external partners and representing the institution at professional conferences.
Manage volunteer and internship programs for animal care, including recruitment, training, scheduling, supervision, and evaluation, to augment staff capacity while maintaining high standards of animal welfare and safety.
Oversee animal transport and logistics, including vehicle operation, crating and restraint protocols, compliance with transport permits, coordination with receiving institutions, and ensuring animal comfort and safety during moves.
Participate in strategic planning for animal department growth, exhibit development, budget allocation and capital improvement projects; provide subject-matter expertise for exhibit design and animal flow considerations.
Ensure high standards of cleanliness, biosecurity and waste management in animal areas by developing cleaning schedules, monitoring sanitation practices and coordinating with facilities for pest control and hazardous waste disposal.
Mentor junior staff for career development, identify training opportunities, support certification efforts (e.g., AZA, field-specific credentials), and build a culture of continuous learning and professional development.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc conservation or research data requests by collecting husbandry metrics, behavioral observations and sample logs, and contribute to institutional data repositories.
Contribute to the organization's conservation strategy and grant proposals by providing husbandry expertise, project timelines and operational cost estimates.
Collaborate with educational programming, guest services and marketing to produce accurate animal content for signage, web pages, social media and interpretive materials that align with welfare messaging.
Participate in leadership meetings and cross-departmental committees to inform policies, coordinate on capital projects, and advocate for animal care priorities and resource allocation.
Assist with recruitment activities, job descriptions and structured interviews for animal care positions and contribute to workforce planning to ensure adequate staffing levels year-round.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Demonstrated expertise in animal husbandry for diverse taxa (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish) including diet formulation, feeding protocols and nutritional monitoring.
Proficient in animal handling, restraint, safe capture techniques, and the operation of lifting/transport equipment and specialized enclosures.
Solid understanding of veterinary procedures and terminology sufficient to implement treatment plans, administer medications, perform basic first aid and support veterinary diagnostics.
Experience designing and documenting enrichment and behavioral conditioning programs using positive reinforcement techniques.
Knowledge of regulatory frameworks and accreditation standards (USDA, AZA, state/federal permits), and experience preparing for and responding to inspections.
Strong record-keeping and database skills, including use of husbandry/medical record systems (e.g., ZIMS, ARC/Species360, institutional ERPs) and basic data entry/reporting proficiency.
Facility and exhibit maintenance knowledge, including habitat systems (filtration, heating, ventilation), exhibit safety features, and coordination with contractors for repairs.
Inventory, purchasing and budget management skills with experience tracking supplies, negotiating vendor contracts and managing cost centers.
Emergency response and animal evacuation planning expertise, including incident command familiarity and practical implementation of disaster plans.
Species-specific breeding, population management and studbook experience, with an understanding of genetic considerations and welfare implications.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and people management skills with the ability to motivate teams, resolve conflict, and mentor staff at varying experience levels.
Clear, professional oral and written communication skills for internal coordination, public presentations and regulatory documentation.
Excellent observational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to detect subtle changes in animal behavior or health.
Time management and organizational ability to prioritize tasks in a dynamic environment and balance routine operations with special projects.
Problem-solving aptitude and sound judgment for risk assessment, emergency decision-making and continuous improvement.
Collaborative mindset to work across departments, external partners and conservation organizations to deliver cohesive programs.
Customer service orientation for interacting with visitors in educational contexts while maintaining animal and staff safety.
Adaptability and resilience to manage changing schedules, seasonal workloads and rapid operational adjustments.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent with substantial hands-on zookeeping and animal care experience; relevant certifications (animal first aid, CPR, hazardous materials) preferred.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Zoology, Wildlife Management, Animal Science, Zoological Studies, Veterinary Technology or related field; advanced certifications or graduate degrees considered an asset.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Biology / Zoology
Animal Science / Veterinary Technology
Wildlife Conservation / Ecology
Animal Behavior / Psychology
Zoological Husbandry / Aquatic Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–7 years of progressively responsible animal care experience; at least 1–3 years in a supervisory or lead keeper role preferred.

Preferred:

5+ years of multi-species zookeeping experience with documented supervisory responsibilities, experience with accredited institutions (e.g., AZA), proven record in enrichment program development, emergency response leadership, and demonstrated success coordinating veterinary care and regulatory compliance.