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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoo Technician

💰 $30,000 - $50,000

Animal CareConservationZoologyVeterinary SupportFacilities

🎯 Role Definition

The Zoo Technician is an on-the-ground animal care professional responsible for daily husbandry, enrichment, exhibit maintenance, veterinary support, and public-facing duties that ensure animal welfare and operational excellence in a zoological setting. This role requires hands-on animal handling, meticulous record-keeping, routine health monitoring, collaboration with veterinary and curatorial teams, and occasional participation in outreach or research projects. Ideal candidates have demonstrable experience in animal husbandry, practical mechanical skills, and a strong commitment to conservation and education.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Animal Care Technician or Kennel Attendant
  • Wildlife Rehabilitation Assistant
  • Aquarist or Research Animal Handler

Advancement To:

  • Senior Zoo Technician / Lead Zookeeper
  • Curatorial Assistant or Assistant Curator
  • Veterinary Technician or Animal Health Specialist

Lateral Moves:

  • Exhibit Maintenance Technician
  • Education & Outreach Coordinator
  • Horticulture or Facilities Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Provide daily hands-on animal care including feeding, cleaning, and observing a diverse collection of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, or marine species, ensuring species-specific dietary and environmental needs are met.
  • Prepare and record precise diets, supplements, and specialized nutrition plans under the guidance of curators and veterinary staff, adjusting feedings according to life stage, health status, and behavioral goals.
  • Design, implement, and document behavioral enrichment programs that stimulate natural behaviors, reduce stereotypies, and support mental and physical well-being for individual animals and social groups.
  • Conduct routine health checks and behavioral monitoring, identify signs of illness or injury, and promptly report anomalies to the veterinary team while maintaining daily health logs and medical records in institutional databases (e.g., ZIMS).
  • Administer prescribed medications, topical treatments, and assist with veterinary procedures (restraint, sample collection, anesthesia monitoring) following training and established protocols.
  • Perform safe and humane restraint, capture, and transport of animals within the institution and for off-site transfers, using approved techniques, crates, and transport vehicles.
  • Maintain and sanitize indoor and outdoor exhibits, pools, nest boxes, and holding areas to meet husbandry and biosecurity standards, including pressure washing, disinfection, and waste disposal.
  • Construct, maintain, and repair habitats and behavioral devices using carpentry, welding, plumbing, or basic electrical work to ensure safe, species-appropriate environments.
  • Monitor and maintain water quality parameters for aquatic exhibits (e.g., salinity, pH, temperature, filtration systems) and perform regular system checks and logs for aquatic husbandry.
  • Operate heavy equipment and facility vehicles safely (utility vehicles, small tractors, forklifts, trailers) to move feed, bedding, and construction materials as required.
  • Assist in capture, necropsy support, sample handling, and diagnostic testing workflows (blood draws, fecal collection, swabs) while following chain-of-custody and biosafety procedures.
  • Implement and enforce animal handling, public safety, and occupational health protocols, including personal protective equipment (PPE), zoonotic disease mitigation, and emergency response plans.
  • Maintain accurate, audit-ready records of daily husbandry tasks, veterinary treatments, inventory, and incident logs using digital record systems and standardized forms.
  • Participate in seasonal population management tasks including breeding, egg collection, incubation, pup/juvenile rearing, and post-release monitoring when applicable to species programs.
  • Facilitate animal training programs that use positive reinforcement techniques to accomplish voluntary behaviors for husbandry, medical procedures, and public demonstrations.
  • Support conservation and research initiatives by collecting behavioral and environmental data, implementing experimental protocols under supervision, and contributing to grant-funded projects.
  • Supervise, train, and mentor volunteers, interns, and seasonal staff on safe animal handling, enrichment preparation, record-keeping, and exhibit upkeep while fostering a collaborative team environment.
  • Conduct routine inventory management of feed, supplies, pharmaceuticals, and materials, place orders, and coordinate deliveries to maintain uninterrupted husbandry operations.
  • Participate in interpretive and educational programs for visitors, lead guided encounters and demonstrations when approved, and model professional, science-based messaging about animal welfare and conservation.
  • Respond to animal-related emergencies (escape, injury, severe weather, fire) as part of an established emergency response team, perform triage, and coordinate with veterinary and facilities staff to mitigate risk.
  • Ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards (USDA, AZA, state wildlife permits), including permit maintenance, welfare audits preparation, and participation in safety inspections.
  • Coordinate collection transfers with external institutions, oversee packing and transport logistics, and prepare health and quarantine documentation for incoming and outgoing animals.

Secondary Functions

  • Contribute to exhibit design reviews and habitat improvements by providing practical husbandry input to curators and facilities planners.
  • Assist with public-facing tasks including ticketed animal programs, school group interactions, and community outreach events to increase awareness of conservation initiatives.
  • Help maintain grounds, public pathways, signage, and non-animal exhibit features to ensure a clean, educational guest experience.
  • Collaborate with the education team to develop volunteer training materials and standard operating procedures for animal care tasks.
  • Participate in staff meetings, continuing education, and professional development opportunities to keep current with best practices in animal welfare and husbandry.
  • Support grant reporting and data exports for research by preparing accurate datasets and documentation related to animal health and behavior.
  • Perform secondary custodial duties for off-exhibit holding areas, supply rooms, and workshop spaces to uphold institutional cleanliness standards.
  • Act as a front-line contact for vendors and contractors providing maintenance or supplies for animal areas, ensuring work complies with animal safety requirements.
  • Contribute to social media or interpretive content by providing brief updates or photos (per policy) that highlight animal care activities and conservation messaging.
  • Participate in cross-departmental projects (veterinary, curatorial, facilities, education) to facilitate smooth operations and continuous improvement.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Proficient animal handling and restraint techniques for a range of taxa (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, aquatic species).
  • Demonstrated animal husbandry experience including diet preparation, feeding schedules, bedding management, and neonatal/juvenile care.
  • Experience designing and documenting enrichment plans and behavioral training programs using positive reinforcement methods.
  • Competency with zoological record-keeping systems (e.g., ZIMS, ARKS) and strong digital data entry skills (MS Office, Google Workspace).
  • Basic veterinary support skills: sample collection, medication administration, wound care, anesthesia monitoring, and postoperative care under supervision.
  • Knowledge of biosecurity practices, zoonotic disease prevention, PPE use, and quarantine procedures.
  • Mechanical aptitude for carpentry, basic welding, plumbing, pool/aquarium maintenance, and safe use of hand and power tools.
  • Ability to operate facility vehicles and light equipment (utility vehicles, forklifts, trailers) with appropriate certifications where required.
  • Water quality testing and aquatic husbandry skills: testing equipment, filtration systems, saltwater/marine system maintenance.
  • Inventory management, procurement coordination, and supply forecasting experience for feed, pharmaceuticals, and husbandry materials.
  • Emergency response and animal evacuation procedures; trained or willing to be trained in wildlife first aid and CPR for animals.
  • Understanding of regulatory requirements and permit systems relevant to zoos and aquariums (USDA, state wildlife permits, AZA standards).

Soft Skills

  • Strong observational skills and attention to detail for early detection of health or behavioral changes.
  • Clear communication and documentation skills to relay animal status and handoffs to veterinary and curatorial teams.
  • Team-oriented mindset with the ability to train, supervise, and motivate volunteers and seasonal staff.
  • Resilience and physical stamina: comfortable performing manual labor outdoors in varying weather and lifting heavy items.
  • Problem-solving and adaptability during incidents, species-specific challenges, or shifting operational priorities.
  • Public-facing professionalism: ability to educate guests, represent institutional values, and maintain visitor safety.
  • Initiative and ownership for continuous improvement of husbandry and safety practices.
  • Cultural sensitivity, ethics, and respect for institutional conservation and animal welfare missions.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or GED with demonstrable animal care experience.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Wildlife Biology, Veterinary Technology, or related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Zoology
  • Animal Science
  • Wildlife Biology
  • Veterinary Technology
  • Conservation Biology
  • Marine Biology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 1–5 years of hands-on animal care experience in a zoo, aquarium, wildlife rehabilitation center, farm, or related facility.

Preferred:

  • 2–4 years working with a zoological collection or specific taxa, experience with AZA-accredited institutions, demonstrated veterinary support experience, and prior supervisory or volunteer training responsibilities.
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