Cheyenne Mountain Zoo · Colorado · posted today
POSITION SUMMARY The Animal Care Manager is a hands-on supervisory member of the Animal Department management team responsible for supporting the day-to-day operation of the department. Animal Care Managers may provide leadership, coverage, and support across animal areas based on operational needs. This position works alongside animal care staff while providing supervision, coaching, communication, and operational oversight. The Animal Care Manager helps ensure high standards of animal care and husbandry, employee and guest safety, exhibit and service-area quality, accurate records, and an excellent guest experience. The position promotes collaborative, professional working relationships with staff, volunteers, vendors, donors, professional colleagues, and the community, and adheres to all organizational policies, procedures, and standards. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES Organizational Expectations Maintain discretion with confidential information and represent the Zoo in a professional manner. Maintain courteous, helpful, and professional behavior and support a collaborative work environment. Follow and support CMZ policies and procedures, safety requirements, AZA standards and guidelines, USDA requirements, OSHA requirements, and other applicable regulations. Contribute to problem-solving, identify process improvements, and communicate concerns and ideas to Animal Department leadership. Demonstrate regular attendance, punctuality, effective time management, and completion of required meetings and trainings. Maintain professional verbal and written communication and follow organizational appearance and dress expectations. Supervisory Expectations Maintain a calm, professional demeanor and exercise sound job-related judgment. Provide day-to-day supervision, orientation, training, coaching, scheduling support, performance feedback, and corrective action for Animal Department staff in coordination with Human Experience & Wellbeing and Animal Department leadership. Assign work fairly and appropriately based on job responsibilities, staffing, operational priorities, and employee development. Maintain appropriate supervisory documentation, including coaching, performance, and corrective-action notes. Address performance or conduct concerns in a timely manner and in accordance with Zoo policy. Complete or contribute to employee performance evaluations thoroughly and on time. Communicate goals, expectations, decisions, and changes clearly and effectively with staff. Support employee professional development and create opportunities for learning, feedback, and growth. Departmental Expectations Ensure Animal Department staff fulfill responsibilities outlined in applicable job descriptions, policies, protocols, and area procedures. Work in animal areas as part of day-to-day operations and provide keeper coverage or assistance as needed across the department. Provide ongoing on-the-job training and participate in department-wide keeper training. Support appropriate animal training, behavior, enrichment, welfare, and husbandry programs in collaboration with animal care, veterinary, behavioral science, and other applicable teams. Maintain proficiency appropriate to assigned work in animal care, safe work practices, capture/restraint, emergency response, and the proper use of vehicles, tools, supplies, and equipment. Ensure the smooth flow of information among keepers, Animal Care Managers, Animal Department leadership, Veterinary Services, and other departments. Review daily reports and animal records; support timely, clear, accurate, and professional recordkeeping. Monitor animal areas, exhibits, holding spaces, and service areas for cleanliness, safety, function, and presentation; Identify and follow through on maintenance or improvement needs. Assist with animal collection management, animal moves and transports, crating, shipment preparation, and associated coordination and documentation as assigned. Participate in recruitment, interviews, onboarding, and training for Animal Department positions as requested. Support guest engagement through professional presentations, programs, activities, and informal interactions consistent with CMZ’s mission and standards. Promote responsible use of Zoo resources, including supplies, utilities, equipment, and recyclable materials. Support department-wide projects, drills, emergencies, special events, and operational needs as assigned. Perform other duties as assigned. INDEPENDENT ACTION Must be a self-starter who takes initiative, manages multiple priorities under pressure, identifies when issues need escalation, and works effectively with minimal supervision. EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS Must be a cooperative and collaborative member of the team and respond professionally to interruptions, requests for information, and requests for assistance from employees, guests, volunteers, vendors, professional partners, and other stakeholders. PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS The physical demands and working conditions described below are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Physical Requirements - Work may include standing, walking, sitting, lifting and carrying objects, using hands and fingers to handle tools or controls, reaching, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling. The position requires the ability to use department equipment and communicate effectively. Computer and repetitive tasks may be required for extended periods. The employee may be required to lift/carry up to 70 pounds using appropriate body mechanics. Visual, Hearing and Communication Requirements - Requires vision and hearing sufficient to perform job duties, with or without reasonable accommodation, and the ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written form with personnel inside and outside the organization. Environmental Conditions - Work occurs in office, animal, service, public, and outdoor environments. Conditions may be noisy and may include fluctuating temperatures, wet/humid/sunny conditions, unpleasant odors, animals, guests, moving equipment, bodily fluids, communicable diseases, chemicals or other substances, and other hazards common to a zoo environment. Personal protective equipment may be required. Pressure Factor - Requires working effectively under stressful conditions and meeting scheduled and recurring deadlines while responding to changing operational priorities.
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