Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoo Program Director

🎯 Role Definition

The Zoo Program Director leads and advances the institution’s animal care, conservation, education, and public engagement programs. This senior role is responsible for strategic program development, staff leadership, regulatory compliance, fiscal management, and partnership-building to further animal welfare, species recovery, and community-facing interpretation. The ideal candidate combines deep zoological and conservation knowledge with proven experience in program management, fundraising, and stakeholder relations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Curator / Curator of Animals
Conservation Programs Manager
Director of Education or Animal Care Manager

Advancement To:

Executive Director / CEO of a Zoological Institution
Chief Operating Officer (COO) for cultural or conservation organizations
Regional Conservation Director / Head of Global Programs

Lateral Moves:

Director of Conservation Science
Director of Education and Visitor Experience
Director of Animal Welfare & Compliance

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and continuously refine a comprehensive strategic program plan that aligns animal care, conservation initiatives, and public education with the zoo’s mission, long-range master plan, and AZA (or equivalent) accreditation standards.
Oversee all animal welfare and husbandry programs, including daily care protocols, enrichment programs, behavioral monitoring, nutrition plans, and long-term health and welfare assessments in partnership with veterinary staff.
Lead programmatic budgeting and financial planning: prepare annual program budgets, monitor expenditures, identify efficiencies, and work with finance to ensure programs meet fiscal goals without compromising animal care or educational quality.
Direct the design, implementation, and evaluation of conservation programs (in-situ and ex-situ), including species recovery projects, population management plans, and collaboration with academic and governmental partners.
Serve as primary institutional contact for AZA accreditation processes and other regulatory audits, ensuring timely submission of documentation, addressing non-compliances, and implementing corrective action plans.
Manage the animal acquisition, disposition, and transfer processes in accordance with Species Survival Plan (SSP) recommendations, CITES, USDA, and local permit requirements while maintaining accurate records.
Hire, supervise, mentor, and evaluate a multidisciplinary team including curators, keepers, educators, volunteer coordinators, and program staff; set annual goals, provide professional development, and cultivate a culture of safety and continuous improvement.
Lead crisis response and emergency preparedness for animal-related incidents, natural disasters, and biosecurity events: maintain and test contingency plans, coordinate cross-departmental drills, and liaise with emergency services when necessary.
Oversee exhibit development and capital project planning from programmatic concept through installation, ensuring animal welfare, interpretive goals, and visitor experience objectives are integrated into design and construction.
Partner with the veterinary team to develop preventive medicine programs, quarantine protocols, diagnostic testing strategies, and behavioral health initiatives that support population health and reduce stress-related behaviors.
Build, maintain, and evaluate volunteer and internship programs that support animal care, conservation research, and education while providing high-quality experiential learning and workforce development.
Design and evaluate formal and informal education programs — school curricula, public talks, camps, and digital content — using learning objectives, assessment metrics, and visitor research to drive improvements.
Lead grant writing, donor solicitation, and stewardship for program-specific funding: identify funding opportunities, prepare proposals, manage awards, and report outcomes to funders and stakeholders.
Cultivate and formalize partnerships with universities, conservation NGOs, government agencies, and community organizations to advance research, field conservation, and student training opportunities.
Implement data-driven program evaluation practices: establish KPIs for animal welfare, visitor learning outcomes, conservation impact, and use analytics to inform program refinements and reporting.
Ensure compliance with all applicable laws and standards including AWA/USDA regulations, state wildlife permits, CITES documentation, and institutional policies; maintain permits, licenses, and audit-ready records.
Lead public-facing communications and media engagement related to program initiatives, animal stories, conservation campaigns, and sensitive issues; collaborate with marketing and development on key messages.
Oversee behavioral enrichment and training programs that promote animal welfare, facilitate routine husbandry and veterinary care, and enhance visitor interpretation through positive reinforcement methods.
Coordinate and supervise research activities conducted onsite or in partnership with academic institutions, ensuring ethical protocols, animal welfare oversight, and dissemination of findings that support conservation outcomes.
Drive diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within program staff and public programming to expand accessibility, broaden community relevance, and strengthen institutional partnerships.
Monitor and manage inventory of animal care supplies, enrichment materials, specialized diets, and habitat maintenance needs in coordination with procurement and facilities teams.
Provide leadership for safety culture, including development and enforcement of SOPs for animal handling, use of personal protective equipment, zoonotic disease prevention, and staff training programs.
Represent the zoo in regional and national professional networks (e.g., AZA, regional associations) to exchange best practices, advocate for policy, and position the institution as a leader in conservation and education.
Prepare and present regular reports to senior leadership and the board of trustees on program outcomes, animal welfare metrics, fiscal performance, strategic initiatives, and risk management.
Lead initiatives to expand revenue-generating and mission-driven opportunities such as sponsored exhibits, corporate partnerships, and fee-based educational programming while maintaining mission alignment.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc program evaluations, impact reporting, and internal data requests to inform leadership decisions and funder reporting.
Assist in cross-departmental planning for special events, seasonal programming, and visitor flow adjustments that impact animal welfare and staff capacity.
Provide subject-matter input for marketing content, website updates, and interpretive signage to ensure factual accuracy and compelling storytelling.
Contribute to workforce succession planning and cross-training initiatives to strengthen institutional resilience and knowledge retention.
Participate in monthly leadership or operations meetings to coordinate logistics, capital projects, and interdepartmental priorities.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Animal Husbandry & Welfare: Proven expertise in modern husbandry practices, enrichment design, and welfare assessment metrics across taxonomic groups.
Regulatory Compliance: Deep working knowledge of AZA accreditation standards, USDA/Animal Welfare Act requirements, CITES permitting, state wildlife regulations, and permit management.
Program & Project Management: Experience scoping, budgeting, executing, and evaluating multi-year programs and capital projects; familiarity with project management tools and timelines.
Budgeting & Financial Oversight: Hands-on experience building and managing program budgets, fiscal forecasting, grant budget development, and cost-control strategies.
Conservation Science & Research Facilitation: Ability to design conservation plans, manage field partnerships, oversee research protocols, and translate scientific findings into practice.
Grant Writing & Fund Development: Track record of successful grant proposals, donor cultivation, sponsorship negotiations, and stewardship reporting.
Animal Records & Database Management: Proficiency with zoological database systems (e.g., ZIMS) and maintaining accurate animal health, transfer, and breeding records.
Education & Curriculum Development: Experience developing interpretive plans, learning objectives, curriculum for school programs, and evaluation tools for public learning outcomes.
Veterinary Liaison Skills: Ability to coordinate clinical care plans, quarantine procedures, and preventive health strategies with in-house or contracted veterinary teams.
Facilities & Exhibit Planning Knowledge: Understanding of exhibit design principles, husbandry infrastructure requirements (habitat surfaces, drainage, HVAC) and contractor coordination.
HAZMAT & Zoonotic Safety Awareness: Familiarity with biosafety practices, zoonotic disease prevention, PPE protocols, and public health coordination.

Soft Skills

Strategic Leadership: Demonstrated ability to set vision, build consensus across stakeholders, and translate strategy into measurable program outcomes.
Effective Communication: Clear public speaking, media engagement, report writing, and the ability to communicate complex conservation messages to diverse audiences.
Relationship Building & Partnership Development: Strong networker with the ability to develop and sustain partnerships across academia, NGOs, government, and donor communities.
Team Building & Mentorship: Experience coaching managers, developing staff career pathways, and fostering high-performing, inclusive teams.
Problem Solving & Decision Making: Calm, analytical approach to urgent operational challenges and long-term strategic dilemmas.
Conflict Resolution: Skilled at navigating staff, volunteer, and stakeholder conflicts with diplomacy and fairness.
Cultural Competence & Community Engagement: Ability to design programs that resonate across demographics and expand accessibility.
Resilience & Adaptability: Capacity to lead through crises, changing regulations, and evolving conservation priorities.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Zoology, Wildlife Biology, Animal Science, Conservation Biology, Environmental Science, Museum Studies, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree or higher in Conservation Biology, Zoological Management, Environmental Education, Business Administration (nonprofit focus), or a relevant advanced degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Zoology / Wildlife Biology
Conservation Biology / Ecology
Animal Science / Veterinary Studies
Environmental Education / Interpretation
Nonprofit Management / Public Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 7–12+ years of progressively responsible experience in zoological institutions, conservation organizations, or related fields, including at least 3–5 years in a supervisory or leadership role.

Preferred:

Demonstrated leadership managing cross-functional teams in a zoological or conservation setting.
Proven track record with AZA accreditation processes, Species Survival Plan participation, or equivalent program oversight.
Experience with capital project planning, grant-funded programs, and public-facing educational initiatives.
Established network within the zoo, aquarium, conservation, or academic communities and familiarity with regional wildlife agencies and regulatory frameworks.