Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoo Program Specialist

🎯 Role Definition

The Zoo Program Specialist leads and delivers high-quality zoological programming including animal care support, exhibit-based education, community outreach, conservation initiatives, and volunteer coordination. This role requires deep knowledge of species-specific husbandry and enrichment, strong program design and evaluation skills, and the ability to communicate conservation stories to diverse audiences while maintaining compliance with AZA, USDA, and local permit regulations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Animal Care Technician / Zookeeper I
Environmental Education Instructor or School Program Coordinator
Wildlife Rehabilitation Technician

Advancement To:

Senior Zoo Program Specialist
Curatorial Assistant / Associate
Conservation Program Manager

Lateral Moves:

Education & Outreach Manager
Volunteer or Visitor Services Manager
Registrar / Animal Records Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and evaluate species-specific husbandry and behavioral enrichment programs that improve animal welfare, reduce stereotypic behavior, and support naturalistic exhibit behaviors in accordance with AZA standards and institutional husbandry manuals.
Design and lead curriculum-aligned education programs for school groups, families, scouts, and adult learners that translate complex conservation science into engaging, standards-based learning experiences and measurable outcomes.
Coordinate animal training programs using positive reinforcement techniques to facilitate cooperative medical behaviors, husbandry husbandry procedures, and low-stress transfers while maintaining detailed training records for each individual animal.
Create and manage visitor-facing interpretive materials, signage, and digital content that tell cohesive conservation narratives, increase visitor learning, and drive positive behavior change related to wildlife conservation and sustainability.
Plan and execute community outreach and off-site programming (mobile classrooms, conservation fairs, citizen science events) to expand the institution’s reach, support diversity and inclusion goals, and foster long-term public partnerships.
Oversee the quarantine, intake, and release protocols for rescued or transferred animals, including species-specific isolation procedures, record-keeping, and coordination with veterinary staff and regulatory agencies.
Monitor animal health and behavior daily, document welfare indicators in the animal records system, and directly communicate concerns or clinical changes to the veterinary team and curators in a timely manner.
Manage and maintain exhibit habitats, furnishings, and enrichment inventory to ensure safe, species-appropriate environments; coordinate with facilities and horticulture for habitat upgrades and seasonal modifications.
Lead or support conservation research projects, including study design, data collection, habitat assessments, photo‑ID or behavioral sampling, and collaboration with universities, NGOs, and government partners.
Prepare and manage program budgets, procure supplies, track expenditures, and write or support grants and sponsorship proposals to secure funding for education and conservation projects.
Supervise, mentor, and schedule seasonal staff, interns, and volunteers; develop training materials, conduct onboarding, and evaluate performance to ensure consistent program delivery and animal care standards.
Ensure full compliance with local, state, and federal regulations (USDA, local wildlife permits) and accreditation requirements (AZA) by maintaining up-to-date permits, documentation, and audit-ready records.
Collect, analyze, and report program metrics and visitor learning outcomes using CRM and database tools to inform continuous program improvement and support grant reporting and institutional KPIs.
Collaborate with marketing and communications teams to amplify program impact, produce press releases, social media content, and interpretive storytelling that drives attendance and donor engagement.
Develop emergency response plans for exhibits and species under supervision, including evacuation procedures, animal containment protocols, and coordination with incident command and veterinary staff during animal emergencies or severe weather.
Serve as a subject-matter expert for species husbandry, providing input on exhibit design, enrichment procurement, and institution-wide animal welfare policies to curatorial and facilities teams.
Facilitate internal cross-departmental meetings with curatorial, veterinary, education, marketing, and development teams to align program objectives, schedule animal encounters, and plan conservation campaigns.
Implement and maintain biosecurity protocols, feed handling systems, and sanitation schedules to minimize disease risk and ensure high standards of animal and visitor safety.
Represent the institution at professional conferences, AZA working groups, and community stakeholder meetings; present program outcomes and best practices to advance field-wide standards.
Develop and deliver training workshops for staff and volunteers on humane handling, animal welfare assessment, enrichment design, and visitor interaction best practices to build institutional capacity.
Coordinate logistics for animal transfers, temporary housing, and transport including transport permits, carrier specifications, sedation coordination when necessary, and liaison with sending/receiving institutions.
Create and maintain detailed husbandry manuals, enrichment plans, SOPs, and emergency contingency documentation that support knowledge transfer and institutional memory.
Lead conservation fundraising initiatives tied to programmatic outcomes, collaborate with development to create donor stewardship materials, and manage program-specific restricted funds when assigned.
Evaluate and adapt programs for accessibility and inclusion, ensuring that educational content, on-site experiences, and outreach events are culturally responsive and ADA-compliant.

Secondary Functions

Support cross-functional projects such as exhibit refreshes, seasonal event planning, and capital campaign coordination by contributing programmatic perspective and animal-care constraints.
Maintain and update digital animal records, training logs, and enrichment schedules in the institutional database; assist with data exports and ad-hoc reporting requests.
Provide backup animal care and husbandry coverage as needed during staff absences or high-demand seasons, ensuring continuity of care and program delivery.
Assist in volunteer recruitment campaigns, coordinate volunteer placements for public programs, and maintain volunteer recognition plans and training schedules.
Participate in interdisciplinary grant writing teams to help scope program activities, provide species-husbandry justification, and quantify expected conservation and educational outcomes.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Species-specific husbandry and animal care expertise across mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians with demonstrated ability to write and follow detailed care plans and SOPs.
Behavioral enrichment design and implementation with documented outcomes that reduce stress and encourage species-typical behaviors.
Positive reinforcement training techniques for voluntary participation in husbandry and medical procedures; proven experience creating training plans and tracking progress.
Familiarity with AZA accreditation standards, USDA Animal Welfare Act regulations, and state/local wildlife permitting processes; experience maintaining compliance documentation.
Experience with animal records systems (e.g., ZIMS, WAZA, or institutional databases), CRM tools for education programs, and basic data analysis for program evaluation.
Program design and curriculum development for informal science education, including learning objectives, assessment rubrics, and alignment with K–12 standards.
Grant writing and fund development skills, including proposal drafting, budget creation, and program reporting for public or private funders.
Facility and exhibit collaboration experience including knowledge of exhibit maintenance needs, habitat modification planning, and contractor coordination.
Emergency animal response and contingency planning, including experience with evacuation protocols, containment equipment, and inter-departmental incident command.
Strong written communication skills for creating husbandry manuals, enrichment logs, interpretive copy, and grant reports.

Soft Skills

Excellent interpersonal and public speaking skills for leading programs, training volunteers, and representing the institution to diverse audiences.
Strong project management and organizational abilities; capable of juggling multiple programs, deadlines, budgets, and stakeholder needs simultaneously.
Critical thinking and problem-solving aptitude, especially for troubleshooting animal behavior, enrichment efficacy, and program delivery challenges.
Collaborative mindset with demonstrated ability to work across departments (veterinary, curatorial, education, facilities, development).
Attention to detail and high standards for record‑keeping, safety, and regulatory compliance.
Empathy and ethical decision-making focused on animal welfare and conservation outcomes.
Flexibility and resilience to work weekends, holidays, and irregular hours as required by animal care and public programming schedules.
Cultural competency and inclusive communication skills to design programs that reach diverse community groups.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Wildlife Conservation, Environmental Education, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Conservation Biology, Zoo and Aquarium Management, Environmental Education, or related discipline; professional certifications (e.g., Certified Professional in Learning and Performance, AZA professional development courses) are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Zoology / Animal Science
Conservation Biology / Ecology
Environmental Education / Curriculum Development
Wildlife Rehabilitation / Veterinary Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–5 years of professional experience in a zoo, aquarium, wildlife rehabilitation center, or conservation nonprofit with direct animal care and public program delivery responsibilities.

Preferred:

3–7+ years of progressive experience including program design, staff/volunteer supervision, grant-supported project management, and documented familiarity with AZA or equivalent accreditation processes.
Demonstrated track record of measurable program impact, published reports or presentations at professional conferences, and experience managing program budgets.