Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoo Program Technician

🎯 Role Definition

The Zoo Program Technician is an operational animal care specialist responsible for day-to-day husbandry, enrichment, and habitat maintenance for assigned collections, while supporting veterinary care, public-facing programs, and conservation research. This role requires hands-on animal handling, meticulous recordkeeping (ZIMS, MedARKS or equivalent), collaboration with curatorial and veterinary teams, and adherence to AZA/USDA/State regulations. Ideal candidates combine technical skills in husbandry and animal training with strong communication and safety practices to promote animal welfare, visitor engagement, and institutional goals.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Animal Care Technician / Junior Zookeeper (entry-level)
Wildlife Rehabilitation Technician or Assistant
Volunteer Coordinator or Educator with significant hands-on animal experience

Advancement To:

Senior Zookeeper / Lead Keeper
Keeper Supervisor / Section Lead
Curatorial Assistant or Small Carnivore/Primate Curator
Conservation Program Coordinator or Education Manager

Lateral Moves:

Animal Trainer / Behavior Specialist
Field Research Technician or Wildlife Biologist (with additional experience)
Horticulture Technician / Facilities Technician supporting exhibit maintenance

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Provide daily direct care for assigned animals including feeding, cleaning, diet preparation, and portion control while following species-specific nutrition plans, documented feeding logs, and biosecurity procedures to maintain optimal health and welfare.
Design, construct, and implement evidence-based enrichment programs that use positive reinforcement training, cognitive challenges, and environmental complexity to promote species-typical behaviors and reduce stereotypies.
Perform routine health assessments and behavioral observations, accurately identify and report signs of illness or injury to supervisory and veterinary staff, and maintain detailed medical and husbandry records in electronic systems (ZIMS, MedARKS, or in-house databases).
Assist veterinary staff with restraint, anesthesia monitoring, sample collection (blood, fecal, swabs), medication administration, and routine procedures during exams, transport, and medical treatments, following established safety and sedation protocols.
Maintain exhibit and off-exhibit habitats, including substrate replacement, enrichment rotation, water feature cleaning and filtration checks, HVAC monitoring, and seasonal adjustments to micro-habitats to meet species environmental needs.
Participate in animal training programs for voluntary husbandry behaviors (weighing, blood collection, shifting, foot care) to reduce stress during clinical and routine husbandry tasks and to improve animal welfare metrics.
Coordinate and execute safe animal transfers and transports between facilities or exhibits, prepare quarantine protocols and shipping paperwork, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and international permitting and animal transport regulations.
Lead or support behavioral data collection, long-term monitoring projects, and species-specific research protocols; accurately record, upload, and maintain datasets used for husbandry decisions and conservation science.
Prepare, label, and store diets, including raw, frozen, and formulated feeds, manage food prep schedules, maintain food safety logs, and monitor budgets and inventory for perishable and non-perishable dietary supplies.
Build and maintain habitat furniture, enrichment devices, and exhibit structures using safe construction practices; coordinate with facilities and carpentry teams to schedule repairs and exhibit enhancements that meet animal safety standards.
Oversee and enforce public safety around exhibits, respond to visitor inquiries with accurate species information, and assist education staff with daily interpretive programs, behind-the-scenes tours, and animal demonstrations when assigned.
Supervise and train temporary staff, volunteers, and seasonal interns in safe animal handling, husbandry procedures, recordkeeping, and institutional policies, ensuring consistent procedures and high standards across shifts.
Implement and monitor quarantine and biosecurity protocols for new or returning animals, including daily checks, isolation procedures, and diagnostic testing as directed by curatorial and veterinary staff.
Maintain and calibrate routine husbandry and environmental monitoring equipment such as water chemistry kits, temperature/humidity loggers, and enrichment tracking tools; document maintenance and troubleshooting activities.
Participate in emergency response planning and drills (escape protocols, animal emergencies, natural disasters), act as a first responder for assigned areas, and execute containment, animal triage, or evacuation procedures as needed.
Prepare and contribute to acquisition, disposition, and breeding program documentation, including studbook communications, AZA Species Survival Plan (SSP) coordination, and genetic/behavioral reports as requested by curators.
Conduct routine sample collection and basic lab work such as fecal flotation, parasite screening, and water quality assays under supervision; prepare samples for shipment to external labs and ensure chain-of-custody documentation.
Maintain inventory tracking and ordering for husbandry supplies, PPE, enrichment materials, and medications; process purchase requests and coordinate with procurement to prevent stockouts.
Ensure strict compliance with AZA, USDA, and municipal regulations, maintain current permits and certifications, and participate in annual inspections, audits, and accreditation processes as a subject-matter contributor.
Deliver public-facing programming support including interpretive talks, Q&A sessions, and classroom outreach when scheduled, using clear, engaging messaging that promotes conservation, species biology, and institutional mission.
Participate in cross-departmental initiatives such as exhibit design reviews, animal welfare committees, fundraising events, and education curriculum development to align husbandry practice with institutional strategy.
Maintain clean, organized, and safe workspaces, enforce PPE use, complete incident reports for injuries or protocol deviations, and follow hazardous materials handling procedures for cleaning agents and biological waste.

Secondary Functions

Support and mentor internship and volunteer programs by developing orientation materials, assigning daily tasks, and evaluating practical skills for program participants.
Assist in grant-writing and data compilation for conservation projects by preparing husbandry metrics, behavioral datasets, and animal census information for funders or collaborative research partners.
Contribute to community outreach and school programming logistics by preparing species-specific educational materials, transporting ambassador animals under safety protocols, and coordinating schedules with education staff.
Collaborate with marketing and guest services to capture accurate, welfare-friendly content for social media, press releases, and interpretive signage that emphasizes conservation outcomes and animal care practices.
Participate in periodic cross-training across departments (veterinary, education, facilities) to enhance institutional resiliency, staff coverage, and professional development opportunities.
Maintain and optimize digital husbandry files, upload daily logs and enrichment records, and support data hygiene to enable robust analysis of welfare and behavioral trends.
Assist with seasonal exhibit installations and tear-downs, coordinate logistics for exhibit maintenance downtime, and ensure animal relocation plans meet welfare and regulatory standards.
Provide after-hours on-call support as part of a rotating schedule for urgent animal care or facility issues, including remote consultation, initial triage, and mobilization of emergency teams if required.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Species-specific husbandry expertise across mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, or aquatic taxa including feeding, habitat design, and temperament-specific handling techniques.
Proficiency with animal record systems such as ZIMS, MedARKS, or equivalent databases for medical, breeding, and husbandry recordkeeping.
Competence in positive reinforcement training techniques and behavioral conditioning to accomplish voluntary husbandry and veterinary procedures.
Hands-on experience assisting with veterinary procedures: animal restraint, sample collection (blood, fecal, swabs), medication dosing, and anesthesia monitoring.
Strong understanding of quarantine, biosecurity, and disease prevention protocols applicable to captive wildlife and mixed-species holdings.
Ability to perform basic laboratory tasks: water quality testing (pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate), fecal flotations, sample preservation, and submission procedures.
Practical maintenance and carpentry skills for building enrichment devices and performing basic exhibit repairs and modifications.
Familiarity with federal and state permitting and regulatory frameworks (USDA, state wildlife agencies, CITES where applicable) and AZA accreditation standards.
Experience with safe animal transport logistics: crate preparation, shipping documentation, chain-of-custody, and stress-reduction techniques for relocation.
Competence in inventory control, ordering systems, and budget-conscious procurement for perishable food items, medications, and enrichment supplies.
Certification or training in occupational safety and animal handling (CPR/First Aid, OSHA basic safety, chemical handling) preferred.
Ability to operate light industrial equipment safely (forklift, utility vehicles, pressure washers) when required by exhibit maintenance tasks.

Soft Skills

Exceptional observational skills and attention to detail for early detection of health or behavioral changes.
Strong written communication and documentation skills to produce accurate husbandry logs, incident reports, and research notes.
Collaborative teamwork and interpersonal abilities for working cross-functionally with veterinary, curatorial, education, and facilities teams.
Public-facing communication skills, comfortable delivering educational talks and answering guest questions with poise and clarity.
Problem-solving and critical thinking to respond to animal welfare concerns, mechanical failures, or scheduling conflicts under pressure.
Flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic environment with frequent schedule changes, weather impacts, and seasonal workloads.
High physical stamina and manual dexterity for lifting, bending, and performing repetitive tasks in varied environmental conditions.
Ethical judgment and a strong commitment to animal welfare, conservation ethics, and professional confidentiality.
Time management and organizational skills to manage multiple animals, tasks, and documentation deadlines efficiently.
Mentorship and coaching skills for training volunteers, interns, and less-experienced staff in safe and effective practices.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent; vocational training or certificate in animal care preferred.

Preferred Education:

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

Relevant Fields of Study:

Zoology / Animal Science
Wildlife Biology / Conservation Biology
Ecology / Environmental Science
Veterinary Technology / Animal Behavior

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of practical animal care experience; many institutions hire at entry-level with internships but prefer 2+ years for specialized collections.

Preferred:

2–4+ years of zookeeping, wildlife rehabilitation, or animal care experience in an AZA-accredited facility or similar professional environment.
Demonstrated experience with behavioral training, enrichment program development, and cross-departmental collaboration on veterinary or conservation initiatives.
Experience using electronic husbandry and veterinary record systems (ZIMS/MedARKS) and familiarity with permit and accreditation processes.

Keywords: Zoo Program Technician, zookeeping, animal care specialist, enrichment, husbandry, veterinary assistance, ZIMS, AZA standards, animal welfare, conservation, behavioral training, exhibit maintenance.