Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoology Supervisor

🎯 Role Definition

The Zoology Supervisor leads day-to-day animal care and program delivery across zoological, aquarium, wildlife rehabilitation, or research facilities. This role combines advanced species husbandry, staff supervision, health monitoring, regulatory compliance, and program development to ensure optimal animal welfare and operational excellence. The Zoology Supervisor works closely with veterinary teams, curators, educators, and external partners to implement evidence-based husbandry, enrichment, and conservation initiatives while managing budgets, safety protocols, and public-facing programs.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Zookeeper / Senior Animal Care Specialist with demonstrated species expertise.
Field Biologist or Wildlife Technician transitioning from on-site fieldwork to facility-based management.
Animal Husbandry Lead or Exhibit Supervisor with experience in husbandry and guest engagement.

Advancement To:

Curator of Animals / Head of Animal Collections
Director of Husbandry or Director of Animal Programs
Conservation Program Manager or Senior Research Scientist

Lateral Moves:

Wildlife Rehabilitation Manager
Animal Welfare Compliance Officer
Education & Outreach Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Supervise and lead a multi-disciplinary animal care team, including zookeepers, animal technicians, volunteers, and interns; develop schedules, assign duties, evaluate performance, and conduct regular training to maintain high standards of husbandry and safety.
Design, implement, and continuously refine comprehensive husbandry protocols for diverse taxa (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates), ensuring species-appropriate diets, behavioral enrichment, social group management, and life-stage care.
Coordinate closely with veterinarians to monitor animal health, oversee preventative medicine programs (vaccinations, parasite control, routine diagnostics), manage quarantine protocols, and support medical treatments and anesthesia procedures.
Develop and maintain enrichment programs that promote psychological well-being and species-specific behaviors; evaluate enrichment effectiveness through behavioral monitoring and adapt programs using evidence-based best practices.
Oversee feeding programs including diet formulation, food preparation, portion control, and nutrition records; liaise with nutritionists and suppliers to ensure food safety, quality, and cost-effective sourcing.
Manage exhibit husbandry and animal transfers, including quarantine, staging, transport logistics, and post-transfer acclimation plans; ensure compliance with internal SOPs and external permitting requirements.
Ensure facility biosecurity, sanitation, and environmental control (temperature, humidity, filtration, water quality) protocols are implemented and monitored; troubleshoot HVAC, life support, and enclosure systems with maintenance teams.
Lead animal training programs using positive reinforcement and operant conditioning techniques to facilitate husbandry, medical procedures, and behavioral research; train staff to apply consistent training methods and record outcomes.
Maintain comprehensive, timely animal records in centralized husbandry and medical databases; generate regular reports on animal health, reproduction, mortality, and behavior for management and regulatory bodies.
Oversee breeding and population management plans, including genetic management, studbook collaboration, incubation, neonatal care, and husbandry for neonates and juveniles to support conservation and sustainability goals.
Enforce local, state, federal, and international regulatory compliance (USDA, AZA, CITES, Fish & Wildlife agencies); prepare for and lead inspections, maintain permits, and implement corrective actions when required.
Develop and manage annual budgets for animal care operations, including forecasting for feed, pharmaceuticals, enrichment materials, staffing, and capital improvements; identify cost-savings while maintaining animal welfare standards.
Serve as primary point of contact for external partners and consultants (universities, conservation organizations, veterinary specialists) for collaborative research, conservation breeding programs, and species recovery initiatives.
Plan and coordinate facility expansions, exhibit renovations, and enclosure modifications with architects, engineers, and curatorial staff to ensure husbandry, safety, and visitor experience objectives are met.
Lead or support behavioral and applied research projects, including experimental design, data collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings in internal reports, conference presentations, or peer-reviewed publications.
Manage emergency response planning and incident management for animal-related incidents (escape, disease outbreak, injury); train staff on emergency procedures, coordinate drills, and collaborate with safety officers and local authorities as needed.
Supervise animal transport logistics for regional and international moves, including health certifications, quarantine arrangements, transport crates, route planning, and coordination with receiving institutions to minimize stress and risk.
Mentor and develop career pathways for staff through structured training programs, certifications, performance coaching, and succession planning to build a skilled, resilient animal care team.
Implement and monitor welfare assessment frameworks (behavioral indicators, physiological measures) to drive continuous improvement in care standards and to provide transparent reporting to stakeholders.
Represent the animal care department in cross-functional meetings (education, guest experience, development, marketing) to align animal welfare priorities with public programming and fundraising strategies.
Oversee necropsy coordination and post-mortem analysis with veterinary pathologists, ensuring proper sample collection, documentation, and follow-up actions to prevent recurrence and to inform husbandry changes.
Promote inclusive, safety-first workplace culture by enforcing PPE use, handling protocols, and de-escalation techniques during animal interactions to protect staff and animals.

Secondary Functions

Develop and deliver public-facing interpretive programs, behind-the-scenes tours, and staff-led talks that communicate species biology, conservation challenges, and husbandry practices to diverse audiences.
Assist development and grant-writing teams by providing scientific content, budget estimates, and program metrics for conservation and research funding proposals.
Maintain inventory systems for medical supplies, enrichment materials, and husbandry equipment; coordinate procurement and vendor relations.
Support data-driven initiatives by contributing husbandry and behavioral datasets to institutional data systems and collaborating with analysts on trend analysis and KPIs.
Participate in community and professional networks (AZA, AAZK, regional wildlife associations) to exchange best practices, attend trainings, and represent the institution at conferences.
Provide technical input on risk assessments and insurance requirements for animal-related events, off-site exhibits, and private encounters.
Assist in internship and volunteer program design, recruitment, and supervision to expand workforce capacity and to provide educational opportunities.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Advanced animal husbandry across multiple taxa, including specialized husbandry for species with complex needs (e.g., marine mammals, raptors, primates, reptiles).
Medical support skills: administering medications, assisting with anesthesia, wound care, and basic veterinary nursing under veterinarian direction.
Behavioral observation and enrichment design using ethogram-based monitoring and behavioral welfare assessment techniques.
Quarantine, biosecurity and disease control protocols, including zoonotic disease awareness and contamination prevention.
Water quality management for aquaria and aquatic species (salinity, pH, filtration systems, water chemistry testing).
Nutrition formulation and diet preparation, including special diets for neonates, geriatric animals, and medically-managed individuals.
Record-keeping and database management (e.g., ZIMS, MedARKS, ZooPro, Microsoft Excel, digital husbandry logs).
Regulatory compliance and permit management (USDA, state wildlife permits, CITES documentation).
Basic facility systems knowledge: HVAC, life support systems, filtration, environmental enrichment installations, and exhibit infrastructure.
Animal training and conditioning techniques (positive reinforcement, target training) for husbandry cooperation and reduced-stress handling.
Emergency response planning for animal incidents, including evacuation, containment, and mass casualty mitigation.
Data collection and basic statistical analysis for monitoring health, behavior, and program outcomes.
Project and budget management, including cost forecasting, vendor negotiation, and procurement for husbandry supplies.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and people-management skills with proven ability to mentor, motivate, and develop multidisciplinary teams.
Clear, persuasive verbal and written communication for reporting to executive leadership, veterinary staff, external partners, and the public.
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills for rapid, evidence-based decisions in emergent and routine husbandry situations.
High emotional intelligence and conflict resolution skills to manage team dynamics and stressful field or exhibit incidents.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail for scheduling, record accuracy, and protocol adherence.
Collaborative mindset for working across departments (education, research, facilities, development) and with external stakeholders.
Project prioritization and time management skills to balance operational demands with strategic program development.
Public-facing presentation and interpretive skills for outreach, tours, and community engagement activities.
Resilience and adaptability to changing conditions (animal behavior, regulatory shifts, staffing adjustments).
Ethical judgment and integrity in handling sensitive conservation, welfare, and regulatory matters.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Zoology, Wildlife Biology, Animal Science, Ecology, or related biological sciences.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in Zoology, Wildlife Conservation, Animal Behavior, or related field; or equivalent professional certification and demonstrated supervisory experience.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Zoology
Wildlife Biology
Animal Science
Ecology
Conservation Biology
Veterinary Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–7 years of progressive animal care experience in zoos, aquaria, wildlife rehabilitation centers, or field research settings.

Preferred:

5+ years of hands-on husbandry experience with increasing supervisory responsibility; experience working within AZA-accredited institutions or equivalent standards, demonstrated success in breeding or conservation programs, and proven record of regulatory compliance.

Certifications and Licenses (preferred but not always required): AZA/AAZK certifications, wildlife rehabilitation permits, CPR/First Aid, hazardous materials training, and specialized training in chemical immobilization or aquatic life support.