Working Title: Lead Animal Care Specialist-MN and Tropics Trails
Job Class: Zoologist
Agency: Minnesota Zoological Garden
Job ID : 89915
Location : Apple Valley
Telework Eligible : No
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Unlimited
Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted : 11/05/2025
Closing Date : 11/18/2025
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Minnesota Zoological Garden / Zoological Gardens-MAPE
Division/Unit : Animal Care, Health, Conservation & Behavior / Animal Care / Tropics & MN Trail
Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift
Days of Work : Five 8-hour days; May include 1 or 2 weekend days
Travel Required : No
Salary Range: $28.26 - $41.43 / hourly; $59,006 - $86,505 / annually
Classified Status : Classified
Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
FLSA Status : Nonexempt
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
This position assists leadership in ensuring the highest quality professional care, training, and wellbeing for the animals on the Tropics and Minnesota Trails at the Minnesota Zoo, in support of the Zoo's mission to connect people, animals, and the natural world to save wildlife. The incumbent assists with the management of a diverse collection of animals and leads all aspects of daily operations. This position collaborates with the Curator and Assistant Curator to ensure animal husbandry, training and wellbeing practices meet or exceed industry standards.
This position is a member of the Animal Care leadership team and collaborates with other Zoo departments. They contribute to initiatives of the CHCB team (Care, Health, Conservation and Behavior) as it relates to the Zoo's strategic priorities in animal care and education.
Duties include but are not limited to:
Provide industry-leading animal husbandry and welfare to departmental animal collection.
Assist trail leadership in developing and directing the Tropics and Minnesota Trails Department personnel so that required staffing resources are available and strategically invested and department policies are developed and implemented that most effectively support the Minnesota Zoo's mission and strategic priorities.
Deliver and maintain industry-leading, engaging, animal displays which meet and exceed industry welfare standards.
Lead efforts to develop innovative new, and improve current, interpretation of animals in the Tropics and Minnesota Trails Department so that Minnesota Zoo visitors and others receive educational and entertaining presentations featuring mission driven information.
Serve as a member of the Animal Care leadership team ensuring development and accomplishment of the Minnesota Zoo's mission, strategic priorities, conservation plan, education plan, nature plan and master plan.
Minimum Qualifications
The following qualifications are required of all applicants seeking consideration for this position. Only applicants whose application materials clearly demonstrate fulfillment of each of these minimum qualifications will be considered for the position. To ensure accurate evaluation, your resume must clearly describe your experience in the required areas. For each job, include whether it was full-time, part-time, or intermittent/on-call; how many hours per week you worked; and the month and year you started and ended.
Five (5) years animal care experience in an AZA or equivalent organization, must be within the last ten (10) years
Experience working with a variety of mammals and herps, including carnivores and primates
Expertise in animal care, wellbeing, behavior, training, and sustainable population management
Well-developed human relationship skills sufficient to lead, motivate, mentor and educate staff and respond with sensitivity to their varied needs
Communication skills sufficient to convey complex biological and scientific concepts to diverse and varied audiences and bring staff and the public to action to support an initiative or program
Computer skills using business and animal management software applications, such as Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, ZIMS, etc. , sufficient to create, enter, edit, save, and retrieve memos, data, reports, presentations, or other documents
Demonstrated commitment and ability to work with culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities and/or organizations sufficient to maintain a work environment that respects and values differences and diversity
Ability to manage disagreement, defuse conflicts, and reach constructive solutions while maintaining positive relationships
Ability to act as an official professional representative and promote the philosophy and mission of the Zoo at public speaking events to local, state, and national audiences
Valid driver's license and valid and current passport (or ability to obtain)
Current CPR/1st Aid certifications
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in zoology, conservation biology, ecology, environmental science or other related discipline
Advanced degree in related field
Experience working with and leading others working with carnivores
Work experience with regional, national, and international conservation initiatives
Experience with animal research and conservation projects, including experience publishing results in peer-reviewed journals
Experience in participation or lead work in an AZA management program (TAGs, SSPs, studbook, etc.)
Experience working with State government
Experience working in a union environment
Fluent in a second language, such as Spanish, Hmong, ASL, etc.
Physical Requirements
Current rabies vaccination and negative TB or ability to become Rabies vaccinated and complete a negative TB test within the probationary period and complete ongoing Rabies titer testing.The MN Zoo will cover the cost of your vaccines if you schedule your appointment through our occupational health clinic, upon hire
Ability to work all days of the week and all shifts, as needed
Ability to frequently bend, stoop, crouch, kneel, reach upward, twist and have good lateral movement
Ability to perform large amount of walking and walk up and down stairs
Ability to perform tasks requiring heavy use of arms, wrists, and exertion of upper body, arms, and hands to perform duties
Ability to operate heavy machinery, such as a Bobcat or forklift
Ability to push/pull up to 90 pounds
Ability to lift, carry and/or move up to 50 pounds
Ability to work outdoors year-round sometimes on uneven terrain and under all weather conditions
Ability to operate a computer, including viewing a screen and typing on a keyboard, for up to 8 hours/day
Ability to work with potentially dangerous exotic and domestic animals with potential zoonotic diseases
Ability to work with and provide direction to others working with carnivores.
Ability to work with potentially dangerous controlled substances for use in animal immobilizations which can be life-threatening to humans
Ability to wear N95 face masks/respirators
Ability to obtain vaccinations that may be required to conduct international work
Ability to travel by plane for up to 15 hours per flight, with multiple flights potentially separated by layovers
Additional Requirements
Applicants must have the ability to meet the physical requirements and work in the environmental conditions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
It is policy of the Minnesota Zoo that all candidates submit to a background check prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:
Conflict of Interest Review
Criminal History Check including fingerprinting
Education Verification
Employment Reference / Records Check
License / Certification Verification
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.
