Lead Animal Care Specialist - Hoofstock / Zoologist

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Minnesota Zoological Gardens

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Created by the State of Minnesota, the Minnesota Zoo opened in 1978 with a mission to connect people, animals, and the natural world to save wildlife. Cutting-edge exhibits provide exciting experiences with animals and their habitats introducing guests to species from around the globe. Education programs engage audiences at the Zoo, throughout the region, and around world. Conservation programs protect endangered species and preserve critical ecosystems.

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Lead Animal Care Specialist - Hoofstock / Zoologist

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This position assists leadership in ensuring the highest quality professional care, training, and wellbeing for the animals within the Hoofstock work unit 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 other trail leadership to ensure animal husbandry, training and wellbeing practices meet or exceed industry standards.

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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.

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Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

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• Provide industry-leading animal husbandry and welfare to departmental animal collection.

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• Assist trail leadership in developing and directing the Hoofstock work unit 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.

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• Deliver and maintain industry-leading, engaging, animal displays which meet and exceed industry welfare standards.

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• Lead efforts to develop innovative new, and improve current, interpretation of animals within the Hoofstock work unit so that Minnesota Zoo visitors and others receive educational and entertaining presentations featuring mission driven information.

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• 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.

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Qualifications

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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.

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Minimum Qualifications

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• Five (5) years animal care experience in an AZA or equivalent organization working with a variety of exotic and/or domestic hoofstock demonstrating expertise in animal care, wellbeing, behavior, training, and sustainable population management, must be within the last ten (10) years

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• Well-developed human relationship and communication skills sufficient to lead, motivate, mentor and educate staff and respond with sensitivity to their varied needs

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• 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

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• 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

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• Ability to manage disagreement, defuse conflicts, and reach constructive solutions while maintaining positive relationships

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• Valid driver's license and valid and current passport (or ability to obtain)

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Preferred Qualifications

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• Bachelor's degree in zoology, conservation biology, ecology, environmental science or other related discipline

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• Advanced degree in related field

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• Experience working with and leading others working with carnivores

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• Work experience with regional, national, and international conservation initiatives

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• Experience with animal research and conservation projects, including experience publishing results in peer-reviewed journals

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• Experience in participation or lead work in an AZA management program (TAGs, SSPs, studbook, etc.)

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• Experience working with State government

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• Experience working in a union environment

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• Fluent in a second language, such as Spanish, Hmong, ASL, etc.

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• Current CPR/1st Aid certifications

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How to Apply

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Apply online by Monday, September 28, 2026

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Minnesota Zoological Gardens

13000 Zoo Boulevard

Apple Valley, MN 55124

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