Assistant Curator The Preserve

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance (DZCA) honors our animals, staff, and guests by conducting ourselves at the highest level of integrity through our Core Actions -- Inspire Awe: Safety, Care, Connect and by embracing our Core Values of: Welcoming, Curious, United, Courageous, and Transformative in all that we do.

The Assistant Curator of The Preserve is a working manager position responsible for daily operations at The Preserve in Weld County. This role is directly involved in the daily care and management of animals, while also leading a team of Animal Care Specialists and coordinating with departments across The Preserve and DZCA's main campus in Denver. The Assistant Curator provides hands-on leadership to ensure exceptional animal care and well-being and drives continuous improvement through enhanced husbandry practices, staff development, and operational excellence. This role also plays a key part in maintaining compliance with AZA and USDA standards and supporting veterinary care and habitat management. This position contributes to zoo-wide initiatives and supports conservation and education efforts aligned with DZCA's mission.

Our team is made up of passionate and diverse professionals dedicated to providing excellent care for our animals while creating meaningful experiences for our guests. If you're excited to contribute your skills in a collaborative and innovative environment, Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance is the place for you!

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Animal Care Team Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership and oversee animal care staff, including scheduling, performance reviews, discipline, accountability, team development, collaborative learning, and policy development.
• Effectively lead, monitor, and improve program implementation for programs such as Wellness and Fair Unbiased Reporting (FUR) with the goal of continuous improvement in the department. Ensure staff are using the programs effectively to continue to improve care, welfare, and guest experience.
• Monitor and document performance evaluations for area staff. Provides ongoing meaningful and critical feedback and coaching to develop staff at all performance levels. Recognize and address outstanding performance by area team members.
• Stay current on all departmental needs and communicate proactively and effectively with teams to ensure they have the resources they need, including material resources, time, and information, to do their job effectively.
• Develop and implement job-specific staff training. Mentor and guide animal staff towards continued professional development.
• Effectively communicate zoo-wide, division, and area information to assigned staff.

Safety & Compliance

• Provide leadership and guidance towards innovative animal husbandry that complies with AZA and USDA standards.
• Demonstrate a commitment to DZCA's Occupational Health, Safety, and Sustainability Policies by adhering to all environmental, safety, & health regulations, procedures, and goals.
• Implement zoo-wide and area-specific safety standards, collaborating with staff to develop procedures that ensure compliance and proactively improve processes.

Operations

• Function as a working manager by assisting in all husbandry and care requirements of the species at The Preserve.
• Assist in developing, monitoring, and managing the department budget.
• Plan, schedule, coordinate, and assign work and establish goals and priorities for animal care staff, keeper assistants, and interns. Develops area schedule for animal care staff, keeper assistants, and interns.
• Coordinate work and scheduling with other zoo departments, including but not limited to Facilities, Philanthropy & Communications, and Guest Experiences, to meet operational needs.
• Perform administrative responsibilities, including credit card reconciliation and purchase invoices, and order supplies as needed for the area.
• Fulfill time as assigned at both the Preserve and at the DZCA main campus with animal management and other inter-departmental peers.

Collaboration

• Coordinate veterinary procedures for animals within the area, including quarantine, outgoing and incoming shipments, emergencies, and normal care procedures.
• Professionally interface with other DZCA team members, zoo colleagues, media partners, and other professional organizations.
• Participate in zoo-wide initiatives such as committees & working groups, and a variety of professional meetings and activities such as SSPs, studbooks, steering committees, advisory groups, etc. Publish work as necessary.
• Interview and select staff, including volunteers, interns, keeper assistants, and animal care staff who report directly to this position and assist with other interviews as required.
• Participate in and support conservation, research, and educational programs as requested or desired.

Other Responsibilities and Duties

• Other assistance, as designated by the Senior Director or a Curator, to support the overall goals of the department and organization. DZCA retains the right to add or change duties and/or responsibilities at any time.
• Assists in developing, monitoring, and managing the department budget. Acts as a good steward of DZCA's resources.
• The nature of this position requires safeguarding against the release of confidential and proprietary information of DZCA.
• This position will interact with managers at all levels and staff members across the organization, in addition to members of external organizations and the public.

Technical / Professional Requirements & Qualifications

• 4-year degree in biology, zoology, wildlife management, or a related field.
• Requires a minimum of 5 years of experience as a zookeeper involving the exhibition and husbandry of a variety of exotic animals in an AZA-accredited institution. Comparable facilities may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Some experience may be substituted for education, and education may be substituted for experience.
• 2 years of experience in a supervisory role.
• Requires excellent organizational skills, written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize work and tasks.
• Requires adaptability to produce and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, multi-tasking, and changing environment, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Must be an outstanding communicator and considered to be a developer of people who is comfortable motivating, collaborating, and working with a broad cross-section of people in direct and matrixed relationships.
• Good negotiation skills and the ability to handle sensitive information with diplomacy are preferred.

Position Conditions

• Ability to pass a physical examination, background check, and pre-employment drug and alcohol screen.
• To support our operational policies, candidates must be at least 21 years of age with a valid driver's license and a clean driving record.
• Ability to lift to 50 lbs.
• Negative TB Test
• Rabies Titer
• Schedule Availability: Primarily daytime hours, with weekends, holidays, and occasional evenings as needed.
• Work Location: Primarily based at the off-site campus in Weld County, with frequent travel to the Denver campus as required.

Compensation

The range for this position is $5,529 - $6,690 (monthly).

A Truly Wild Workplace with Competitive Benefits

Join our One Zoo Team and enjoy a full spectrum of competitive benefits, including:

• Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
• Generous paid time off: vacation, sick leave, personal days, and holidays
• A Family-Plus DZCA Membership with discounted tickets to special events
• Concession and retail discounts, plus free parking
• And so much more!

Application Process and Timelines

Application deadline: July 3rd, 2025. Review of applications will begin immediately. DZCA reserves the right to close the position before this date.

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

www.denverzoo.org