Zookeeper, Elephants

Join Our Elephant Care Team at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium!

Beyond working closely with our elephants, you'll engage in educational activities, assist with training seasonal staff, and collaborate with a supportive and professional team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who values teamwork, safety, and excellence in animal husbandry.

In this role, you'll be responsible for contributing to the daily care of our elephant herd, including feeding, exhibit maintenance, reproductive management, and ensuring a safe and enriching environment for both the animals and staff.

If you're eager to contribute to the care and well-being of our elephants and become part of an organization that makes a meaningful impact, apply today! Help us continue providing world-class care to our elephants and supporting the mission of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Animal Care and Husbandry:

• Performs care of the region’s animals, including food preparation, feeding, monitoring diets, watering, bathing, enrichment, water changes, observing medical and behavioral changes, and behavioral stimulation and may assist with medical treatment as prescribed by Zoo Veterinarians.
• Maintains daily and monthly records on animals.
• Participates in training and operant conditioning programs and follows standardized reporting mechanisms.
• Assures the safety of self, animals, co-workers and visitors by observing safety guidelines when working with animals, equipment and vehicles.
• Implements sustainable practices in daily tasks whenever possible.

Exhibit and Grounds Maintenance:

• Cleans and maintains animal exhibit areas, performs basic horticulture work (e.g. caring for region’s egress/ingress, general grounds beautification) and disinfects animal enclosures.

Educational and Public Engagement:

• Provides educational information about the region’s animal population through such activities as interacting with the public, conducting keeper talks, staffing interpreter stations, conducting tours and workshops, attending docent meetings, composing articles for zoo publications and conducting volunteer training.

Team Support and Collaboration:

• Provides input to Assistant Curator and Elephant Manager on all aspects (e.g. safety, animal husbandry) of assigned areas.
• May provide leadership to seasonal employees, interns, volunteers, and zooschool students (e.g. provide daily work direction, inform management of problems).
• May establish and maintain contacts with other zookeepers outside of the Columbus Zoo, field researchers and other specialists.
• Attends departmental meetings and participates in developmental seminars and workshops as required.
• Participates in cross-training activities as directed.
• Constantly strives to further the mission of the organization and avidly supports the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Zoombezi Bay, Safari Golf Club and The Wilds.
• Excellent guest service skills, positively interacting with guests and upholding expectations around guest service program standards.

Other Duties:

• Other responsibilities may include duties related to the operation of other species located in the Asia Quest Region which include rhinos, tigers, aviary, variety of ungulates and birds, flying foxes, langurs, sloth bears, pallas cats, snow leopards and stellar sea eagle.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Bachelor’s degree in zoology, animal science, biology or relevant field required. Four years of relevant zookeeping experience may be substituted for a degree.
• Previous animal husbandry experience preferred in one or more of the following: primates, reptiles, carnivores, herbivores and birds.
• 1 year experience in working with elephants is required
• Experience with a wide variety of training techniques preferred.
• Ability to successfully perform zookeeper duties within a diverse animal collection preferred.
• Basic knowledge of research techniques and practices with solid observation skills.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to exercise sound judgment in emergency situations and to respond with appropriate action.
• The ability to develop and deliver informational presentations to small, medium or large groups is required.
• Ability to perform strenuous physical work required.
• Ability to communicate well both verbally and in writing is required.
• The ability to plan and organize work in an efficient and cost-effective manner without direct supervision is required.
• Ability to adhere to standard operating procedures including but not limited to safety protocols required.
• Possession of a valid state issued motor vehicle operator’s license, and a good driving record required, as well as ability to operate standard shift vehicles required.

Collaboration and Work Environment:

• Must be able to establish and maintain positive working relationships with all levels.
• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with all Zoo team members and contacts regarding company business required.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends and holidays required.
• Constantly strive to further the mission of the organization and avidly support the Columbus Zoo Family of Parks, including The Wilds, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Zoombezi Bay, and the Safari Golf Club.

Compliance and Health:

• Proof of negative TB screening prior to placement and annually thereafter required.
• Ability to adhere to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s drug-free workplace policy including but not limited to pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion and follow-up treatment required.
• The ability to successfully complete a criminal history background check annually is required.