Keeper, Destination Discovery

Position: Keeper of Destination Discovery – Full Time

Organization: Saint Louis Zoo located in Saint Louis, Missouri

Directly Reports to: Zoological Manager of Destination Discovery (DD), and the Fred Saigh Curator of DD

About the Saint Louis Zoo:

The world-renowned Saint Louis Zoo is dedicated to saving species and bringing people and wildlife together. The Saint Louis Zoo cares for approximately 12,000 animals, many of which are endangered, and is dedicated to local and global conservation to save wildlife. Learn more at: https://stlzoo.org/ 

About St. Louis, Mo:

From Explore St. Louis: “Urban explorer, outdoor adventurer, aficionado of family fun – no matter your travel persona, you’ll find plenty to do in St. Louis. The city is brimming with free, world-class attractions and boasts an arts-and-culture scene that’s second to none. Plus, fans of fresh air will be surprised and delighted by our flourishing public parks, miles of trails and exhilarating waterways. Sprinkle in a bit of our secret sauce – the warmth and hospitality of the residents – and you’ll discover that St. Louis dishes up undeniably epic travel experiences. Don’t take our word for it, though. Come and see for yourself.” Learn more at https://explorestlouis.com/

Position Summary:

The Saint Louis Zoo is looking for a skilled animal care professional to serve as a Henry A. Jubel, Destination Discovery (DD) Keeper in the care of growing population of animals. Destination Discovery staff collaborate with our Conservation Education Department to create inspiring, educational and transformational early childhood and family programming. Learn more about Destination Discovery here: https://stlzoo.org/news/destinationdiscovery

This position will serve under the direction of the Fred Saigh Curator of Destination Discovery and the Zoological Manager of Destination Discovery as part of the Zoo’s dynamic, kind, passionate, and expert Animal Care team, led by the Vice President of Animal Care, and comprised of the General Curator, Animal Curators, Zoological Managers, Keeper staff, Animal Health, Animal Nutrition Services, and Life Support Services.

We are seeking candidates with experience in the care and positive reinforcement-based training of ambassador animals. The ideal applicant is equally passionate about animal wellbeing and connecting guests to wildlife through early childhood and family programming. Successful candidates will demonstrate a strong commitment to teamwork and embody the values of adaptability, collaboration, empowerment, and innovation. They will thrive in a flexible and fail-forward work culture that values continuous improvement and reflective collaboration. They should also bring proven experience using operant conditioning in a professional animal care setting.

This role collaborates closely with Animal Health, Conservation Education, Nutrition, Research, and other Zoo departments to ensure exceptional animal welfare and support our broader goals in environmental empathy and conservation. Strong skills in active listening, teamwork, and both written and verbal communication are essential. Applicants should be dedicated to assessing and enhancing animal wellbeing through enrichment, training, social management, and ongoing professional development. This position plays a vital role in creating meaningful guest experiences, fostering empathy for wildlife, and connecting our community to the Saint Louis Zoo’s mission and conservation efforts.

Responsibilities

· Provide daily care for ambassador animals, ensuring the highest standards of welfare, enrichment, and behavioral conditioning.

· Clean, maintain, design, and enhance animal habitats to meet care and enrichment needs of the animals in our care.

· Monitor habitat conditions and public spaces, service areas, and other spaces of DD regularly, with a high level of attention to detail.

· Support special animal care activities such as physical exams, exhibit modifications, and transport logistics with safe handling procedures.

· Design and implement dynamic enrichment and training programs that encourage diverse, natural behaviors.

· Maintain accurate records, including timely data entry into ZIMS and other Zoo-approved databases.

· Collaborate with Veterinary, Animal Care, Nutrition, Life Support, and Research teams to support optimal animal health and wellbeing.

· Follow and contribute to animal care protocols, including behavioral husbandry, welfare assessments, training plans, and ambassador guidelines.

· Partner with the Conservation Education team to support, plan, and deliver public programs and presentations about animal care and conservation in Destination Discovery.

· Support Zoo educational efforts, including special events, Mission Moments, tours, and other wildlife celebrations.

· Assist with promoting WildCare Institute and AZA SAFE programs relevant to Destination Discovery.

· Liaise with Facilities Management and DD Management to report and track maintenance needs and facility improvements.

· Contribute actively to team discussions, sharing ideas in a positive, professional, and solutions-oriented manner.

· Represent the Zoo professionally in interactions with guests, media, donors, and internal or external partners.

· Collaborate with other Zoo departments (e.g., Marketing, Philanthropy, Guest Services) to advance the Zoo’s mission, including guest experiences or media opportunities.

· Support efforts to meet and exceed AZA, USDA, and internal Saint Louis Zoo standards.

· Monitor and respond to horticultural and custodial needs within Destination Discovery.

· Maintain strong verbal and written communication skills and demonstrate excellent organizational abilities as well as flexibility, meeting different communication needs for different settings and people.

· Utilize and maintain proficiency in computer literacy skills, including use of programs like ZIMS, Office 365, and Zoom.

· Participate in native wildlife response and Zoo-wide emergency response as assigned.

· Perform additional duties as assigned by management in support of Destination Discovery and Saint Louis Zoo goals. This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive.

Additional Expectations:

• Commitment to the Zoo’s Three Keys (Animals Always, People Matter, and Operational Excellence) and Core Values (Community, Creativity, Openness, Integrity, and Life-Work Balance.
• Destination Discovery staff must strive to decrease our environmental footprint to serve as models to our community to do the same through education and example.
• Performs duties in a service-oriented manner in line with our Guest Promise.
• Recognizes the needs of others and treats others with respect and dignity.
• Maintains good work habits and adheres to the employee handbook and all policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates a commitment to maintaining a work environment free from discrimination and sexual harassment and supports the Zoo’s commitment to equal employment opportunities.
• Demonstrates a commitment to workplace safety and works with Management of Destination Discovery, Dive Safety Officer, and Director of Safety and Risk Management as needed.
• Demonstrates comfort in public speaking, good presentation skills when working with the Zoo team, our public/community, Zoo Governance and other internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in biology, animal science, wildlife management, zoology or other field of study applicable to zoo animal management preferred with preference given to applicants with at least one year’s experience working in an AZA institution.
• Direct experience in the day-to-day care for animals in a zoo setting, with knowledge of the care of animals, animal behavior, and hazards of working with wildlife.
• Animal training and ambassador animal experience preferred.
• A working familiarity with AZA animal population management programs (SAFE, SSP, TAG, PMC, etc.) is a plus.
• PADI or other professional diving certification is a plus.
• Experience partnering and collaborating on development of education programs a plus.
• Demonstration of a high level of emotional intelligence and the ability to work as a positive team member.
• Working knowledge of AZA Accreditation Standards and USDA Animal Welfare Standards a plus.
• Working knowledge of zoonotic diseases and methods of preventing the spread of contagious disease.
• Proficient in ZIMS software, welfare assessments, and experience maintaining records and preparing reports a plus.
• Valid driver’s license or ability to obtain one is required.
• COVID vaccinations are required for this position.

All successful candidates for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check and a drug test. As this is a safety-sensitive role, a negative drug test result is mandatory. The drug test screens for five substances, including marijuana.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform some of the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, see, or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, sit, and walk for long periods. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, as well as work outside in all types of weather conditions.

Work Schedule:

Weekend days off are yet to be determined and are subject to change due to changes in coverage needs. Ability to work a flexible schedule, on holidays, and evenings for animal procedures or events will be necessary at times. Keepers will need to have the ability to come in during inclement weather to care for the animals. Typical scheduled shifts are 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week.