General Application - Animal Health

Animal Health Team Opportunities At The Dallas Zoo

Are you passionate about advancing animal health, nutrition, and welfare? Submit your application here to be considered for future opportunities within the Animal Health team at the Dallas Zoo! Even if your experience does not follow a traditional path or meet every listed qualification, we value diverse perspectives and backgrounds, including experience gained through veterinary practice, animal care, nutrition, horticulture, food science, research, or conservation work.

The Dallas Zoo's Animal Health teams work together to ensure the welfare of nearly 2,000 animals representing around 400 diverse species. Our professionals combine veterinary expertise, precise dietary management, and field-based conservation initiatives to deliver exceptional care and uphold the Zoo's mission of Engaging People & Saving Wildlife.

The Dallas Zoo has a well-equipped hospital that has an in-house clinical pathology and a dedicated Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) PCR lab, portable digital radiography, ultrasound, rigid and flexible endoscopy, therapeutic laser and more.

The Dallas Zoo's Animal Nutrition and Browse Programs operate under the guidance of an experienced Zoo Nutritionist, ensuring balanced, science-based diets and fresh, safe plant material for a diverse animal collection. The Nutrition team prepares and delivers daily diets with precision and care, while the Browse team harvests and cultivates browse on-grounds and through community partnerships to support animal health, welfare, and enrichment.

Whether you are an early-career veterinarian, a veterinary technician, or if you have an interest in animal nutrition or our browse program, you'll find opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and professional growth in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment.

By applying through this posting, you'll be added to our talent community for upcoming roles and may be contacted when positions become available that align with your background and interests. We encourage you to check back regularly and apply directly to specific roles that match your interests, background, and skills.

Located just three miles south of downtown Dallas, the 106-acre Dallas Zoo is the oldest and largest in Texas. Founded with just two deer and two mountain lions in 1888 as the first Zoo in the Southwest. This city-owned and privately managed zoo is a thriving example of a successful public-private partnership. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) for 35 years, the Zoo provides a home for more than 2,000 animals representing over 400 species. For full-time staff, the Dallas Zoo offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, a 401(k) retirement plan, PTO, and sick time. Compensation is commensurate with experience and education. The Dallas Zoo participates in in-situ and ex-situ conservation programs and encourages and supports staff to participate.

Summaries of the work of our Animal Health Teams are below.

Animal Nutrition/Browse Program

The Animal Nutrition Center (ANC) ensures the highest standards of dietary care for the Zoo's diverse animal collection. Under the guidance of an experienced management team, the team prepares and delivers balanced diets, maintains strict food safety protocols, and collaborates with veterinarians and animal care staff to support optimal health and welfare. The Browse Program provides fresh, safe plant material to support animal diets, health, and enrichment. Guided by the Zoo Nutritionist, the team harvests, identifies, distributes, and cultivates browse from sources both on-grounds and from community partners, ensuring a sustainable and high-quality supply. Browse Specialists work closely with Animal Care and Horticulture teams to meet species-specific needs.

Clinical Support

Veterinary Technicians at the Dallas Zoo play a critical role in supporting the medical care and welfare of the Zoo's diverse animal collection. Working alongside veterinarians and hospital staff, they assist with exams, surgical procedures, diagnostics, and treatments while ensuring the highest standards of safety and animal welfare. Technicians rotate through clinical, laboratory, and pharmacy duties and play a key role in emergency response, anesthesia monitoring, and medical behavior training.

Veterinarians

Veterinarians at Dallas Zoo provide exceptional medical and surgical care for a diverse animal collection. Working alongside a skilled team of fellow veterinarians, licensed veterinary technicians, and hospital zoologists, they engage in a comprehensive preventive medicine program, perform diagnostics and procedures across taxa, and contribute to research, clinical teaching, and conservation initiatives that advance the field of zoological medicine. The department supports a benefited full-time, year-long Veterinary Internship program, offering early-career veterinarians immersive, hands-on experience in all aspects of zoological medicine under the mentorship of our veterinary team. Whether serving as a staff veterinarian or as a mentor to interns and veterinary students, these professionals play a vital role in upholding the Zoo's commitment to excellence in animal health, professional development, and collaborative care.

Join us in Engaging People & Saving Wildlife every day!