Curator of Carnivores

FIRST CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO APPLICANTS RECEIVED BEFORE NOVEMBER 6TH

Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden | Oklahoma City, OK
Full-time | Exempt | Starting salary: $61,354-$70,557 Annually

The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is seeking an experienced animal care leader to guide its carnivore team and advance the care, wellbeing, and management of its assigned species.

Reporting to the Chief Animal Program Officer, the Curator of Carnivores oversees the people, practices, facilities, and resources that support the Zoo’s carnivore program, with responsibilities that may include other taxa. This role combines evidence-based animal management with staff leadership, operational planning, and collaboration across departments. You’ll help shape the program’s direction while supporting safe operations, meaningful experiences for Guests, and the Zoo’s conservation mission.

What you’ll do

• Lead and develop the team. Supervise 13 direct reports and guide hiring, training, coaching, goal setting, performance evaluations, and corrective action. Establish clear expectations and support a respectful, accountable workplace.
• Advance animal welfare. Oversee husbandry, behavioral training, enrichment, and welfare monitoring. Use scientific evidence, species natural history, and animal care records to inform decisions.
• Direct daily operations. Coordinate staffing, resources, documentation, and standard operating procedures to support consistent animal care and effective operations.
• Guide safe practices. Develop and review safety protocols and risk assessments, participate in emergency planning and drills, and provide leadership during animal and safety incidents.
• Plan for the future. Contribute to animal population planning, habitat design, master planning, capital improvements, and maintenance priorities.
• Manage program resources. Develop and oversee assigned budgets, prioritize operational needs, and acquire supplies and materials.
• Build productive partnerships. Collaborate with veterinary staff, fellow curators, facilities teams, and other departments. Coordinate animal transfers and communicate with external animal program partners.
• Support conservation and professional collaboration. Contribute to institutional conservation and research initiatives and participate in relevant AZA programs, committees, and professional organizations.

What you’ll bring

• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, preferably an animal science-related field.
• Five years of paid experience working with relevant taxa at an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited facility, including at least two years of supervisory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience to successfully perform the essential duties.
• Knowledge of evidence-based animal welfare, husbandry, behavioral training, enrichment, animal handling, and animal population management.
• The ability to coach employees, communicate expectations clearly, address performance concerns, and guide a team through changing priorities.
• Knowledge of applicable animal care regulations, transport requirements, safety practices, and emergency response procedures.
• Strong organizational, communication, and budgeting skills, with the ability to use records and data to support decisions.
• A valid Oklahoma driver’s license within 30 days of hire and the ability to pass a driver’s history check. Required Zoo learning management system training must be completed within the first six months.

Schedule and work environment

This position works indoors and outdoors in a Zoo setting. Scheduling flexibility is required, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and emergency situations as operational needs dictate.

Work may involve extreme weather, potentially dangerous animals, zoonotic diseases, and other animal care-related exposures. Physical duties include extended walking, standing, and sitting; bending, stooping, and kneeling; and independently pushing, pulling, lifting, and carrying up to 10 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

This is a safety-sensitive position subject to pre-employment and/or periodic background checks and drug testing. Annual tuberculosis testing is also required.

Why join the Zoo?

Your leadership will help shape animal wellbeing, employee development, and the future of the Zoo’s carnivore program. This is an opportunity to connect daily animal care with conservation, contribute to long-term planning, and support the people who carry that work forward.

FIRST CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO APPLICANTS RECEIVED BEFORE NOVEMBER 6TH

About Us

Oklahoma City is one of the fastest-growing metros in the United States and is the 20th largest city in the nation. For nearly two decades our residents have continually invested in our community to make it a place people can find belonging, visit and call home. Our employees are at the heart of those investments–delivering essential services our residents expect and creating a strong and thriving city for all people. Visit Oklahoma City--A Great Place to Live and Work! to learn more about our city.

The Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden connects people with our world’s vanishing wildlife and wild places to inspire conservation action. We’re seeking candidates who are passionate about the planet and all that inhabit it. Join our team of hardworking experts and get ready for a career that you’re wild about! To learn more about the Oklahoma City Zoo and our conservation efforts, please visit