Ambassador Animal Care Specialist

Position Title: Ambassador Animal Care Specialist (Temp)

Department: Learning & Engagement 

Reports To: Ambassador Animal Program Manager   

Location: Audubon Zoo 

Position Type: Full time Temp

Who We Are  

Audubon Nature Institute comprises Audubon Park, Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium, Audubon Insectarium, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, and Audubon Wilderness Park. 

At Audubon Nature Institute, we are more than a collection of parks, museums, and conservation centers—we are a dedicated team with a shared mission to celebrate, protect, and connect people to the wonders of nature. Our work is guided by our culture code, which is at the heart of everything we do. We believe in Activating Impact by integrating tangible, real-world outcomes into all our initiatives, fostering a culture where every action contributes to a positive environmental impact. We are committed to Empowering Optimism, using positivity to inspire others to act and believe in their capacity to create meaningful change. We strive to Create Connection by engaging with people from all walks of life, knowing that the collective strength of a diverse community can address the most pressing challenges facing our natural world. At Audubon, we embody the spirit of Le Bon Temps, infusing the joy and vibrant culture of Louisiana into our everyday work, celebrating our unique heritage while advancing our mission. As Leaders of the Pack, we constantly seek smarter, innovative solutions, challenging conventions to drive the change we want to see in the world. 

What You’ll Do (Summary of role) 

Ambassador Animal Care Specialists (“Specialist”) are key members of the Learning & Engagement (L&E) team at Audubon Zoo and are responsible for the daily care and wellbeing of Audubon Zoo’s Ambassador Animal collection.  This includes daily animal care and observation, animal training and enrichment, monitoring animal health, and maintaining cleanliness of animal area.  The Ambassador Animal collection includes a wide variety of species including reptiles, invertebrates, mammals and birds. 

Ambassador Animal Care Specialists are also responsible for delivering daily guest facing programming and working collaboratively with the rest of the Zoo Engagement and Zoo Learning team to provide an outstanding guest experience.  Under the guidance of the Ambassador Animal Program Manager and Supervisor, specialists are responsible for participating in and supporting daily behavioral management for the animals in their care to ensure a high level of welfare for the animals as well as support engaging and innovative programming.   

Success in this role requires excellent large-group public speaking skills, the ability to communicate complex scientific concepts in an accessible way to diverse audiences, and experience working closely with children and families. We’re seeking passionate individuals with a talent for communication, a love for animals, and the creativity to make every interaction memorable, inspiring, and impactful. 

As a member of the wider Learning & Engagement team, specialists may be called on to support other programming as needed. 

Day to Day Responsibilities (Limit to most important/top 10 duties if possible) 

Providing excellent daily care and welfare to a collection of Ambassador Animals that provide unique engagement opportunities for our guests and program participants 

Maintaining the health and wellbeing of all ambassador animals through daily observation, active communication with the animal health team, and assistance with medical procedures and treatments as needed  

Maintaining all necessary daily records and communications for the collection to adhere to best practices and to meet all required standards and regulations 

Delivering and maintaining a robust enrichment and behavioral management plan for all animals in the collection including operant conditioning training and environmental enrichment 

Delivering daily opportunities for guests to engage with our ambassador animals through informal and formal chats and demonstrations, animal encounters and more  

Working collaboratively with other members of the L&E team as well as the Animal Care team to ensure consistent and excellent guest experience  

Maintaining both front of house and back of house spaces to be organized/camera ready. 

Providing proactive, friendly communication and striving to anticipate guests' needs and desires 

Working collaboratively with front of house departments (Animal Staff, Guest Services, Facilities, etc.) to identify opportunities to improve guest experience  

Communicating issues or concerns to the Ambassador Animal Program Manager or Supervisor in a timely manner 

Actively seeking up-to-date information on informal education methodologies and trends 

Actively seeking out and participating in professional development opportunities as approved by supervisor 

Additional/Overall Skills: 

Maintain a positive attitude and a strong sense of accountability, fostering a collaborative team environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute. 

Thrive in a team environment, using your organizational and technical skills to ensure the smooth execution of creative projects that resonate with our audience. 

Celebrate the successes of your team and bring enthusiasm to your work, reflecting the joyful culture that is at the heart of Audubon’s mission. 

Stay adaptable and open to learning new skills, embracing change and innovation as opportunities to lead and grow. 

The above listed duties are general statements of required major duties and responsibilities performed on a regular and continuous basis. They do not exclude other duties as assigned. 

What We’re Looking For 

Must Haves: (required for the role) 

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Biology, Zoology, Communications, Ecology, Environmental Education or other related field and/or equivalent work experience 

6 months working experience in animal care, ambassador animal experience preferred 

6 months working in an informal learning environment and demonstrated experience working in animal presentation preferred 

Must be able to work holidays, weekends and occasional after hour events to support special programming. 

Experience handling animals or ability to learn to handle animals  that may include reptiles, birds, mammals, and invertebrates.  

Demonstrated experience in effective communications with youth and adults from diverse backgrounds 

Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines for a wide range of projects 

Exemplary presentation and oral communication skills 

Ability to work effectively in a team environment.  

Nice-to-Haves: (preferred for the role) 

1-3 years working experience in animal care, ambassador animal experience preferred 

1-3 years working in an informal learning environment and demonstrated experience working in animal presentation preferred 

Demonstrated experience with operant conditioning training and enrichment  

Experience in an AZA institution and familiarity with AZA standards  

Experience with free flight training and programming  

Experience working with or overseeing volunteers  

Extensive knowledge of wildlife conservation   

Certified Interpretive Guide certification or equivalent credential  

Physical Requirements 

Physical Demands: 

Ability to stand and walk for up to 2/3 of the day. 

Ability to pass annual TB tests. 

Ability to lift and carry objects up to 50 pounds. 

Must be able to reach above shoulder level, stoop and squat to retrieve kennels and animals, which also may require stepping on stools. 

Ability to perceive visual, odor, or behavioral changes in animals to determine changes in animals’ stress level or general wellbeing. Must have excellent peripheral vision, depth perception, and quick motor response for animal and audience control during presentations. 

Ability to speak loudly to crowds in a variety of situations included moderate to loud crowds.  

Frequent use of hands and arms to operate office equipment and manual tools. 

Visual ability to read, write, and operate standard office machinery. 

Environmental Conditions: 

May be exposed to high, medium, or low noise intensity 

Works effectively in a moderately noisy office 

Constant contact with co-workers required 

Exposure to fluctuations in temperature is required 

Exposure to extreme heat and outdoor conditions is required