Careers

Overview

The Caldwell Zoo employs a wide variety of skilled and dedicated professionals to keep the zoo running efficiently and safely while being a positive resource for our guests. We take great pride in the experience and longevity of our team and the quality of service we provide to the visitors. Occasionally, there is turnover in the staff and there are opportunities for responsible and dependable pros to join our team.

Career opportunities include roles in: Animal Services, Education, Grounds Crew, Maintenance, Retail Sales, Café Staff, and Guest Services.

PLEASE FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS PROVIDED TO OBTAIN JOB DESCRIPTIONS, REQUIREMENTS AND THE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE POSITIONS AVAILABLE.

CZ Staff

Benefits

All Full-Time positions offer Benefits:

  • 401(k)
  • Dental insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Vision insurance

Seasonal / Part-Time do not have any benefits.

There is not a set work schedule for any of the position except the one for Zoo Admin, as it depends on the needs of the department, however they are all day shifts.

Job Openings

Send resume to ggillam@caldwellzoo.org.  No phone calls.

Lead Cashier

Works to ensure that the visitor services office/admissions operation enhances overall customer satisfaction. Assist with staff training in the visitor services office in order to provide needed services for both internal and external customers. Provide leadership/guidance for visitor services staff and seasonal labor used in support of visitor services operations.

Security Officer

Patrol the zoo grounds and parking lots, provide assistance to zoo visitors and staff, assist in the training and supervision of seasonal parking lot attendants, respond to emergencies, and observe/report unsafe or unsecured conditions in order to ensure that zoo visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience and a safe and secure environment is provided for zoo animals and staff.

Building Maintenance Technician

Responsible for maintenance of the building, grounds, and/or animal enclosures as assigned. Candidate must know all carpentry work, welding, and form work for concrete. You will need to be able to run small equipment, such as, concrete, saw, plate, and tamper. Construction experience is required.

Seasonal Part-time

Send resume to ggillam@caldwellzoo.org.  No phone calls.
Hiring for February 2024.

Giraffe Cashier (Part-time / 28 hrs a week)

Job Duties:
Operate Point of Sale (POS) system, handling money and making change
Operate credit card terminal
Provide visitors with information and assistance
Greet all visitors upon entering the giraffe feeding deck
Sell lettuce boats to visitors to feed the giraffes
Ensure that visitors are having a great time and abiding by the rules
Other duties may be assigned as needed

Requirements:
Exceptional customer service skills preferred
Previous cashiering/cash handling experience preferred
Must be able to work during the week days, weekends and some holidays

Aviary Attendant (Part-time / 28 hrs a week)

Job Duties:
Operate cash-handling transactions and making change
Provide visitors with information and assistance
Greet all visitors upon entering the bird walk out
Ensure the birds safety
Monitors health, welfare and safety of birds in the aviary.
Helps clean and maintain naturalistic and visitor friendly exhibit.
Ensure that visitors are having a great time and abiding by the rules.
Ability to make change and balance seed stick sales sheets.
Other duties may be assigned as needed

Requirements:
Must be outgoing and friendly
Must enjoy working with birds
Exceptional customer service skills preferred
Previous cashiering/cash handling experience preferred
Must be able to work during the week days, weekends and some holidays

Food Services Cashier, Dishwasher, and Cook (Part-time / 28 hrs a week)

Job Duties:
Operate Point of Sale (POS) system, handling money and making change.
Operate credit card terminal
Provide visitors with information and assistance
Greet all visitors upon entering the Café
Sell lettuce boats to visitors to feed the giraffes
Take orders for foods like hot dogs, hamburgers, salads, popcorn, snow cones, soft serve ice cream, and chips.
Serve customers at the counter and taking meal orders.
Stocking and receiving supplies.
Cleaning kitchen and outside eating area.
Monitoring the food portions on completed dishes according to restaurant standards.
Ensuring that all orders are completed in time and with the correct priority.
Inspecting the cleanliness, presentation, and temperature of completed dishes.
Keeping the cooking, storage, and prep areas clean, neat, and well-stocked.
Ensuring all staff adheres to health and safety standards.
Correctly places and stores clean equipment, dishes, and utensils in assigned storage areas.
Stocks serving stations, cupboards, refrigerators, and other assigned areas with necessary dishes and utensils.
Provide friendly and effective services for zoo visitors as well as for zoo staff.
Other duties may be assigned as needed

Requirements:
Exceptional customer service skills preferred
Previous cashiering/cash handling experience preferred
Food Handlers preferred
Must be able to work during the week days, weekends and some holidays

Visitor Services – Zoo Team Member – Greeter, Scanner, Rentals, Cashier, and Customer Service (Part-time / 28 hrs a week)

Job Duties:
Operate Point of Sale (POS) system, handling money and making change.
Operate credit card terminal
Provide visitors with information and assistance
Assists visitors with directions and attractions within the zoo.
Operate a multi-line telephone system, base radio, and public address system.
Greet customers as they enter the zoo
Scan zoo tickets
Respond effectively during emergencies and provide services such as first aid, lost & found, and equipment rentals for zoo visitors.
Provide assistance and relief coverage for the visitor services/seasonal staff as needed.
Provide clerical support for visitor services operations, which includes data entry, coping, typing, filing, and operating the postage meter and other office equipment.
Responsible for customer satisfaction and safety
Cash handling and reconciliation
Cleaning and maintenance of the rental equipment.
Provide friendly and effective services for zoo visitors as well as for zoo staff.
Other duties may be assigned as needed

Requirements:
Exceptional customer service skills preferred
Previous cashiering/cash handling experience preferred
Must be able to work during the week days, weekends and some holidays

Gift Shop – Cashier (Part-time / 28 hrs a week)

Job Duties:
Stocks and clean shelves, counters, or fixtures.
Assists with advertising displays and merchandise on counters or fixtures to promote sales.
Assists with advertising displays and merchandise on counters or fixtures to promote sales.
Unpacks, counts, marks, or tags price on merchandise according to established procedures.
Answers customers questions concerning location, price, and use of merchandise and availability.
Communicates management instructions to other sales associates.
Performs cash register functions to total price and tax on merchandise purchased by customer including any calculation of discounts.
Responsible accurate cash handling and POS operation
Customer Service and assistance
Accepts payment and makes change according to Gift Shop Policies.
Operate Point of Sale (POS) system, handling money and making change.
Operate credit card terminal
Wraps and/or bags merchandise for customers.
Other duties may be assigned as needed

Requirements:
Exceptional customer service skills preferred
Retail experience preferred
Previous cashiering/cash handling experience preferred
Must be able to work during the week days, weekends and some holidays

Lettuce Maker (This position is part-time, 4 hrs a day)

Job Duties:
Prepares Giraffe feedings, delivers feed and supports the Commissary Staff.
This candidate will cut and sort lettuce by size. They will place 2 large and 1 small leaf per food tray. Stack 10 food trays together and put rubber band around them. Put 120 trays or 12 bundles of 10 into a tub and zip tie it shut. Place the tub in fridge in order of first in first out. Need to be able to produce 4-5 tubs a day and be able to life 40 – 50lbs.
Other task may be assigned as needed

Requirements:
Exceptional customer service skills preferred
Team player
Lift up to 50lbs
Must be able to work during the week days, weekends and some holidays, this job is 7 days a week

Parking lot attendant (Part-time / 28 hrs a week)

Job Duties:
Directs cars parking in parking areas, assists with Bus lots when needed
Positions cars to facilitate clearing of parking areas by owners
Maintains the security of parked vehicles
Keeps the parking area free of debris

Requirements:
Exceptional customer service skills preferred
Able to stand for 8 hours
Must be able to work during the week days, weekends and some holidays

Internship Opportunities

The Caldwell Zoo is seeking highly motivated, hard-working, professional minded students who want to take advantage of educational opportunities to gain on-the-job experience in a zoo setting.

Depending on the area of hire for the internship, learning opportunities include: exotic animal handling and restraint, behavior, nutrition, husbandry, record keeping, visitor relations, preventative medicine, disease treatment, and other zoo operations topics.

Each department has different requirements, the minimal similarities are that candidates must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, negative TB Test, and must be a sophomore or higher classification.

To apply for the internship you will email your cover letter and resume to, msimpson@caldwellzoo.org or by selecting the AZA link https://www.aza.org/jobs and searching Caldwell Zoo.

Proposed internship session time-frames 

Spring

Internship job posting Nov.
Start: 2nd week of Jan.
End: 3rd week of May

Summer

Internship job posting Mar.
Start: 3rd week of May
End: Last week of Aug.

Fall

Internship job posting Jul.
Start: 2nd week of Sep.
End: 3rd week of Dec.

The Caldwell Zoo hires 6 different internship position every semester:

  1. Mammals I
  2. Mammals II
  3. Reptiles
  4. Birds
  5. Vet
  6. Education
Species Survival Plan
Saving Animals From Extinction
AZA
USFW
TPWL
GCF
AZA Logo
WAZA Logo
Tyler Logo