Job Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in Zoo employment opportunities! By checking this site often, you can learn more about the Zoo and what we have to offer.

See below for job and internship listings.

Core Values – What We Believe/How We Act

Achieving our mission requires great people who actively demonstrate the following values & behaviors:

Collaborative Relationships

Promotes pro-active, open communication across all levels/departments
Actively listens to and values others’ questions, concerns, and ideas
Meets face-to-face and fosters open discussions

Positivity & Energy

Displays a positive attitude under all circumstances
Is passionate and energetic
Makes time to celebrate success

Accountability, Mutual Trust & Respect

Ensures expectations are well understood and holds self and others accountable
Holds self to high standards and always tries to do the right thing
Treats others with respect
Practices DWYSYWD (Do what you say you will do)
Acknowledges mistakes and learns from them
Takes ownership of problems/projects and shepherds the process to resolution

Progressive Thinking

Challenges the status quo in respectful and productive ways
Is a self-directed learner and strives to continuously further own knowledge
Demonstrates relentless pursuit for improvement
Thinks creatively; is willing to look for new and innovative ways to do things
Learns from others, both internally and externally

Pride, Passion & a Sense of Ownership

Demonstrates respect and care for the living collection
Goes the extra mile to ensure the visitor has a great experience every visit
Is always an advocate for the Zoo with all audiences
Shows strong personal ownership of the Zoo and careful stewardship of its resources.

If you share our core values, perhaps you belong in a Zoo (our Zoo)! Check out the career opportunities below.

Internships

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Internship Program is designed for current college students or recent college graduates. Under the guidance and supervision of Zoo staff, interns will develop skills and gain valuable real-world experience in their field of interest.

The CZBG Intern Program provides students with a unique opportunity to work and learn from Zoo staff, gain valuable hands-on experience, develop professional contacts in the Zoo community, and attend lectures and continuing education courses presented by staff from various departments. Topics include basic animal husbandry, operant conditioning, enrichment, nutrition, veterinary care, public speaking and presentations, green practices and conservation, and job-seeking/interview skills.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will meet the following requirements: 1) Current college student working toward a degree in a related field or a recent graduate with a related degree; 2) hard-working, highly motivated, and professional; 3) demonstrate commitment to working with children, adults, and wildlife in a zoo setting; and 4) comfortable working with and handling many different species encompassing all classes of animals.

Successful candidates will embrace and continuously demonstrate the Core Values of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, which include, but are not limited to: Building Collaborative Relationships through open communication and active listening: having Positivity and Energy through positive attitudes, and making time to celebrate successes; having Accountability, Mutual Trust and Respect through taking ownership of issues, learning from mistakes, treating others with respect, holding self and others accountable and doing what you say you’re going to do; possessing Progressive Thinking through being a self-directed learner, and learning from others, thinking creatively, challenging the status quo respectively, and demonstrating relentless pursuit for improvement; and having Pride, Passion & a Sense of Ownership through respect and care for the living collection, going the extra mile, always being an advocate for the Zoo and demonstrating strong personal ownership.

Working Conditions/Other Requirements: While performing the duties of this position, the intern is regularly required to stand, walk, climb or balance and grasp objects. In addition, the intern is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions; must be able to lift & move 50 pounds without mechanical assistance. The CZBG is open 364 days a year. Interns can expect to have a regular schedule but may be scheduled to participate on some weekends, holidays, etc.

All animal interns must be fully vaccinated for COVID and provide documentation of the date
Appointment is conditional upon passing a pre-start drug & nicotine screen
Must provide a negative TB test result before beginning the internship
Candidates must provide proof of current medical insurance and maintain this insurance for the duration of the internship

Internships are 14 weeks and typically follow a full-time workweek pattern: 4-5 consecutive days per week, ~8 hours per day, generally from 7-8 am to 3-4 pm. The department supervisor sets final schedules.

The internship program provides a stipend compensation to offset the cost of living expenses incurred while participating in the internship learning experience. The stipend information is shared with interviewees during interviews.

To apply for an internship, qualified applicants must apply via our online application on our website. Please be prepared to provide the following documents and information with your application:

Cover letter and resume (PDF format required)
Contact information for one professional reference

Summer Internship Session: May – August. Applications are accepted from January 1 – February 15.

Fall Internship Session: September – December. Applications are accepted from May 15 – July 15.

Winter Internship Session: January – April. Applications are accepted from September 15 – November 15.

Exact start and end dates are noted in each area’s description.

Applicants are welcome to apply to more than one Internship Opportunity per session. To do so, applicants must complete a separate application per opportunity by clicking on the specific link within each description. Intern applicants can only be accepted for one opportunity per session.

Current Internship Opportunities (Unpaid)

Click on the position to view descriptions of each area and/or specific internship goals.

Africa (January 15 – April 21, 2024)

This voluntary 14-week internship program provides qualified individuals with professional experience in the daily care of the department’s animals and the opportunity to support animal care staff. Africa department interns are supervised by animal care staff within the department. The main role of interns is to work with animal care staff to keep areas clean, thus helping contribute to the welfare of the animals. Cleaning, maintaining our various habitats, and behind-the-scenes holding areas may include: raking and shoveling, moving heavy wheelbarrows, lifting hay bales, hosing and scrubbing, etc. Other duties include preparing daily food diets such as cutting and weighing out produce and meat diets and helping maintain behind-the-scenes keeper spaces as well. Interns will have the opportunity to observe animal training sessions and various forms of routine husbandry including: giraffe foot care, blood draw and injection training with a variety of species, bird capture and restraint for wing trims and beak coping, and the management of recently expanded hippo bloat.

OBJECTIVES:

Provide support to Africa Department staff
Enhance productivity and efficiency of the Africa Department team
Allow qualified individuals the opportunity to gain professional experience as a keeper intern at a world-class zoological facility
Provide an opportunity to gain a strong understanding of potential careers in animal husbandry, training, and conservation education

Please check out the following link to learn more about this habitat/space and the animals in our care here: Africa.

Click Here to Apply

Animal Excellence (January 15 – April 21, 2024)

Description: This professional internship at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden will assist the Animal Excellence Scientist promote an evidence-based approach to animal care and management. Using science to understand better animal behavior, animal welfare, and our visitors’ perception of animal well-being is integral to the zoo’s mission and is the best way to promote a thriving animal community and an optimal visitor experience. Interns will assist with applied behavioral research projects and other initiatives related to animal welfare and will attain practical experience conducting research and working in a zoological facility.

This internship is a 14- to 16-week program (duration dependent on the semester; 24-40 hours per week minimum; stipended, un-benefited). Interns can expect to have a regular set schedule but may be scheduled to participate on some weekends, holidays, etc. Housing may be available for a minimal fee.

Summary: The Animal Excellence Research Intern will assist with the planning and execution of various animal behavior monitoring and welfare projects around the zoo. As the Animal Excellence Research Interns, they will work under the supervision of the Animal Excellence Scientist to gather scientific literature, design studies, collect data, and prepare reports. These activities require attention to detail, critical thinking, excellent organizational skills, and effective communication. The intern candidate must be able to work independently and partner effectively with the broader zoo team.

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

Search for and review scientific literature related to animal welfare
Collect and maintain animal behavior, animal welfare, environmental, and/or visitor-related data
Assist with study design, technology setup, and report preparation
Assist with onboarding of new research assistants
Coordinate research scheduling
Interpret on-site research operations for visitors
Provide support as needed to the larger Animal Excellence Team

The intern will also be required to complete projects of their own design and participate in professional development classes and opportunities organized as part of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden internship program.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will meet the following requirements:

Current college junior or senior working toward an animal-related field: Biology, Zoology, Psychology, etc.; or a recent graduate with a related degree. Successful completion of coursework related to animal behavior is preferred.
Proven experience participating in the research process (e.g., study design, data collection, analysis), with animal behavior research experience a plus.
Demonstrated professionalism, communication skills (both written and oral), critical thinking ability, and attention to detail.
Enthusiasm for the mission of Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: creating adventure, conveying knowledge, conserving nature, and serving the community.

Click Here to Apply

Animal Nutrition (January 15 – April 21, 2024)

This internship involves learning the process associated with developing the diet for all the animals in the zoo, food safety/handling, quality control, diet analysis, diet records, and continual assessment of animal condition for the ~1600 animals exhibited at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. The intern, working alongside the Curator of Nutrition, would work closely with animal management, keepers, researchers, and veterinary staff, to provide diet evaluations, animal body condition assessments, and product recommendations, along with learning to assist commissary staff in product purchasing. The intern would be exposed to the development and supervision of a local browse program to fulfill the nutrition and enrichment needs of the collection while managing the commissary budget. The intern would track, organize and create diet records as part of learning and conduct research deemed appropriate in the effective and applied animal nutrition program, such as food nutrient analysis (sample processing, data collection, and entry) and quality control (forages, feeds, browses, etc.). No direct animal contact takes place in this role. Some computer experience is preferred.

Click Here to Apply

Animal Ambassador Team (January 15 – April 21, 2024)

The Animal Ambassador Team cares for The Zoo’s animal ambassadors. Our diverse collection of 125 individual animals encompasses 60 different species that include a wide variety of reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals, and invertebrates. The main focus of this internship is the daily husbandry and care for these animals, but there is also an opportunity for educating the visitors and offering encounters on grounds. We constantly strive to provide our animals with the best welfare possible through positive reinforcement training, dynamic habitats, and behavioral-based enrichment. Interns are eligible to observe training sessions during their time with us and assist with programs. Tamanduas, Six-banded armadillos, Prehensile-Tailed Porcupine, Tawny Frogmouths, and a variety of snakes are just a handful of species you will be working around! Our department is very fast-paced. We are spread across four buildings, and you will have the opportunity to work in each of those during your 14-week internship with us.

Some of your daily tasks will include:

Daily husbandry
Diet Preparation
Habitat set up
Animal Handling
Enrichment
Observing Training Sessions
Random Animal Encounters / Engagement with Visitors
Assisting with other tasks and projects that come up

Click Here to Apply

Cat Ambassador Program (January 15 – April 21, 2024)

Come learn from one of the oldest, most well-established cheetah running programs in the country! We not only have ambassador cheetahs but also provide care for an ocelot, servals, red river hog, domestic cats, and dogs. In this internship, you will learn the inner workings of a show department and work with the animal trainers of the Cat Ambassador Program. The ideal candidate has a passion for learning and conservation education. Strong customer service skills are a must. The Cat Ambassador Intern will be interacting with guests and improving the overall visitor experience during our public shows and also be responsible for daily husbandry, diet prep, and enrichment with the supervision of CAP trainer staff.

Click Here to Apply

Commissary (January 15 – April 21, 2024)

This Internship provides work experience within a comprehensive nutrition program and includes animal food production, as well as animal nutrition research components. Interns do not have direct animal contact. The Commissary is where all food, supplies, ordering, receiving, preparation of, and delivering for all dietary needs of all the animal collection takes place. Interns assist with preparing food for all zoo animals under the direction of supervising personnel, assist with inventory and quality control of all perishable foods, assist with the cleanliness of all the Commissary areas, and assist in the delivery of all food/supplies to all animal areas daily.

Click Here to Apply

Elephant Department (January 15 – April 21, 2024)

Interns will complete a 14-week internship and provides qualified individuals with professional experience in the daily care of Asian elephants at a world-class zoological facility. Elephant department interns are supervised by the animal care staff within the elephant department.

Tasks & learning opportunities include but are not limited to:

Cleaning elephant indoor and outdoor habitats involving raking, shoveling, carrying heavy wheelbarrows, lifting hay bales, and maintaining sand areas
Diet preparation: cutting produce and preparing hay
Choosing and distributing enrichment
Observe elephant training sessions and husbandry, such as foot care, exercise, and bathing

Gain a strong understanding of potential careers in animal husbandry, training, and conservation education

Assisting keepers with various other tasks

Please check out the following link to learn more about the Elephant Reserve habitat and animals.

Elephant Reserve

Click Here to Apply

Horticulture - Native Plant Program/Wetland (January 15 – April 21, 2024)

Interns gain first-hand experience in maintaining and expanding the Zoo’s Native Plant Program. They will work at the Bowyer Farm wetland restoration site near Mason, Ohio. Interns will help grow native federally endangered species, such as Short’s goldenrod, running buffalo clover, Virginia spirea, and other endangered species. Work also includes propagation, such as divisions, cuttings, and seed collecting and germinating. Interns may also work in the CREW lab, which is project dependent. Interns work with native flora, including planting, pruning, watering, mulching, and weeding, establishing native gardens. Interns will also help evaluate flora on which species make good landscape plants. Interns will learn identification, cultural requirements, and various propagation techniques for native flora. The candidate will also get a working knowledge of restoring and maintaining wetlands. The ideal candidate will be hard-working with a sincere interest in further developing their horticultural knowledge and skills in a public garden setting and students who are motivated to take full advantage of the opportunities provided. Must be a student currently enrolled in horticulture, landscape architecture, ecological restoration, or a closely related field. A knowledge and passion for plants are required; a positive attitude is a must to join our team!

Job Duties for Intern (Bowyer Farm):

Nursery Assistance – occasional watering, weeding, moving plants, assisting with winterization, and propagation methods will be taught. May work with various endangered species projects. Work with over 300 species of native plants.
Landscape Maintenance – mulching tree rings and display areas, pruning trees & shrubs, perennial cutbacks, planting and watering new plantings. Pollinator installations as needed.
Wetland Restoration & Conservation – contribute toward the ongoing maintenance of the wetland and prairie and assist with various conservation projects as necessary. Invasive species management, planting, seed collection, bird counts (seasonal spring and fall).
Event Preparation – assist with set up for plant sales and other public events.
Browse assistance – assist with harvesting and loading browse and participate in seasonal planting of small trees for future browse harvests.

Click Here to Apply

Horticulture - Plant Records (January 15 – April 21, 2024)

This internship offers an opportunity to learn about plant recordkeeping in a unique setting. The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (CZBG) is home to a diverse collection of plant material, stunning display gardens, and complex immersive habitats. Using IrisBG plant collections management software, we strive to maintain a thorough record of all the persistent plants enter and exit our grounds. Currently, this includes over 3,500 taxa. With this documentation, we generate tags and labels to clearly identify plants for the public and other garden professionals. We also use the information in these records to produce lists of well-performing plants that we can recommend to regional growers, landscapers, and homeowners. These plant lists are shared with the public through symposiums, classes, public speaking events, brochures, and online resources.

In addition to becoming familiar with the diverse taxa on our grounds, the intern will learn about the many aspects related to plant recordkeeping: collection and entry of accurate taxa information into our IrisBG database from diverse sources (including data collected on the grounds of the CZBG), correction of taxa information, accessioning, updating existing accessions, deaccessioning, plant label production and placement, mapping, and inventorying. The intern will be able to sharpen their skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Publisher. The intern in this position will also have opportunities to attend educational events and field trips, and to shadow other gardeners in the care of the plants within the landscape.

The ideal candidate will possess a knowledge and passion for plants, the ability to identify many plants to at least a genus level, flexibility to perform various tasks, and a positive attitude. Students currently enrolled in Horticulture, Environmental Sciences, or a closely related field are encouraged to apply.

Click Here to Apply

Horticulture - Plant Trials (January 15 – April 21, 2024)

This internship offers an unique opportunity to participate in one of the region’s most expansive plant trialing programs. The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is home to a diverse collection of plant material, stunning display gardens, and complex immersive habitats. Since 2002, the Zoo’s Best Plant Trials program has endeavored to trial new cultivars of annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees in landscape settings to inform homeowners, landscapers, and urban planners of valuable plants for use across the landscape. During the past 20 years, we have trialed thousands of plants throughout approximately 70 acres of garden space. Our trials program evaluates plants from the country’s leading breeders and reports performance findings back to these companies. We also generate lists of well-performing plants and recommend these to regional growers, landscapers, and homeowners. Plant lists are shared with the public through symposiums, classes, public speaking events, brochures, and online resources.

The intern in this position will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with a great diversity of plant material, gain insight into the path a plant takes from breeding to it’s release on the market, and impact the plant selections that are recommended through our Zoo’s Best Plant Trialing Program. Day-to-day tasks of this internship include: a variety of computer-based tasks including plant trial data entry and analysis, labeling photos, creating various photo power point documents, assisting with the assembly of an annual report and Zoo’s Best List for plant breeders, and aiding with the organization of plant lists and labeling. The intern will also have opportunities for hands-on learning including: checking in and organizing annual plants as they arrive, assisting with the care of display and trial plants (tropicals in the winter, annuals in the spring), labeling various types of spring blooming plants, and assisting with seasonal events. The intern in this position will also have the opportunity to attend educational events as they arise and to shadow other gardeners in the care of the plants being trialed.

The ideal candidate will possess knowledge and passion for plants, flexibility to perform various tasks, and a positive attitude. Students currently enrolled in Horticulture or a closely related field are encouraged to apply.

Click Here to Apply

Invertebrates (January 15 – April 21, 2024)

Please check out the following link to learn more about this exhibit/space and the animals in our care here: World of the Insect.

Click Here to Apply

Night Hunters (January 15 – April 21, 2024)

Interns will complete a 14-week internship and leave the program with the skillset needed to successfully become a zookeeper. Time will be spent in both the Night Hunters building and Cat Canyon.

Night Hunters is home to the following species: aardvark, aardwolf, Arabian sand cat, binturong, black-footed cat, common vampire bat, fennec fox, Indian flying fox, large-spotted genet, ocelot, Pallas’s cat, potto, ringtail, southern three-banded armadillo, and tawny frogmouth.

Cat Canyon is home to the following species: cougar, Malayan tiger, and snow leopard.

Tasks & learning opportunities include, but are not limited to:

Cleaning and preparing various habitats and animal spaces
Diet preparation
Choosing and distributing enrichment
Interns may complete projects including designing enrichment and documenting animal behavior through ethograms
Assisting keepers with various other husbandry tasks

Please check out the following links to learn more about the habitats and the animals in our care here:

Night Hunters
Cat Canyon

Click Here to Apply

Primate Department (January 15 – April 21, 2024)

Interns will complete a 14-week internship and leave the program with skill sets to become successful zookeeper. Time may be split between Jungle Trails (7 weeks) and Primate Center (7 weeks) or in a single area for 14 weeks.

Jungle Trails cares for the following species: bonobo, orangutan, aye-aye, sifaka, potto, pygmy slow loris, galago, guenon, Angolan colobus, saki monkey, howler monkey, Mueller gibbon, white-handed gibbon, and several bird species.

Primate Center cares for the following species: gorilla, ring-tailed lemur, black and white colobus, buff-cheeked gibbon, and siamang gibbon.

Tasks & learning opportunities include but are not limited to:

Cleaning and preparing various habitats and animal spaces
Diet preparation
Making and distributing enrichment
Exposure to operant conditioning training
Enrichment and habitat re-propping projects
Animal behavior observation and data collection
Assisting keepers with various other tasks

Please check out the following links to learn more about the habitats and the animals in our care here:

Click Here to Apply

Wings of Wonder (January 15 – April 21, 2024)

This internship aims to provide interns with basic husbandry skills of birds, public speaking opportunities, and observations of training in a show setting. Interns at the Wings of Wonder will be able to learn husbandry and animal training in a fast-paced environment. During the summer, we have a Bird Experience twice daily, five days a week. Individuals must be self-motivated and willing to engage with the public.

The Wings of Wonder Team cares for various animals such as Macaws, Amazons, Eagle, Hawk, Falcons, Owls, Vultures, Cockatoos, Hornbills, Pigeons, and Rats.

Tasks and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Must be able to lift 50 lbs and work in all weather conditions (Especially heat.)
Must be able to follow directions and balance multiple tasks.
Cleaning, disinfecting, and preparing animal spaces.
Provide crowd management and public interactions in the theater.
Choosing and distributing enrichment, as well as actively observing animal behaviors.
Interns will complete a project assigned by the intern coordinator.
Assisting keepers with various other tasks

Please check out the following link to learn more about this department and internship here: Wings of Wonder

Click Here to Apply

The application window for the Winter 2024 session will be open from September 15, 2023 – November 15, 2023.

Thank you for your interest! If you have additional questions, please email [email protected].

Who are we? SSA is built by family, for families. SSA is now hiring fun, energetic, silly, optimistic and outgoing people to add to our team.

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