The Houston Zoo is seeking a passionate and motivated individual to join the Night Team as a Night Zookeeper. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience working with a variety of animal taxa and be confident responding to animal welfare concerns during after-hours operations. This role includes assisting with animal husbandry tasks, supporting department closing duties, and engaging with guests through education-focused interactions as needed. Night Zookeepers work closely with teams across all departments of the Zoo, making strong communication, professionalism, and collaborative skills essential. Typical work hours are 2:00 PM to 12:00 AM, though shifts may be adjusted based on operational needs. The successful candidate must also serve on the Zoo’s Firearms Response Team and maintain qualified firearms status; all required training will be provided by the Houston Zoo.
Our Mission: Houston Zoo connects communities with animals, inspiring action to save wildlife.
Our Vision: Houston Zoo will be a leader in the global movement to save wildlife.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Carries out all aspects of the daily care of assigned animals including cleaning, feeding, exhibit maintenance, general upkeep of support facilities.
Maintains clean and organized exhibits, holding areas, service areas and equipment.
Prepares and feeds appropriate diets as per established feeding practices and diet sheets.
Administers prescribed medications, supplements, or treatments under the guidance of the veterinary and supervisory staff.
Records and reports any abnormal animal health or behavioral issues to the Zoo Supervisor.
Maintains daily reports, logs, training and enrichment records, research or veterinary records, as appropriate and according to established guidelines; requires basic skills with TRACKS and Microsoft Office software applications.
Understands and applies a practical understanding of operant conditioning as it relates to the daily management of species under his/her care.
Understands and applies the basic principles of animal enrichment as part of the daily management of species under his/her care.
Maintains clean and organized exhibits, equipment, and keeper areas.
As appropriate, maintains water quality through filtration, balance of chemical elements, and sanitation methods for aquatic or semi-aquatic animal species.
As appropriate, maintains live exhibit plantings to enhance exhibit aesthetics; eliminates weeds and toxic plants from animal enclosures.
In conjunction with the Zoo’s pest control officer, may assist in pest control through the use of exclusion or traps.
Identifies potential maintenance or safety issues and reports them to the Zoo Supervisor.
Participates in keeper chats, tours, animal presentations or demonstrations, and/or other public interactions as requested by the Zoo Supervisor.
May assist with departmental research projects, conservation, AZA, or other industry activities as directed/approved by the Zoo Supervisor or Curator; provides support for Zoo projects.
May oversee work activities and/or provide training for interns, seasonal workers, or volunteers.
Exhibits good teamwork and communication skills both within the home team and when working with other teams or departments.
May be required to safely operate a motor vehicle.
Contributes to saving animals in the wild through: reduction of waste, water and energy use and inspiring guests and staff to take wildlife protecting actions. Performs other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience
Associate’s degree or two years of college level education (60 semester credit hours) in zoology, biology, animal husbandry or a related field.
A certificate of completion from an acceptable animal care program of not less than 30 semester hours may be substituted for 30 hours of college hours.
One year of experience in animal care at an AZA or equivalent facility, gained through employment, internships, or volunteer experience.
Experience with species in captivity, in a conservation setting.
Experience with basic carpentry and mechanical skills.
Must have or be able to obtain a valid Texas driver’s license.
About Houston Zoo
The Houston Zoo is made up of many moving parts with over 6,000 permanent residents (our animals) for whom we provide housing, meals, medical care and, yes, even education! There are over 2 million guests each year who come to experience our incredible variety of animals and ecosystems, as well as attend special private and public events and entertainment. Our dedicated staff works around the clock to ensure that the Zoo is always running smoothly for the safety and well-being of our residents and guests. We strive to ensure the protection of all the counterparts of the animals we have at the Zoo and in the wild.Join the Houston Zoo and become a part of an organization that is focused on the preservation of wildlife and their habitats by combining conservation with education and promotion of sustainable livelihoods in the local communities. Houston Zoo is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
