Lead Wildlife Specialist; Hoofstock

Lead Wildlife Specialist (Hoofstock)

White Oak Conservation conserves and sustains some of the earth's rarest wild animals through innovative training, research, education, and conservation breeding programs that contribute to the survival of wildlife in nature. The conservation programs span 600 acres along the St. Mary’s River in northeast Florida, surrounded by 22,000 acres of mixed forest and wetlands. Founded in 1982, White Oak leads professional efforts to improve veterinary care, develop holistic animal management techniques, and better understand the biology of critically endangered species by providing excellent care and managing conservation programs for over 30 species of imperiled wildlife in large, naturalistic habitats.

Saving endangered wildlife and habitats through sustainable populations, expanding education initiatives, and responsible land stewardship.

The Lead Wildlife Specialist functions as the hands‑on leader of animal husbandry, delivering exceptional and safe care to advance White Oak’s conservation programs. This position oversees and leads the care of White Oak animals, works with the collections manager and veterinary team to implement best practices and achieve the goals of the assigned animal team, and contributes directly to the White Oak Conservation mission by supporting animal husbandry programs.

• Oversees and leads the daily care of the animals in designated area, including feeding, cleaning, medicating, handling, and record‑keeping activities.
• Oversees and leads hand rearing, animal transfers, introductions, operant conditioning, and area research projects.
• Coordinates with veterinary team to conduct animal care procedures and medical treatments.
• Completes requisitions and purchase requests for all supplies and animal feed needed in designated area.
• Oversees, leads, and performs animal caretaking facilities maintenance duties, including mowing, weed‑eating, pressure washing, dirt and substrate work, gate adjustments, lock lubrication, limb pick‑up, and other repairs.
• Conducts prep work, obtains permits, and assists with physical transport of animals.
• Oversees and leads team cleanliness and organization of work and break areas, food storage, food prep, vehicles, and equipment.
• Maintains records and reports related to the assigned animal collection.
• Participates with research project reviews and approved project implementation.
• Assists Collection Managers in creating protocols, transfer plans, and other preparations.
• Assists Collection Managers with design and implementation of animal management and conservation breeding plans.
• Oversees and leads animal welfare assessment program for the area animals.
• Participates in the design of habitats and animal care facilities.
• Works with Support Services team and serves as liaison with contractors, as needed.
• Conducts routine meetings with individual staff members and the team.
• Participates in the recruitment and hiring of new personnel for assigned area.
• Informs and participates in employee evaluations with Collection Managers.
• Oversees and leads the highest level of safety in the workplace through staff training and implementation of safety protocols and procedures.
• Participates in the emergency response.
• Operates heavy equipment (skid steer, backhoe, tractor, chainsaw, etc.) to perform grounds/facility maintenance.
• Oversees and leads area intern training including animal husbandry and management, record keeping, research, conservation, and education projects.
• Oversees, facilitates, and participates in high‑level guest experiences in the assigned animal area.

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of five years of related wildlife animal care experience in a zoo or animal sanctuary.
• Previous supervisory experience preferred.
• Experience in an AZA accredited/certified facility preferred.
• Experience working with wildlife animals in large acreage habitats is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working with veterinarians and a working knowledge of common medical procedures.
• Experience with animal management plans, policies and tools, animal escape and recapture,…