Assistant Supervisor - Butterflies

Located three miles south of downtown Dallas, the 106-acre Dallas Zoo is the oldest and largest zoo in Texas. Founded with just two deer and two mountain lions in 1888 as the first zoo in the Southwest, this City of Dallas-owned but privately managed zoo is a thriving example of a successful public-private partnership. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) for 35 years, the Zoo provides a home for more than 2,000 animals representing over 400 species.

This is a “working” supervisory position in Education, working closely with the Assistant Director, Education, covering daily routines as assigned, providing exceptional care to butterflies, and helping to advance the Zoo’s educational mission. The Assistant Supervisor – Butterflies assists in the daily operation of the department, management of butterfly husbandry programs, and maintenance of associated butterfly facilities. The Assistant Supervisor – Butterflies will serve as primary contact and liaison for the butterfly section in the absence of the Assistant Director, Education, and provide leadership to lepidopterists.

Duties will also include assisting with supervision and providing feedback to the lepidopterist team and working closely and effectively with various departments to achieve the best experience for visitors, volunteers, and staff. This is a full‑time, temporary position.

• Organize and coordinate butterfly section’s daily activities, overseeing lepidopterists, and delegating tasks per Assistant Director, Education’s direction.
• Lead by example: maintain familiarity with all aspects of husbandry and guest engagement routines, assisting when needed.
• Assist in the hiring of, then train, lepidopterists in all aspects of husbandry (diet preparation, feeding, cleaning, and maintenance of exhibit) and education (communicating guest conduct policies, butterfly life cycle, and butterfly conservation).
• Provide overall daily care of butterflies and exhibits to ensure animal health, safety, and wellbeing, staff and public safety as set forth by AZA, USDA, and DZM.
• Observe and monitor butterflies’ general health and behavior, reporting any abnormal behavior to supervisor and/or veterinary staff.
• Provide care for butterflies throughout their life cycle, including chrysalis handling, butterfly release, and clean‑up of expired butterflies.
• Maintain accurate butterfly records, related to daily care, shipments, and all other general animal wellbeing details.
• Proactively engage audiences through mission‑driven experiences that inspire and empower audiences to take part in conservation actions on behalf of wildlife.
• Reinforce and encourage interest in wildlife through age‑appropriate, developmentally appropriate, positive engagement with guests via programming.
• Actively inspire and empower audiences to develop an interest in and empathy for wildlife through positive and engaging interactions via experiential education programming focused on Dallas Zoo conservation priorities.
• In collaboration with Education Leadership, train and oversee teen and adult volunteers in the butterfly habitat.
• Keep current on conservation issues, interpretive techniques, and conservation psychology/community‑based social marketing best practices.
• Maintain positive, professional relationships with Dallas Zoo staff, guests, and volunteers.
• Assist in the organization and maintenance of educational materials as needed.
• Collaborate with other Zoo personnel as needed to meet the Dallas Zoo’s mission. This can include, but is not limited to, assisting and participating in media events, special tours, and public relations projects.
• Follow all safety protocols and understand the position’s role in emergency procedures, responding to emergencies as required.
• Assist with the beautification of our park by removing litter and debris whenever you see it.
• Assist with and raise awareness for AZA SAFE programs and Dallas Zoo conservation efforts.
• Assist with other miscellaneous projects assigned by Dallas Zoo’s Education leadership team.
• Must be willing to support the Dallas Zoo’s Mission and…