Ambassador Animal Care Specialist

Position Details

Department:
Learning & Engagement

FLSA Status:
Non-exempt

Position Type:
Full Time Temp

This is a full-time, temporary position starting in March 2026 and running for a minimum of 12 weeks, with the possibility of extension based on staffing needs. Ideal for candidates seeking full-time hours in a short-term role.

Audubon Nature Institute comprises Audubon Park, Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium, Audubon Insectarium, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Freeport-Mc Mo Ran  Audubon Species Survival Center, Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, and Audubon Wilderness Park.

At Audubon Nature Institute, we are more than a collection of parks, museums, and conservation centers—we are a dedicated team with a shared mission to celebrate, protect, and connect people to the wonders of nature. Our work is guided by our culture code, which is at the heart of everything we do. We believe in Activating Impact by integrating tangible, real-world outcomes into all our initiatives, fostering a culture where every action contributes to a positive environmental impact.

We are committed to Empowering Optimism, using positivity to inspire others to act and believe in their capacity to create meaningful change. We strive to Create Connection by engaging with people from all walks of life, knowing that the collective strength of a diverse community can address the most pressing challenges facing our natural world. At Audubon, we embody the spirit of Le Bon Temps, infusing the joy and vibrant culture of Louisiana into our everyday work, celebrating our unique heritage while advancing our mission.

As Leaders of the Pack, we constantly seek smarter, innovative solutions, challenging conventions to drive the change we want to see in the world.

Ambassador Animal Care Specialists (“Specialist”) are key members of the Learning & Engagement (L&E) team at Audubon Zoo and are responsible for the daily care and wellbeing of Audubon Zoo’s Ambassador Animal collection. This includes daily animal care and observation, animal training and enrichment, monitoring animal health, and maintaining cleanliness of animal area. The Ambassador Animal collection includes a wide variety of species including reptiles, invertebrates, mammals and birds.

Ambassador Animal Care Specialists are also responsible for delivering daily guest facing programming and working collaboratively with the rest of the Zoo Engagement and Zoo Learning team to provide an outstanding guest experience. Under the guidance of the Ambassador Animal Program Manager and Supervisor, specialists are responsible for participating in and supporting daily behavioral management for the animals in their care to ensure a high level of welfare for the animals as well as support engaging and innovative programming.

Success in this role requires excellent large-group public speaking skills, the ability to communicate complex scientific concepts in an accessible way to diverse audiences, and experience working closely with children and families. We’re seeking passionate individuals with a talent for communication, a love for animals, and the creativity to make every interaction memorable, inspiring, and impactful.

As a member of the wider Learning & Engagement team, specialists may be called on to support other programming as needed.

• Providing excellent daily care and welfare to a collection of Ambassador Animals that provide unique engagement opportunities for our guests and program participants.
• Maintaining the health and wellbeing of all ambassador animals through daily observation, active communication with the animal health team, and assistance with medical procedures and treatments as needed.
• Maintaining all necessary daily records and communications for the collection to adhere to best practices and to meet all required standards and regulations.
• Delivering and maintaining a robust enrichment and behavioral management plan for all animals in the collection including operant conditioning training and environmental enrichment.
• Delivering daily opportunities for guests to…