Wildlife Center Coordinator

PROGRAM MANAGER
“Wildlife Center Coordinator”
INFO, EDUCATION & WL RECREATION DIVISION / EDUCATION BRANCH /
PHOENIX, ARIZONA BASED
FLSA- Exempt / SALARY GRADE 22 / HIRING SALARY RANGE $60,000-$75,000
CLOSING DATE: 11/15/2026

The Wildlife Center Coordinator is primarily responsible for ensuring the appropriate training and husbandry for the Department's captive wildlife collection. Supervises the training, handling, husbandry, equipment, and travel logistics for a collection of non releasable birds, mammals and reptiles used in educational programs. Daily live wildlife responsibilities include but are not limited to: diet preparation; feeding and watering; enclosure cleaning and minor repair; animal training and handling; scheduling veterinary visits; and providing behavioral enrichment.

Description of Duties:

- Ensures appropriate care of the Department's captive wildlife collection, including but not limited to: diet preparation; feeding and watering: medical treatments, evaluations, and examinations; enclosure furnishings; handling and training; enclosure cleaning; scheduling veterinary visits; and behavioral enrichment.

- Recruits, trains, supervises, monitors, coaches and evaluates staff/interns (2-6) and volunteers (<15) to meet the needs of the animal care, education outreach programs. Train department staff and volunteers to handle animals for use in educational programs.

- Supervise the training, handling, husbandry, equipment, and traveling cages for a collection of non-releasable birds, mammals and reptiles.

- Responsible for knowing and abiding by proper handling, transportation, presentation, and interaction protocols for a diverse collection of animals in preparation for and during programs.

- Evaluate dietary requirements and effectively adjust diet and nutritional requirements in collaboration with the Curator.

- Develop, implement and supervise safe protocols for all aspects of care for the assigned animal collection including sanitation, health, nutrition, behavior, and behavioral enrichment.

- Collaborate with veterinary staff on the medical care of the animal collection. Maintain records on animal health, maintenance, and usage.

- Manage inventory and purchase goods and services staying within State procurement guidelines.

- Maintain assigned equipment such as vehicles, computers, and structures. Supervise external vendors completing on site maintenance.

- Serve as on site safety and emergency staff for potential evacuation of the animal collection.

- Provide media interviews, including print, radio, television and social media. Deliver quality wildlife education outreach presentations to audiences, both in person and virtually.

- Operate within an established annual budget.

- Participate in the development of annual work plans, collection planning, metric development and provide updates for monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.

The candidate must have knowledge of animal operant conditioning, positive reinforcement, training, public outreach presentations, behavioral enrichment, and captive animal husbandry; delivery of educational programs; supervision; State and Federal laws and regulations pertaining to wildlife; budget and time management. The candidate will have skills in training staff on the proper handling and presentation techniques for the animal collection; enclosure design and modification; excellent verbal communication; delivering educational programs while handling live wildlife; budget management; basic first aid and CPR; conflict resolution; and writing. The candidate must have the ability to promote and represent the Department and Wildlife Center; develop, conduct, evaluate, and modify animal training programs; strong analytical and problem solving; produce detailed oriented work products and by required deadlines; and work independently for extended periods of time, with little or no supervision.

The preferred candidate will have five (5) years of experience managing and directing the care of a collection of live wildlife, handling live wildlife used in educational programs, and possess a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife, Zoology, or related degree or higher learning pertaining to exotic animal care in captivity, biology, zoology, conservation biology, or similar.

Position requires possession of and the ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver’s license appropriate to the assignment.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona offers an outstanding comprehensive benefits package including:
● 13 days’ of vacation
● 12 sick days
● 10 paid holidays
● Tuition Reimbursement Program
● Participation in the nationally recognized Arizona State Retirement System
● Superior health care options
● Vision care, dental care, pharmacy benefits, and flexible spending account (options available)
● Life, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurance options are available
● Many more benefit programs are available

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS). Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Milani Barron at mbarron@azgfd.gov for assistance. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is an Equal Employment Opportunity agency.