City of Waco

  • Senior Zookeeper - Herpetology

  • CITY OF WACO, TEXAS
  • 300 Austin Ave, Waco, Texas 76701 United States View Map
Summary

Minimum Starting Salary: $23.0000 per hour

The City of Waco Seeks

Join our team at the Cameron Park Zoo as our next Senior Zookeeper! We are seeking a candidate with experience in the husbandry of a variety of reptiles including Galapagos tortoises, Komodo dragons, Australian geckos, and over 30 species of venomous snakes including King cobras, mambas, and amphibians. Duties include display maintenance, behavior observation, record keeping, nutrition, diet preparation, feeding techniques and disinfection procedures. If you have a passion for caring for animals apply today!

Minimum Qualifications
Required:
  • Associates Degree in Zoology, Biological Sciences, or a related field
  • 3 years of animal care work experience
    • Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Valid Texas Driver's License

Position Overview
Under basic supervision, serves as a lead keeper within the assigned area. This position will assist in overseeing day-to-day operations and will play a primary role in employee training and development. The Senior Zookeeper acts as a liaison between the team and leadership, helping to assure adherence to policies and procedures while developing supervisory skills.

Essential Functions
  • Provides daily care, husbandry, nutrition, enrichment, training, and behavioral observation for assigned animals; monitors health and reports concerns.
  • Maintains animal exhibits and holding areas; prepares and distributes diets, supplements, and medications; maintains animal care records.
  • Assists with veterinary procedures and serves as a liaison between veterinary staff, leadership, and the zookeeper team.
  • Assists with training and mentoring new employees; provides guidance on animal handling, restraint techniques, and safety practices.
  • Exercises sound judgment in animal care, emergencies, and daily operations, particularly in the manager's absence.
  • Recommends and implements improvements to animal husbandry, diets, habitat design, enrichment, and welfare.
  • Presents educational programs and animal demonstrations; promotes wildlife conservation and the Zoo's mission through guest interactions and community outreach.
  • Follows and responds to emergency procedures and all applicable safety protocols.
  • Operates City vehicles to safely transport animals (locally and long distance), pick up supplies, and move equipment to and from service locations in support of daily operations.
  • Complies with all policies and standards.
  • Supports the relationship between the City of Waco and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with residents, visitors, and City staff; maintains confidentiality of work-related issues and City information.
  • Lives the City of Waco Values.


The City of Waco offers a complete benefits package for eligible employees including; health, dental, vision, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Accounts, life insurance, long term and short term disability, retirement, deferred compensation plans, holidays, vacation, sick leave, credit union and savings bonds.

To learn more about the benefits offered, visit our Benefits page.

Why Work For Waco:
  • Meaningful and challenging work
  • Make a difference and improve communities
  • Competitive Salary and Benefits
    • Full Range of Benefits, including Health, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance
    • Mandatory TMRS Retirement Plan with a 2:1 City Match
    • Education Assistance Program
    • Paid Parental Leave
    • Employee Assistance
    • Longevity Pay
    • And More!
  • Chance to do work you are passionate about
  • Desire to give back


Closing Date/Time: 7/31/2026 5:00 PM Central
City of Waco

City of Waco

254-750-5740

Waco is centrally located in the heart of Texas on the I-35 corridor midway between Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin. This progressive and diverse city with a vibrant community spirit offers major attractions, museums, recreation, and abundant shopping to more than 140,000 residents. Waco is the 25th largest city in Texas and the county seat of McLennan County.

Waco is not only briming with Texas history, economic opportunity, and a rich variety of cultural experiences, it is also a major seat of high learning within three major colleges in its city limits including Baylor University, Texas State Technical College and McLennan Community College.

The city is also the birthplace of Dr. Pepper, the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame Museum and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.  Waco boasts one of the biggest and best municipal parks in Texas, Cameron Park. While the park is located in the middle of downtown situated on the Brazos and Bosque River it hosts numerous races, triathlons, boat races and much, much more.

Governance and Organization

Waco is a home rule city with a council-manager form of government. The City Council is comprised of a Mayor, elected at-large, and five City Council members representing single-member districts, all serving two-year terms. The City Council sets the tax rate, approves the budget, appoints members to City boards and commissions, enacts City ordinances, and appoints the City Manager, City Attorney, City Secretary, and the Municipal Court Judge.

The City has a strong Financial Management Policy that guides the operation and delivery of quality City services, contributes to excellent AA+ and Aa1 bond ratings, and maintains an unassigned fund balance reserve in the General Fund equal to 28% of current year budgeted expenditures. The City of Waco has more than 1,600 employees and a total operating budget of over $400 million.

The City provides a full range of municipal services including a regional airport, animal services, building inspections, code enforcement, convention and visitors bureau, emergency management, housing and community development, economic development, fire, public health, library, municipal court, parks and recreation, planning, police, public works, Texas Ranger Hall of Fame Museum, utilities and zoo operations.  

The City Council and City Manager are committed to the mission of providing exemplary municipal services for citizens and visitors in a collaborative and transparent manner while honoring the public’s trust. Waco values include providing excellent and innovative services, promoting equality and inclusion, focusing on teamwork, investing in people and always doing the right thing.

With the City of Waco, you will find our home; where everyone belongs and thrives as move forward together.

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