Zoological Manager of Elephants

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (CZBG) is a leader in animal care, wildlife conservation, and education. Our Mission is to create adventure, convey knowledge, conserve nature, and serve our community. We accomplish this by inspiring every visitor with wildlife every day by providing opportunities to be close enough to care. We are passionate about our commitment to Animal Excellence and succeed at this by following through pursuing our Core Values of: Collaborative Relationship; Positivity & Energy; Accountability, Mutual Trust & Respect; Progressive Thinking; Pride, Passion & a Sense of Ownership

Summary: The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is looking for a dynamic, forward-thinking Zoological Manager of Elephants to help shape the future of our Asian elephant program and team.

In 2024, we proudly unveiled Elephant Trek-our Zoo's largest and most ambitious habitat yet-underscoring our deep commitment to Asian elephant conservation and care. With the arrival of four additional elephants, our vision is clear: to create a thriving, cohesive, multi-generational breeding herd that sets a new standard for elephant wellbeing.

We're looking for a positive, progressive leader who's passionate about elephants, people, and building strong, supportive teams. In this role, you'll work directly with the elephant care team, helping to foster a culture rooted in respect, collaboration, and continuous growth. You'll play a key role in advancing our program's goals around progressive care, safety, training, and welfare-all while ensuring that the natural history and holistic needs of our elephants are always front and center.

As Zoological Manager, you will:

This role reports directly to the Director of Animal Care and offers an incredible opportunity to help shape a program designed to make a lasting impact for elephants, our team, and our community. Join us as we continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in elephant care and conservation.

Successful candidates are likely to have at least 6 years' experience in elephant care and management, preferably with a breeding herd; and at least 1 year experience in a supervisory position. Experience with footwork, EEHV treatment, social introductions, and bull management are strongly preferred.

• Lead and support all aspects of daily elephant care, ensuring high standards in husbandry, nutrition, safety, and wellbeing.
• Oversee and guide operant conditioning and behavior-based enrichment programs; provide feedback to staff and troubleshoot challenges.
• Monitor individual and herd wellbeing in partnership with the Animal Excellence Scientist; establish and evaluate species-appropriate goals.
• Ensure habitats and surrounding areas are well-maintained, promote natural behaviors, and meet aesthetic and functional expectations.
• Coordinate and participate in veterinary procedures and medical monitoring, including EEHV response and documentation.

• Provide consistent daily leadership and supervision to the elephant team; maintain detailed knowledge of operations, routines, and individual animals.
• Hire, train, coach, and evaluate full-time, temporary, and seasonal staff; develop clear performance expectations and support professional growth.
• Promote a positive, respectful team culture; identify and address team health and interpersonal challenges proactively.
• Facilitate team communication through daily presence, staff meetings, and cross-department collaboration.

• Set and support program goals in alignment with animal wellbeing, guest engagement, and institutional priorities.
• Create, review, and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), breeding/rearing protocols, risk assessments, and all AZA elephant reports.
• Evaluate program status and performance; make recommendations for improvement and support the implementation of new practices.

• Ensure full compliance with all Zoo policies and safety protocols.
• Oversee preparation for and participation in inspections and accreditation processes with AZA, USDA, and other relevant agencies.
• Maintain and implement risk assessments, emergency protocols, and animal transport procedures.

• Manage department operations including payroll, budget planning, purchasing, and work order systems with minimal oversight.
• Submit documentation and reports to support internal processes, professional standards, and institutional goals.
• Support and participate in educational programs, media appearances, conservation messaging, and special events onsite and offsite.
• Represent CZBG positively and professionally to guests, donors, partners, and the broader community.
• Attend and contribute to regional, national, or international conferences as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support efficient and high-quality zoo operations.