Job Description
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is an international, nonprofit conservation organization with two front doors: the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. We integrate wildlife health and care, science, and education to develop sustainable conservation solutions.
HOW YOU WILL IMPACT OUR MISSION
The Wildlife Nutrition Student Fellow will participate in day-to-day activities of the Wildlife Nutrition department that would include dietary management, clinical nutrition problem solving, and contributing to conservation projects for both the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. This position reports to the Clinical Wildlife Nutrition Manager. This role provides opportunities to obtain applicable job experience, in the areas of wildlife nutrition, health, and care.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
• Performs a wide variety of tasks related to wildlife dietary management, clinical nutrition problem solving, and SDZWA mission.
• Performs special projects.
• Continues post-secondary education pursuits.
• Obtains professional development.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR
The Wildlife Nutrition Student Fellowship provides an unparalleled six-month opportunity for professional development, growth, and learning through immersion in the field of zoo nutrition. Fellows interact and collaborate with a diversity of professionals, from nutritionists and dietary preparation staff to animal care staff, clinical DVMs, pathology DVMs, education teams, and more. The person in this role will assist with dietary management under supervision of a Clinical Wildlife Nutrition Manager (nutritionist), including communication with animal teams, documentation of current practices, review of past practices and/or animal natural history, body condition scoring of animals, diet formulation, nutritional evaluation, and review of dietary acceptance.
In addition to submitting their resume, applicants should also submit a Cover Letter, Unofficial Transcripts, and at least one Letter of Recommendation written by a faculty member all in PDF format.
This position requires successful completion of a Physical Ability Test, possession of current measles vaccination, and satisfactory completion of a Tuberculosis (TB) Test.
JOB EXPERIENCE
• Must be a recent college graduate (in the last 12 months), or current graduate students having a specific interest in comparative animal nutrition required.
• Completion of introductory Animal Nutrition class which could include livestock, in situ or ex situ Wildlife Species, Pet Species, and/or Human Nutrition course required.
EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS
• Degree in Animal Science, Biology, Nutrition, Wildlife Science, or a related field required.
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
• Able to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
• Effective organization and planning skills.
• Effective customer service skills.
• Able to use Microsoft Office and other computer programs (Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Word).
• Demonstrated ability to work with teams and effectively with others in a diverse environment.
SOME OF THE PERKS YOU WILL ENJOY AS A TEAM MEMBER
• Free admission to the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
• Family Passes
• Complimentary Tickets
• Local and In-House Discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness Program
IMPORTANT DETAILS
• Location: San Diego, CA and Escondido, CA
• Position Type: Hourly Full-Time Non-Exempt Fellowship from June to December
• Hourly Rate: $19.50
Fraudulent Recruiting
Beware of fraudulent recruiting. Legitimate San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance contacts will use an @sdzwa.org email address. We do not request money, checks, equipment orders, or sensitive personal data during the recruitment process. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance only conducts interviews via phone, Zoom, Teams or in-person.
If you have been asked for any of the above, or believe you have been contacted by someone posing as a San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance employee, please e-mail sdzwacareers@sdzwa.org. If you feel that you have been the victim of fraud, please contact your financial institution(s) immediately.
At San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, we celebrate our differences and foster a culture of belonging. Diversity strengthens our employees, enriches our guests’ experiences, deepens our connection to our community, and supports the wildlife we serve.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.
If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, please email your request to sdzwacareers@sdzwa.org and provide the job title and location to which you are applying.
As a Federal Contractor, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is required to participate in the E-Verify Program to confirm eligibility to work in the United States. We are not offering sponsorship for this position at this time.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is a drug free workplace.
