Sue Crissey Animal Nutrition Residency Fund – SCARF [updated 14 June 2023]

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ZWNF Sue Crissey Animal Nutrition Residency Fund Grant – AWARDED (Updated 14 June 2023)

The Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition Foundation is excited to announce the Sue Crissey Animal Nutrition Residency Grant has been awarded to the Philadelphia Zoo.

The grant is to support the training and development of the zoo nutrition professionals of tomorrow. These professionals will need both a strong educational background in animal nutrition as well as the skills required to manage a multifaceted nutrition program within an AZA institution.  The residency program is intended to give qualified candidates the opportunity to develop these skills prior to full employment within an AZA institution. We look forward to Barbara Toddes, her team, and Zoo shaping the next zoo nutritionist.

The Philadelphia Zoo has started the search for the resident and the position announcement is below. If you or anyone you know is interested in the position, please reach out to Barbara Toddes.

SCARF Nutrition Resident at the Philadelphia Zoo

Who We Are:

Philadelphia Zoo works to fulfill our mission as an animal care organization, as a resource to schools and families, and as an ark and advocate for endangered animals around the world.

What makes the Zoo a unique place to work? Whether you are involved with caring for animals, educating our visitors or working in a behind-the-scenes position in administration, maintenance or garden services, all of our positions share our institutional mission, purpose, and core values.

Who We Are Looking For:

The Philadelphia Zoo is proud to offer a unique opportunity for a Nutrition Resident to train under our Nutrition Program Director in a two-year training program funded by the ZWNF – SCARF program.

You will learn to:

  1. Formulate, monitor, and evaluate diets of all animals in the Zoo using the best information available on:
  • Natural feeding ecology
  • Requirements of model domestic animals
  • Probable exotic animal requirements
  • Animal intake data meeting biological requirements and providing for optimal animal health, well-being, and reproduction.
  • Foods available
  • Husbandry considerations, including environmental enhancement
  • Application of data from physiological samples
  1. Plan and manage all aspects of commissary operations including setting product, nutrient, and manufacturing specifications, approving vendors, products, and purchases as well as writing vendor proposals to:
  • Provide high quality food and feed items for all collection animal
  • Procure these items at competitive price
  • Provide items that have been properly stored and processed
  • Decrease food waste where possible
  • Provide correct diets in appropriate quantities
  • Test diet formulations for animal acceptability and conformation to specifications
  • Maintain proper quality control of food and feed items
  • Food service sanitation
  1. Increase knowledge of nutritional requirements of diverse animal species by designing and conducting studies, advising, publishing, and presenting papers on zoo nutrition research:
  • Develop research skills including problem solving, collecting and analyzing data
  • Utilize the animal collection for research
  • Understand and conduct, when appropriate, studies with model species
  • Learn application of field research by participating in field projects when possible
  • Establish cooperative research projects.
  1. The value of nutrient analysis
  • Choose the correct laboratory and analysis for samples.
  • Prepare samples for laboratory analysis.
  • Complete sample submittal forms
  • Review laboratory reports, follow-up with laboratory on unexpected results
  • Record or add results to zoo database.
  • Use analysis in diet formulations.
  1. Plan for and manage department staff and resources.
  • Schedule job assignments
  • Provide training and development
  • Gain experience in managing staff and students including coaching and performance evaluations
  • Develop and manage budgets
  1. Build cooperative relationships/teams
  • Work with animal managers and keepers
  • Work with other disciplines within the zoo (veterinarians, behaviorists, researchers, curators, horticulturist, etc.)
  • Build relationships outside the zoo (local universities, hospitals, other professionals)
  1. Represent the Zoo before other zoos, conservation societies, professional and educational organizations, and federal and state agencies to present the Zoo’s position on nutrition in a well-informed, positive, responsive manner.
  • Write articles and make presentations to those bodies as requested
  • Actively pursue exchanges of information
  • Present at a ZWNF/NAG and/or CNS conference.
  • Serve as or assist a TAG/SPP nutrition advisor.
  • Participate on the SCARF fund raiser committee
  • Participate in NAG subcommittees or projects.

What This Role Requires:

The ideal applicant will have interest in becoming a Clinical Animal Nutritionist at an AZA accredited Zoo and minimally possess…

  • Strong desire to become a Zoo and Wildlife Clinical Nutritionist within an AZA Zoo.
  • Willingness and ability to commit two years to the ZWNF Nutrition Residency at the Philadelphia Zoo.
  • A master’s degree in animal or human nutrition.
  • 1 year work or volunteer experience at an animal facility (zoo, rehab, farm, vet…) in diet. preparation/nutrition or a thesis topic pertaining to zoo or wildlife animal nutrition.

How to Apply:

Please apply through the Philadelphia Zoo Website http://www.phildelphia zoo.org  Careers at the Zoo