San Diego Zoo Global – Director of Nutritional Services
San Diego Zoo Global is seeking a Director of Nutritional Services to lead the Nutritional Services team supporting an animal collection of 7,300+ specimens. This position focuses on clinical nutrition and manages the Nutritional Services Departments at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park in defining and coordinating nutrition and dietary husbandry of SDZG’s internal and external off-site animal specimens.
The successful applicant will have a Ph.D in Animal Science or Wildlife Science (Nutrition emphasis) or Human Nutrition or DVM with advanced nutritional training. Animal husbandry, applied nutrition research or research laboratory operations experience is needed. Professional Certification and/or Board Certification is desirable. Considerable experience with formulating diets for domestic and zoo animals is required as is knowledge of food handling, quality control, HACCP, and biosecurity. Applicants must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to provide leadership and manage/supervise staff. In addition, the ability to develop and manage budgets is required. This person will work closely with Nutritional Services Team members, Veterinary Services, Animal Care Managers/Supervisors, Keepers and Researchers. Proficiency with personal computer-based word processing, presentation, spreadsheet, statistics and database systems is essential. Demonstrated laboratory skills and zoo experience is desired.
Key duties include formulating, maintaining, and documenting individual animal diets; researching, reviewing and approving all consumable items including complete feeds, produce, browse and enrichment food items; establishing quality control and monitoring programs to ensure suitability of foodstuff; developing training programs, supervising Associate Nutritionist, Nutritional Services Managers, and Administrative staff; developing, administer and monitor budgets; serve as nutrition advisor to tags ad SSP’s; performing investigative studies as required; and participating in fundraising. The incumbent will report to the San Diego Zoo Global Corporate Director of Animal Health and will work at both the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Must have a good driving record and a valid California driver license.
All newly hired animal care staff and educators with responsibility for regularly caring for collection animals are REQUIRED to complete and pass (4) on-line prerequisite classes prior to reporting to their department. Human Resources will schedule this training as part of the on-boarding program. For current employees transferring into an animal care department, these classes MUST be completed and passed prior to the transfer. Additionally, the incumbent will also complete the Introduction to Nutrition course.
Pre-requisite courses include:
- Zoonotic Disease Prevention and Bio-Security
- Working Safely With Dangerous Animals
- Government Regulations and Compliance (USDA/OSHA)
- The Fundamentals of Animal Learning
- Introduction to Nutrition
**Passing grade for classes is 90%
One of the essential functions of this position is the ability to drive a SDZ Global vehicle. If you are offered employment in this position, you will be asked to authorize SDZ Global to access your current driving report through the DMV’s Employer Pull Notice Program. Your hiring for this position will be contingent on SDZ Global receiving an acceptable driving report from you. In addition, your continued employment in the position will depend on you maintaining an acceptable driving record. You may obtain a list of conditions that disqualify a person from driving an SDZ Global vehicle from a Human Resources Representative. For more job information and to apply: www.sandiegozoo.org/jobs. Deadline: Tuesday, November 17, 2015 by 9:30 PM Pacific Time.
