What are the responsibilities and job description for the NYA Animal Care Associate - Mammals & Birds position at Wildlife Conservation Society?
About Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
WCS stands for wildlife and wild places. As the world’s premier wildlife conservation organization, WCS has a long track record of achieving innovative, impactful results at scale. We run field programs spanning 60 countries and the entire ocean. We build on a unique foundation: Our reach is global; we discover through best-in-class science; we protect through work on the ground with local and indigenous people; we inspire through our world-class zoos, aquarium, and education programs; and we leverage our resources through partnerships and powerful policy influence. Our more than 4,000 diverse, passionately committed team members in New York City and around the world work collectively to achieve our conservation mission.
Title: Animal Care Associate
Positions: 3
Days: 32 hours per week each (4 days/week)
Salary: Range $19-$21/hr
Period: March 1, 2026 until October 31, 2026
Schedule: Must be able to work weekdays as well as Saturdays, Sundays and holidays
Position Summary: The Marine Mammal and Bird Animal Care Associate (ACA) works in the Aquatheater Show area (Behavioral Husbandry Team) and the Sea Cliffs Exhibit’s Marine Mammal and Penguin areas. This individual provides all elements of basic animal care including but not limited to food preparation, cleaning kitchen and animal areas, feeding the animals, and maintaining basic operant condition training.
The ACA also narrates shows in the Aquatheater show area and communicate with guests during scheduled animal encounters. The ACA can learn to interpret exhibit feeds, and learn to assist with all daily functions of animal care pertaining to both the Sea Cliffs and Behavioral Husbandry Teams.
Principle Duties/Responsibilities:
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
WCS stands for wildlife and wild places. As the world’s premier wildlife conservation organization, WCS has a long track record of achieving innovative, impactful results at scale. We run field programs spanning 60 countries and the entire ocean. We build on a unique foundation: Our reach is global; we discover through best-in-class science; we protect through work on the ground with local and indigenous people; we inspire through our world-class zoos, aquarium, and education programs; and we leverage our resources through partnerships and powerful policy influence. Our more than 4,000 diverse, passionately committed team members in New York City and around the world work collectively to achieve our conservation mission.
Title: Animal Care Associate
Positions: 3
Days: 32 hours per week each (4 days/week)
Salary: Range $19-$21/hr
Period: March 1, 2026 until October 31, 2026
Schedule: Must be able to work weekdays as well as Saturdays, Sundays and holidays
Position Summary: The Marine Mammal and Bird Animal Care Associate (ACA) works in the Aquatheater Show area (Behavioral Husbandry Team) and the Sea Cliffs Exhibit’s Marine Mammal and Penguin areas. This individual provides all elements of basic animal care including but not limited to food preparation, cleaning kitchen and animal areas, feeding the animals, and maintaining basic operant condition training.
The ACA also narrates shows in the Aquatheater show area and communicate with guests during scheduled animal encounters. The ACA can learn to interpret exhibit feeds, and learn to assist with all daily functions of animal care pertaining to both the Sea Cliffs and Behavioral Husbandry Teams.
Principle Duties/Responsibilities:
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Provide educational, dynamic and enthusiastic narrations to small and large groups.
- Perform with and without sea lions and harbor seals in shows in the New York Aquarium’s 1600 seat stadium, the Aquatheater. Animal handling is contingent on the individual’s experience as well as their ability to receive and apply input as well as animal and team needs/ goals.
- Participate in feeds and training sessions with California sea lions, harbor seals, California Sea Otters, and African penguins.
- Provide excellent interchanges with guests, by maintaining general knowledge of park attractions and amenities, answering questions and creating an excellent guest experience in accordance with the values and mission of the Wildlife Conservation and WCS standards of guest service
- Assist Keepers and Trainers with training volunteer and intern staff and overseeing their growth.
- Maintain sound system equipment, stadium, stage and pool cleanliness
- Work outdoors for long periods of time in a variety of sometimes extreme weather conditions.
- Assist the Behavioral Husbandry and Sea Cliffs teams in carrying out any additional operational duties
Salary : $19 - $21