1-800-258-9182

Employment

Thank you for your interest in becoming part of the Southwick’s Zoo team!

Questions about working at Southwick’s Zoo? Email HR@southwickszoo.com.

*If you are looking for information regarding Animal Care Internships or Education Internships with EARTH Limited and Southwick’s Zoo, click HERE.

*If you are looking for information about employment at Galliford’s Restaurant & Tavern (front of house, back of house, and event staff positions), click HERE.

Requirements For All Positions

Seasonal positions are part-time, and schedules will vary weekly for most positions.

Please review the position descriptions below before completing your application to determine which position you are best suited for. 

  • Availability: Applicants must be available to work during our normal zoo season (April through October) including weekdays, weekends, holidays unless stated otherwise. Evening shifts may also be available to work during Winter Wonderland, open October – December.
  • All applicants under 18 years old are required to have work permits submitted before their start date.
  • All applicants must be comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions unless otherwise stated in the job position requirements.
  • All job positions can be assigned additional duties as required by management.

 Seasonal Positions

Please review the positions below to determine which position you are best suited for. Please do not apply for positions unless you meet both age and job requirements. Sorry, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we will not be able to consider applications that do not meet all requirements, and not all applicants will be contacted.

Click position titles to expand for full descriptions. Click the button below to apply.

Reach out to hr@southwickszoo.com with any questions. At this time we are fully staffed.

Animal Care Positions

Apply for an Animal Care Position

Primate Department (Applicants must be 21+)

Summary

This full or part time position performs basic animal husbandry for a wide variety of primates and other animals in the department. The position reports to the Managers of the Primate Department, or the department Lead in the absence of the Manager.

Duties

  • Responsible for daily care and feeding of animals in the department that they have been approved to care for.
  • Ensures that enrichment is appropriate and provided for all animals in the department.
  • Must attend zoo wide meetings and complete all training required by Southwick’s Zoo
  • May be involved with training of animals in the department as requested under the supervision of an Animal Care Specialist, Animal Care Lead or Department Manager.
  • May be involved with animal presentations at the discretion of the department manager or lead.
  • Other Duties as assigned

Requirements

  1. High School Diploma or GED required. Bachelor’s degree preferred
  2. Must be at least 21 years old
  3. Valid Driver’s license to drive company vehicles
  4. Strong observational skills with the ability to identify signs of illness, injury or distress in animals
  5. Must have the ability to regularly stand, walk, sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, talk/hear and smell.
  6. Must be able to lift 100 lbs regularly
  7. Must be able to follow safety protocols
  8. Will be exposed to allergens including, but not limited to, dust and hay. May occasionally be exposed to unpredictable animal behavior.
  9. Must be able to work in a variety of weather conditions including humid, wet and cold or icy conditions on a regular basis.
  10. Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks and make decisions in a fast-paced, changeable environment. Must have reasoning skills to solve practical problems (including math) and deal with a variety of concrete variables in a situation where limited standardization exists.
  11. Must be able to work on a computer and learn computer software to document care and respond to emails.
  12. Must be able to maintain accurate animal care documents in writing or on a computer.
  13. Must be able to work independently and also as part of a team.
  14. Must be able to interact professionally and positively with zoo guests.
  15. Assist with zoo wide customer support and emergency procedures as needed.
  16. Must be available to work weekends and holidays as required.

Application Instructions

To apply for the position, please email your cover letter, resume, and professional references to hr@southwickszoo.com.

Education/Reptile Department (Applicants must be 21+)

Summary

This full or part time position performs basic animal husbandry for a wide variety of animals in the department. The position reports to the Manager of the Education and Reptile Department, or the department Lead in the absence of the Manager.

Duties

  • Responsible for daily care and feeding of animals in the department that they have been approved to care for.
  • Ensures that enrichment is appropriate and provided for all animals in the department.
  • Must attend zoo wide meetings and complete all training required by Southwick’s Zoo
  • May be involved with training of animals in the department as requested under the supervision of an Animal Care Specialist, Animal Care Lead or Department Manager.
  • Will be involved with animal presentations at the discretion of the department manager or lead.
  • Participates in and supports after-hours events, fundraisers and other EARTH Limited sponsored events
  • Perform membership transactions and administrative tasks as needed.
  • Other Duties as assigned

Requirements

  1. High School Diploma or GED required. Bachelor’s degree preferred
  2. Must be at least 21 years old
  3. Valid Driver’s license to drive company vehicles
  4. Strong observational skills with the ability to identify signs of illness, injury or distress in animals
  5. Must have the ability to regularly stand, walk, sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, talk/hear and smell.
  6. Must be able to lift 50 lbs regularly and 100 lbs occasionally
  7. Must be able to follow safety protocols
  8. Will be exposed to allergens including, but not limited to, dust and hay. May occasionally be exposed to unpredictable animal behavior.
  9. Must be able to work in a variety of weather conditions including humid, wet and cold or icy conditions on a regular basis.
  10. Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks and make decisions in a fast-paced, changeable environment. Must have reasoning skills to solve practical problems (including math) and deal with a variety of concrete variables in a situation where limited standardization exists.
  11. Must be able to work on a computer and learn computer software to document care and respond to emails.
  12. Must be able to maintain accurate animal care documents in writing or on a computer.
  13. Must be able to work independently and also as part of a team.
  14. Must be able to interact professionally and positively with zoo guests.
  15. Assist with zoo wide customer support and emergency procedures as needed.
  16. Must be available to work weekends and holidays as required.

Application Instructions

To apply for the position, please email your cover letter, resume, and professional references to hr@southwickszoo.com.

We do not have any animal care openings at this time. To inquire about future animal care employment opportunities at Southwick’s Zoo, please call 800-258-9182 ext 209 or mail your cover letter (addressed to Betsey Brewer), resume, and two professional references to:

Attn: Animal Care
Southwick’s Zoo
2 Southwick’s Street
Mendon, MA 01756