Staff Roles Within The Behavioral Husbandry Program


Science Operations Director

The Science Operations Director (SOD) is responsible for directing program development and continuity for the evidence-based behavior management programs, globally and in their respective parks. To assist in maintaining and to keep the programs progressing, the SOD provides support and leadership to the BHZM and Behavior Analyst for:

  • Ensuring the BH vision, mission, philosophy, and commitments are followed by all partners

  • Effective communication and relationships between the animal care teams and BH, when applicable

  • Providing resources (time, budgeting, technical needs, etc.) that help maintain the programs and assist the progression of the BH programs

  • Foster a positive and inclusive learning environment for both humans and animals

  • Cultivate a culture where everyone seeks to understand different viewpoints and embraces learning from others

  • BHZM and Behavior Analyst career development


Behavioral Husbandry Zoological Manager

The Behavioral Husbandry Zoological Manager (BHZM) is responsible for guiding development and continuity for the evidence-based behavior management programs, globally and in their respective contact animal areas.  To assist in maintaining and to keep the programs progressing, the BHZM provides support and leadership to the animal care teams for:

  • Ensuring the BH vision, mission, philosophy, and commitments are followed by all partners

  • Effective communications and relationships between the animal care teams and BH, when applicable

  • Providing resources (time, budgeting, technical needs, etc.) that help maintain the programs and assist in the progression of the BH programs

  • Creating staff development opportunities in the skills of evidence-based behavior management, as well as promoting awareness of external learning opportunities

  • Ensure staff are doing daily observation and evaluation of animals behavior

  • Ensures staff are knowledgeable in the behavior management tools that can be utilized to change behavior (training, enrichment, social, feeding strategies, environment etc.)

  • Foster a positive and inclusive learning environment for both humans and animals

  • Cultivate a culture where everyone seeks to understand different viewpoints and embraces learning from others

In partnership with specific animal area Zoological Managers (ZM), the BHZM will:

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  • Assist the team in continuous goal setting and prioritization for behavior management

  • Review enrichment and training plans and provide feedback to the team, as requested

  • Partner with teams in measuring behavior change

  • Help build and maintain skills in ZMs, keepers and aquarists on training, enrichment and behavior management techniques

  • Assure the team is following process for approval of training and enrichment initiatives

  • Assure the team is documenting training sessions, enrichment initiatives, and other behavior change strategies using the agreed process 

  • Facilitate effective meetings in regards to behavior management, including problem-solving or topic-specific workshops, when applicable

  • Maintain relationships with partners in regards to behavior management with animals in the collection


Behavior Analyst

The Behavior Analyst, in partnership with the BHZM’s, provides support to animal care teams for:

  • Ensuring the BH vision, mission, philosophy, and commitments are followed by all partners

  • Effective communications and relationships between the animal care teams and BH, when applicable

  • Providing resources (time, budgeting, technical needs, etc.) that help maintain the programs and assist in the progression of the BH programs

  • Creating staff development opportunities in the skills of behavior management, as well as, promoting awareness of external learning opportunities

  • Creating functional analysis as requested and assisting teams through the process

  • Translating scientific principles of behavior to practical applications

  • Ongoing contact with advances in the field of behavior analysis and their applications in the zoological field

  • Foster a positive and inclusive learning environment for both humans and animals

  • Cultivate a culture where everyone seeks to understand different viewpoints and embraces learning from others


Animal Operations Manager

The Animal Operations Manager (AOM) is responsible for the oversight of the implementation of evidence-based behavior management programs within their respective animal areas.  To assist in maintaining and to keep the programs progressing, the AOM provides support and leadership to the area ZMs and BHZM for:

  • Ensuring the vision, mission, philosophy, and commitments are followed by all partners

  • Effective communication and relationships between the animal care teams and BH, when applicable

  • Providing resources (time, budgeting, technical needs, etc.) that help maintain the programs and assist in the progression of the BH programs in their area

  • Foster a positive and inclusive learning environment for both humans and animals

  • Cultivate a culture where everyone seeks to understand different viewpoints and embraces learning from others


Zoological Managers

The area Zoological Manager (ZM) is responsible for the daily operation of all aspects of evidence-based behavior management for their area, providing leadership and support to their team.  To assist in maintaining and to keep the programs progressing, the area ZM provides support and leadership to the animal care staff for:

  • Ensuring the BH vision, mission, philosophy, and commitments are followed by all team members

  • Effective communication and relationships between the animal care teams and BH, when applicable

  • Advocating and providing resources (time, budgeting, technical needs, etc.) that help maintain the programs and assist in the progression of the BH programs

  • Supporting and creating staff development opportunities in the skills of behavior management, internally and externally

  • Review enrichment and training plans and provide timely feedback to cast; request review by partners (veterinarians, nutritionist and behavioral husbandry) as needed

  • Ensure staff are doing daily observation and evaluation of animals behavior

  • Ensures staff are knowledgeable in the behavior management tools that can be utilized to change behavior (training, enrichment, social, feeding strategies, environment etc.)

  • Foster a positive and inclusive learning environment for both humans and animals

  • Cultivate a culture where everyone seeks to understand different viewpoints and embraces learning from others

In partnership with BHZMs, the area ZMs will:

  • Assist the team in continuous goal setting and prioritization for behavior management

  • Ensure measurement of behavior change

  • Coach keepers on training, enrichment and behavior management techniques that align with the ASE Philosophy and Commitments

  • Assure the team is following process for approval of training and enrichment initiatives

  • Assure the team is documenting training, enrichment initiatives, and other behavior change strategies using agreed upon process

  • Facilitate effective meetings in regards to behavior management, including problem-solving or topic-specific workshops, when applicable


Aquarist/Keeper/Trainer

This role is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the evidence-based behavior management programs.  The aquarist/keeper/trainer:

  • Is involved in behavioral goal setting for the animals in their area

  • Involved in the daily observation and evaluation of animals behavior

  • Knowledgeable in the behavior management tools that can be utilized to change behavior (training, enrichment, social, feeding strategies, environment etc.)

  • Initiates the planning and approval processes for training, enrichment initiatives, and other behavior change strategies    

  • Trains and enriches the animals in accordance to the approved plans and initiatives

  • Documents training, enrichment, and other behavior change strategies utilizing agreed upon methods

  • Evaluates documentation and adjusts plans and initiatives with their team

  • Actively participate in a positive and inclusive learning environment for both humans and animals

  • Seek to understand different viewpoints and embrace learning from others


Animal Health Team

The animal health teams supports and participates in many aspects of the behavioral husbandry program.  The contact or case-specific veterinarian is responsible for:

  • Providing feedback for setting and prioritizing behavioral goals for animals within contact areas

  • Communicating with area ZMs and BHZM about any behavioral successes and/or challenges within contact areas

  • Ensuring animal health team supports the BH vision, mission, philosophy, and commitments between animal husbandry and behavioral husbandry

  • Attending routine training sessions when agreed upon to assist the training process (a veterinarian technician may be asked to assist in the training sessions)

  • Clarifying desired aspects of medical procedures to aid in proactive training

  • Foster a positive and inclusive learning environment for both humans and animals

  • Cultivate a culture where everyone seeks to understand different viewpoints and embraces learning from others


Nutrition Team

The nutrition team provides support to the behavioral husbandry program in a variety of ways.  The nutrition team is responsible for:

  • Design diets in conjunction with the Behavioral Health, Veterinary, and Animal Care teams to ensure nutritional, training, enrichment, and medical needs are met

  • Answer questions regarding an animal’s nutritional needs, and coordinate with the ANC in terms of what foods are available and how they can be prepared.

  • Advise on species-appropriate feeding behaviors and activities

  • Develop long-term dietary, health, welfare, and behavioral goals for animals in conjunction with the BH, Veterinary, and AC teams

  • Foster a positive and inclusive learning environment for both humans and animals

  • Cultivate a culture where everyone seeks to understand different viewpoints and embraces learning from others