Animal Experience - Associate (Seasonal)

Brookfield Zoo Chicago

tuition reimbursement, 401(k), employee discount

United States, Illinois, Brookfield

8400 31st Street (Show on map)

Jun 05, 2025

Join the PRIDE and Brookfield Zoo Chicago's mission to ignite emotional connections with wildlife that spark conservation action while leading vital programs to protect endangered species. Our beautiful 235-acre campus offers a living classroom that is home to over 3,500 animals representing 500 species. Brookfield Zoo Chicago is embarking on a groundbreaking, ambitious Next Century Plan to achieve our vision. It is the beginning of an exciting transformative journey!

Exciting New Opportunity! Multiple Openings! The Animal Experience Associate (Seasonal) contributes to the success of Brookfield Zoo Chicago ("BZC") by courteously and efficiently accommodating guests' admission needs to public interaction programming and ensuring that all transactions are accurate to assure guests have a quality and enjoyable experience, thus contributing to BZC's goals of providing an extraordinary guest experience and generating revenue.

This is a non-union seasonal/temporary position, grade GS002, with a pay rate of $16.60/hour (effective 04.01.25). For our Benefits Summary Information, follow this link to our Benefits Table or you may copy/paste the following in a new browser tab www.brookfieldzoo.org/custom.czs/files/06/06337b2c-b3db-45a2-8eb2-f8362486bd0e.pdf or scroll to the end of the job description information. (For this position, please refer to the non-union, seasonal employee section).

Brookfield Zoo is open 363 days a year, the work schedule involves working various shifts, including weekdays, weekends, and holidays. We especially appreciate candidates who can commit to consistent weekday availability throughout the year. To ensure that BZC can provide reliable service and maintain a consistent quality experience for our guests, availability of a minimum of three days per week including one day on the weekend is strongly desired. Work schedules are based on the needs of the operation. This position requires the ability to move across Zoo grounds, remain stationary for long periods of time and perform work in a variety of weather conditions. Minimum age of 16.

PRIMARY JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions of the position.

* Obtain knowledge about park-wide public animal experience interaction programming and demonstrate effective customer service skills. To provide guests with essential information to assist them for the best interaction during their animal experience visit.
* Validate experience reservations sold at the paid animal experience check-in areas for guest admittance. Greet and escort guests for paid animal experiences. Collect and record guest participant information needed for guest animal experiences (names, permissions, behavior agreements, minor verifications.)
* Engage guests in celebrating animals and nature by providing participating guests with meaningful and quality experience by providing information about the animals in our care.
* Enforce and communicate safety rules and protocols to guests that are participating in a paid experience and/or engaging with animals in their habitats. Know the communication channels to report animal or guests' behavior that would need additional support while in animal habitat areas.
* Learn point-of-sale (POS) system including basic data entry for onsite animal experience fulfillment. When needed, process revenue for and up-sell animal experiences, packages, and sales and other initiatives as instructed.
* Must familiarize oneself with the zoo and its attractions and be able to enthusiastically and accurately relay information to guests.
* Maintain assigned area to ensure it is clean and presentable to guests and in accordance with department standards.
* Follow and enforce all applicable institutional policies and departmental procedures.
Other related duties as assigned.

* Denotes Essential Job Function(s)

POSITION REQUIREMENTS AND SPECIFICATIONS:

Accurate basic math skills required.
Strong customer service skills required with genuine passion for providing exceptional customer care.

Demonstrated ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.

Ability to communicate with the public required.
Cultural competency; experience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audience.

DESIRABLE/PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

High school diploma or educational equivalent (e.g., GED.) preferred.
Ability to operate a point-of-sales (POS) system desired.
Prior customer service experience helpful.
Multilingual ability, Spanish fluency a plus.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

This position description summarizes the primary duties and functions of this position, but should not be considered a complete listing of every duty the incumbent may ever be called upon to perform.

Must have the ability to work non-standard hours including evenings, holidays, and weekends. Incumbent must have ability to learn and follow BZC policies and departmental procedures and standards. Wild Experience Associates are assigned to work at various internal attraction ticket booths or entrances, and/or access control for general admission or internal attractions.

OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS: See Occupational Requirements Form.

001294/020425

Benefits Summary

We are pleased that you are considering joining our dedicated team at Brookfield Zoo Chicago (BZC). Below is a summary of Brookfield Zoo Chicago's generous employee benefits. Please note, benefits vary based on whether benefits are provided through the Teamsters Union for positions represented by the Teamsters or by Brookfield Zoo Chicago for non-union positions. For non-union positions, some benefits also differ by pay grade classification if noted.

Seasonal Employees

Mental Health: Support, counseling, and resources for life issues at no cost to you. Eligible employees and their immediate family have access to Perspectives, a dynamic Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) which provides 24/7, confidential care and resources to address work and life stressors.

Retirement Savings: A 401(k) savings plan is available for all employees. Choose either pre-tax and/or Roth after-tax contributions. First of the quarter following one year of service, eligible employees receive matching contributions of 50% of the first 6% you contribute.

Other Benefits & Perks for All Employees (unless otherwise noted)

Advanced Inquiry Degree Program	Brookfield Zoo Chicago has partnered with Project Dragonfly at Miami University of Ohio to bring an exciting Master's degree program to the Chicagoland area. The Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) is an inquiry-driven learning experience, allowing participants to take classes from Miami University faculty. Enrollment is open to applicants with a bachelor's degree, regardless of academic major or profession. This program is designed for teachers and other education professionals.
BZC University	The Zoo offers a variety of training, both on-site and via virtual classes and e-learning through Brookfield Zoo Chicago University at no cost to employees, including professional development, skill-building courses, conservation topics, zoo and animal-related topics, safety, leadership development, wellness, and much more. Instructors include guest speakers, staff presenters, and outside trainers.
Tuition Reimbursement	Regular, full-time non-union employees who have at least one year of seniority are eligible to apply for reimbursement of tuition expenses to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year.
Access Credit Union	Employees are eligible immediately upon employment to participate in the credit union. The minimum balance is $5. Savings are insured up to $100,000, and savings accounts, new and used car loans, personal loans, student loans, and much more are available.
Blackhawk Work Perks	Special offers on Chicago Blackhawks games. Tickets start at $30.
Discounted Membership at Loyola Center for Fitness	Corporate discount members receive $0 enrollment and 25% off individual dues. Monthly pricing is subject to the number of people on the membership.
Discounted Day Care	Discounted day care is available through a partnership with KinderCare Education to provide discounted childcare benefits for employees. Covered brands include KinderCare Learning Centers, Children's Creative Learning Center, Inc. (CCLC), and Champions before and after-school care programs. Employees with children enrolled at a participating center save 10% on childcare tuition for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years available at over 100 locations throughout the greater Chicago metropolitan area.
Employee Discounts	Employees may benefit from "Working Advantage," an employee discount program, which offers a wide variety of discounts to staff.
Enterprise-Rent-A-Car	Discounts are available to staff members through Enterprise-Rent-A-Care for their personal use.
Free Flu Vaccines	Each year the Zoo offers free, on-site flu vaccinations to all full-time and regular part-time employees.
Free Admission and Parking	Free admission and parking privileges are provided to Non-Union Full-Time Employees and Union Full-Time Employees only and their immediate family members of BZC employees who have completed the required paperwork.
Free Admission to Other Cultural Institutions	The Zoo has reciprocal agreements with other major Chicagoland cultural institutions which allow employees and certain guests to receive free admission and/or parking pursuant to BZC's policy.
Free Notary Public Service	Several staff are commissioned Notary Publics and provide free notary services to BZC staff.
Freebie Table	Consistent with our conservation ethic, we have a "Freebie" table where staff can place unused/unwanted items that still have value for other staff members to claim. This has been a great way to recycle/upcycle by making unused items available to others.
Little Free Library: Take a Book. Share a Book.	The Zoo has a "Little Free Library" book exchange. If an employee sees a book they would like to read, they can take it, or they may donate a book they have finished. When they are done, they can return it to the Little Free Library or leave it at another Little Free Library location for others to enjoy.
Zoo Day Camp Discount	Zoo staff who register their child(ren) for Summer Camp at Brookfield Zoo Chicago receive a discounted price for a week of camp for each child registered. The discount is limited to immediate family members only (grandchildren included). Lunch and T-shirts are not discounted.
Zoo Discounts	Employee discounts are available on BZC gift shop and restaurant purchases, including 25 cent drinks when the Zoo-issued drink cup is used.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago is open 363 days each year. Work schedules vary with each position. This position may require the ability to work a non-traditional schedule on-site that may include holidays, weekends, mornings and/or evenings.

The mission of Brookfield Zoo Chicago is to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people to wildlife and nature. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, American Humane, and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. Brookfield Zoo Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer.