Careers & Internships

Want a work/wildlife balance?

ZooTampa is Florida’s most popular cultural institution, welcoming over 1 million visitors annually and creating unforgettable connections with wildlife and each other. Whether you are passionate about creating an exceptional guest experience in the park, support the Zoo’s continued growth and development, or anything in-between, there is an opportunity for everyone to embark on their next career step while having a lasting impact in protecting wildlife and the world we share.

Careers and Internships - ZooTampa at Lowry Park

About ZooTampa

Our Mission

Rescue, rehabilitate and care for animals; create exceptional personalized experiences that connect people with wildlife and each other in fun, immersive ways.

Our Vision

Everyone we touch is motivated to join us in taking action to protect and preserve wildlife.

Core values & cultural principles

Resourcefulness

Leadership in all aspects of our organization through persistance, collaborations, and imagination.

Innovation – Doing things the way they have always been done—even if it led to past success—doesn’t necessarily lead to future success. We must reimagine the future, think differently, challenge the status quo, and change the rules.

Discipline – Carefully analyze the logic and rationale behind every decision and act accordingly.

Common Sense – We must listen to and trust our instinct.

Excellence

The highest level of examplary animal care, operational actions, and sustainable practices.

Quality – Consistent attention to every detail is a sacred trust that is never compromised.

Humility – We cannot become complacent, arrogant, or take success for granted. We must always work hard to be a leader in our field and deliver on our brand promise every day.

Simplicity – Reducing something to its essential elements isn’t always easy. Nothing is so complex that it cannot be distilled to one page. It requires strong organizational skills and those who do it well are extremely valuable to our organization.

Safety – We prioritize and hold ourselves accountable for the well-being of our guests, employees, and animals.

inclusivity

A welcoming, equitable environment that promotes the success of all, encourages diverse perspectives to be heard, and values individual differences.

Communication – Open and honest communication between all levels is fundamental to our success and ensures everyone knows where the company is going and how we plan to get there. Active, two-way communication is essential. Leadership must encourage input and actively listen to employees. This is necessary to generate diversity in ideas and will result in a more committed workforce.

Planning – Take the initiative to design and commit to a desirable future and invent ways to get there. We encourage individual and team participation so that everyone is a part of the planning process.

Honesty – Always maintain an unwavering commitment to truth, integrity and objectivity. We interact honestly and respectfully with all our employees, guests and partners, and we expect the same in return. It is imperative that we operate our organization in a simple, clear and transparent way.

Guest-focused

Provide consistent, unmatched customer service to every guest on every visit.

Memorable Connections – We are set apart by our ability to provide world-class customer service. Our front-line employees are the face of ZooTampa and their influence guarantees we can achieve our mission.

Fun – We all must enjoy what we do, be excited by challenges, and energized by possibilities. We work hard but we also should have fun.

benefits

Working at ZooTampa has unique benefits beyond typical medical coverage and sick days—perks you can’t find anywhere else. Your morning might begin with a streak of color soaring overhead—that would be our vibrant macaws performing their daily flyover. Perhaps you’ll feel what it’s like to have a 4,000-pound rhino eating out of your hand—don’t worry, their slobber is non-toxic.
The benefits extend far beyond the walls of our Zoo. Working at ZooTampa means you’ll be an important part of a respected non-profit organization dedicated to supporting conservation efforts, not just in Florida but globally. As a result, your day-to-day job will have a lasting impact on wildlife, as well as on the guests who visit ZooTampa.

Join the ZooTampa team, and help us in our mission.

Featured Benefits

Medical coverage
ZooTampa Membership
Paid Time Off
  • Zoo Membership plus 10 General Admission tickets to share with your friends and family
  • Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance
  • Vacation/Paid Time Off
  • Sick Time
  • Holiday Pay
  • 403(b) Retirement with Match
  • Short and Long Term Disability
  • Telemedicine by First Stop Health
  • Flexible Savings Account
  • Performance Awards
  • Service Recognition Awards
  • Discounted auto insurance from Farmers Insurance
  • Family Premium Membership to MOSI and Florida Aquarium
  • Access to free and/or discounted tickets through Attraction Share
  • Access to Tickets at Work
  • Many other discounts including AAA
  • Merchandise discounts
  • Food & Beverage discounts, $5 employee meals
  • Discounts to Pet Insurance from Healthy Paws
  • Access to Employee Assistance Program
  • Gold’s Gym Membership
  • Zoo Membership plus 4 General Admission tickets to share with your friends and family
  • 403(b) Retirement with Match
  • Telemedicine by First Stop Health
  • Performance Awards
  • Service Recognition Awards
  • Discounted auto insurance from Farmers Insurance
  • Family Premium Membership to MOSI and Florida Aquarium
  • Access to free and/or discounted tickets Attraction Share
  • Access to Tickets at Work
  • Many other discounts including AAA
  • Merchandise discounts
  • Food & Beverage discounts, $5 employee meals
  • Discounts to Pet Insurance from Healthy Paws
  • Gold’s Gym Membership
  • Zoo Membership plus 2 General Admission tickets to share with your friends and family
  • Service Recognition Awards
  • Discounted auto insurance from Farmers Insurance
  • Family Premium Membership to MOSI and Florida Aquarium
  • Access to free and/or discounted tickets Attraction Share
  • Access to Tickets at Work
  • Many other discounts including AAA
  • Merchandise discounts
  • Food & Beverage discounts, $5 employee meals
  • Discounts to Pet Insurance from Healthy Paws
  • Gold’s Gym Membership

In Their Words

Hear from some of our team members about what they love most working at ZooTampa!

What Interests you?

Discover the opportunities that are available and find which position best suits your next career chapter.

  • Careers and Internships - ZooTampa at Lowry Park

    Guest Service

  • Creating exceptional experiences for our guests is at the core of our operations. If you’re passionate about making our guest’s visit unforgettable, you may be interested in the following positions:

    • Guest Correspondence
    • Guest Services Representative
    • Retail
    • Food & Beverage
    • Rides & Attractions Representative
  • Careers and Internships - ZooTampa at Lowry Park

    Operations Support

  • An exceptional guest experience would not be possible without operations teams who work to provide a beautiful, immersive environment, clean facilities, build, construct and maintain our buildings and habitats, and keep us and our guests safe. These jobs include:

    • Horticulture
    • Park Security and Safety
    • Maintenance & Facilities
    • Park Quality
  • Memberships

    Business Support

  • ZooTampa could not continue to grow and evolve without the dedicated teams of our Business Support. From finance to development, marketing to human resources, each team plays a pivotal role in keeping our business up and running so we can continue working towards our mission of protecting and preserving wildlife and creating exception guest experiences. Our Business Support positions include:

    • Administration
    • Finance
    • Human Resources
    • Marketing & Communications
    • Business Analytics
    • Sales & Partnerships
    • IT
  • Zookeepers up close with baby white rhino

    Animal Care & Health

  • Our animal care team is made of dedicated, passionate team members who are focused on providing the best world-class care to the animals who call ZooTampa home. Saving species in today’s world takes vision, innovation, and collaboration and all of this would not be possible without the commitment our animal care teams have to ZooTampa and protecting and preserving wildlife and the natural world we share. Our animal care and health positions include:

    • Animal Care Team
    • Veterinarian
    • Nutrition
    • Curator
    • Behavioral Research & Training
    • Water Quality Technician
  • Careers and Internships - ZooTampa at Lowry Park

    Guest Engagement

  • Inspiring guests, members, and our community to join us in saving wildlife requires educating and inspiring everyone we touch. Our Guest Engagement team is responsible for delivering our conservation messages to visitors through creative and immersive programs. Jobs in our Guest Engagement team include:

    • Guest Engagement Guide
    • Education
    • Conservation
    • Visitor Research
    • Specialty Tours

Creating exceptional experiences for our guests is at the core of our operations. If you’re passionate about making our guest’s visit unforgettable, you may be interested in the following positions:

  • Guest Correspondence
  • Guest Services Representative
  • Retail
  • Food & Beverage
  • Rides & Attractions Representative

An exceptional guest experience would not be possible without operations teams who work to provide a beautiful, immersive environment, clean facilities, build, construct and maintain our buildings and habitats, and keep us and our guests safe. These jobs include:

  • Horticulture
  • Park Security and Safety
  • Maintenance & Facilities
  • Park Quality

ZooTampa could not continue to grow and evolve without the dedicated teams of our Business Support. From finance to development, marketing to human resources, each team plays a pivotal role in keeping our business up and running so we can continue working towards our mission of protecting and preserving wildlife and creating exception guest experiences. Our Business Support positions include:

  • Administration
  • Finance
  • Human Resources
  • Marketing & Communications
  • Business Analytics
  • Sales & Partnerships
  • IT

Our animal care team is made of dedicated, passionate team members who are focused on providing the best world-class care to the animals who call ZooTampa home. Saving species in today’s world takes vision, innovation, and collaboration and all of this would not be possible without the commitment our animal care teams have to ZooTampa and protecting and preserving wildlife and the natural world we share. Our animal care and health positions include:

  • Animal Care Team
  • Veterinarian
  • Nutrition
  • Curator
  • Behavioral Research & Training
  • Water Quality Technician

Inspiring guests, members, and our community to join us in saving wildlife requires educating and inspiring everyone we touch. Our Guest Engagement team is responsible for delivering our conservation messages to visitors through creative and immersive programs. Jobs in our Guest Engagement team include:

  • Guest Engagement Guide
  • Education
  • Conservation
  • Visitor Research
  • Specialty Tours

Current Job Openings

Working at ZooTampa means you’ll be an important part of a respected non-profit organization dedicated to supporting conservation efforts, not just in Florida, but globally. Your day-to-day job will have a lasting impact on wildlife, as well as on the guests who visit ZooTampa.


We offer outstanding opportunities for applicants seeking careers in hospitality, animal care, skilled trades, horticulture, education, marketing, finance and more. Join us in our mission to rescue, rehabilitate and care for animals; create exceptional personalized experiences that connect people with wildlife and each other in fun, immersive ways.


ZooTampa is proud to be an equal opportunity employer of choice within the Tampa Bay community. We are a Drug-Free Workplace and participate in E-Verify.


For Food & Beverage opportunities, please visit Spectra Job Listings.

Careers FAQs

Your resume should include your skills and accomplishments that might be applicable to the position you’re applying to.
Certain positions require a cover letter. If it’s not required of the job you’re applying to, it would definitely be helpful for our hiring manager in determining your candidacy.

Spectra is our exclusive F&B provider. For those opportunities, please apply directly to Spectra here and search the job openings by typing in ZooTampa.

No, applications for employment are only accepted for currently advertised open positions.
Of course! Keep in mind that a separate application is required for each position.
Hiring managers will review completed applications and will directly contact candidates who are selected for further consideration.
Of course! Besides the listed requirements of the job, we are looking for candidates with great customer service skills. Whether your interview is over the phone or in person, make sure you demonstrate those skills! (Hint: A genuine smile with a positive attitude is a big plus!)
Most of the positions here are not a “suit & tie” type of a job so business casual will be appropriate.

You will receive an auto-generated email from ZooTampa at Lowry Park noreply@echo.newtonsoftware.com.

Please review our booking tips before continuing

Outside Food & Drinks Policy

ZooTampa at Lowry Park offers a variety of delicious food for guests at several restaurants and concession stands throughout, but we understand that guests may need to bring outside food for special dietary needs. Acceptable and prohibited food items are listed below. For the convenience of our guests, there is a picnic area located outside the park near the main parking lot.

 Acceptable Items
  • Bottled water (max 20oz bottle, sealed) one per guest
  • Small snacks for young children
  • Baby food/baby formula
  • Soft-sided insulated bags no larger than 8.5” wide x 6” high x 6” deep (limit one per child)
  • Pre-purchased empty ZooTampa souvenir cups
  • Any food required for medical purposes and medically-indicated nutritional supplements
 Prohibited Items
  • Prepared or packaged food or meals
  • Alcohol
  • Glass or any open containers or water bottles filled with beverages
  • Hard-sided coolers of any size
  • Soft-sided coolers larger than 8.5” wide x 6” high x 6” deep
  • Suitcases and soft-sided bags with wheels larger than 24” long x 15” wide x 18” high

Prohibited Items

For the safety of our animals, guests and employees, the following items are not permitted to be brought into ZooTampa:

  • Any type of explosive or weapon
  • Knives or other sharp objects
  • Pepper spray
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Marijuana
  • Illegal drugs
  • Straws
  • Clothing likely to create a danger or disturbance
  • Any hazardous items or materials

The following items are also prohibited to avoid blocking of walkways and/or trip hazards:

  • Segways
  • Hover boards
  • Two-wheeled scooters
  • Self-balancing electric vehicles
  • Shoes with wheels
  • Drones
  • Hard-sided coolers of any size
  • Soft-sided coolers larger than 8.5” wide x 6” high x 6” deep
  • Suitcases and soft-sided bags with wheels larger than 24” long x 15” wide x 18” high

Please leave any unnecessary articles secured within your vehicle to expedite your entry into the park.

We reserve the right to deny entry to anyone not observing Zoo Rules.

Pay For A Day Tickets

With a new Pay For A Day, Rest of Year Free ticket – for a limited time – you get unlimited admission through December 31, 2023 including access to our seasonal event series. Some blockout dates apply — see below for details. Not valid with any other discounts.

When does my Pay For A Day ticket expire?

For a limited time, new Pay for a Day, Rest of Year Free tickets are valid from the day of purchase until 12/31/2023 Pay for a Day, Rest of Year Free tickets which were purchased prior to October 1st, 2022 are valid until 12/31/2022.

What are the blockout dates?

3/11/23 – 3/19/23
11/24/23 – 11/26/23
12/26/23 – 12/31/23

Can I purchase a Pay For A Day ticket on a blockout date?

Yes! You can purchase a Pay for a Day, Rest of Year Free ticket for first-time use on a listed blockout date and have full access to the park on that day. Blockout dates apply to repeat visitation.

Can I use my Pay For A Day ticket on blockout dates?

If you already have your Pay for a Day, Rest of Year Free ticket and wish to visit during a listed blockout date, please stop by the Zoo’s ticketing windows for alternate options:

  1. During blockout periods, Pay For A Day ticket holders have access to significantly discounted single-day tickets.
  2. For a limited time from the date of purchase, Pay For A Day tickets can be upgraded to a Zoo Membership (with no blockout dates).
I purchased a Pay For A Day ticket online. How do I get my actual ticket?

Bring a copy of your confirmation (or show the confirmation email on your mobile device) to expedite entry into the Zoo. At your convenience during your visit you can stop by the Tours & Guest Services kiosk located just inside the Zoo to print your physical pass. No need to stand in line at the ticket windows. Walk right in!
Still have questions? Email us or call (813) 935-8552 ext. 0.