Ocelot Conservation Facility Manager

About the role

The Ocelot Conservation Facility Manager leads the care and management of wild felids and their prey at Texas A&M University‑Kingsville’s Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute. Reporting to senior leadership, the manager ensures the health, welfare, and sustainability of the animal collection while supporting teaching, research, and conservation initiatives.

Key responsibilities

• Oversee daily husbandry, welfare monitoring, nutrition, enrichment, and training of wild felids and prey species.
• Manage commissary operations, including feed preparation, inventory control, and supply ordering.
• Maintain accurate animal inventories and tracking systems.
• Supervise, recruit, train, and evaluate animal care technicians, creating schedules that cover weekends and holidays.
• Implement the Felid Health Program in compliance with USDA standards and institute SOPs.
• Coordinate with the Staff Veterinarian to support veterinary care and health record keeping.

Required profile

• Experience supervising animal care staff in a wildlife or research setting.
• Demonstrated ability to manage facility operations and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Commitment to animal welfare, conservation, and sustainable practices.

Required skills

• Knowledge of USDA animal welfare regulations and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Proficiency in inventory management and record‑keeping systems.
• Experience with animal nutrition, enrichment, and health monitoring.