Summer Internship – Zoological Operations

SEASONAL POSITION

At Discovery Cove Orlando, we’re passionate about caring for animals. In fact, we’ve already rescued over 40,000 animals (and counting!). And we can save you from being stuck in just another job. Join us and help bring joy, excitement, and lasting memories to people from around the world. We’re seeking enthusiastic, dedicated, and hard-working individuals to become our Ambassadors. Join us and play an important part on our incredible team!

The timeframe for this summer internship is: May 12, 2025 – August 8, 2025

What you get to do:

• Attend seminars held by various departments within the park, including Culinary Operations, Design & Engineering, Entertainment, Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, Merchandise, and Park Operations as well as visiting Professors.
• Park tours with members of your leadership team
• Planned meeting sessions with members of the park’s leadership team
• Complete a Team project where groups of Interns will work on a real-world business case and present their findings and recommendations directly to Senior Leadership.
• Interns will have the experience of front-line involvement, overseeing a team of employees and providing guidance and direction to their team as they interact with thousands of guests daily

Daily Responsibilities:
Provide care and compassionate training to a variety of magnificent animals. You will perform daily husbandry tasks, including administering vitamins and medications as directed, preparing food, and maintaining a safe and sanitary working area for all animal habitats. You will also help ensure guest, personal, and animal safety through diligent observation and response to any and all behavioral precursors of potentially harmful behavior by both animals and people.

• Observe animals and report any abnormalities to supervisor and team
• Maintain all animal records and equipment
• Ensure working environment follows established guidelines and safety procedures
• Consistently display consideration, tolerance, cooperation, open communication, and reliability
• Support education and general public shows in order to develop speaking skills and stage presence
• Proactively engage with guests and respond to guest inquiries
• Help prepare educational aspects of shows
• Serve as secondary animal person and safety spotter when needed
• Act as primary trainer when approved and as directed by leadership
• Work with animals on basic behavior and behavioral modification techniques under supervision
• Represent company in public relations or media situations/events
• Perform primary roles as assigned by area leadership
• Engage in and execute all aspects of guest interaction programs
• Work with animals using behavioral modification techniques as instructed
• Train behavior to completion under minimal supervision

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. This is not an all-encompassing list and additional duties may be assigned based on business needs. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

What it takes to succeed:  

• Must be currently pursuing a college degree
• Commit to working through the 2025 peak operating season (mid May– mid August)
• Flexible availability (schedules include nights, weekend and holidays). Must be able to work on Tuesday’s.
• Excellent human relations and communication skills
• Must be able to lift, push, pull and/or carry up to 50 lbs.
• Position engages in extensive walking and standing throughout entire work shift and climb/ascend heights, if needed
• Perform the following physical activities: kneeling, squatting, bend floor-to waist/waist-to-overhead, reach overhead, simple grasp and fine hand manipulation tasks (use of tools/keyboard/writing)
• Must be able to work indoors and outdoors, in varying weather, to include extreme heat. Position may be exposed to fumes, dust, odors and cold/heat temperature extremes
• Perform cleaning duties; including use of cleaning chemicals
• Work a flexible schedule/hours based on business need, to include opening, mid-, and closing shifts; nights, weekends, and holidays
• Must be flexible in work locations as placement will depend on business needs and career development opportunities

The perks of the position: Ambassadors will enjoy a fun, fast-paced environment, and great teammates, as well as:

• FREE park admission
• Discounts on park admission tickets and passes for family and friends
• Park discounts on food, merchandise, etc.
• Scholarship opportunities
• Exclusive employee events and giveaways

EEO Employer:

SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT REGARD TO AGE, RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, PREGNANCY, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, DISABILITY OR COVERED VETERAN STATUS.