Pros
The animals are treated very well, spared no expense for veterinary care. Working with primarily rescued animals is of course rewarding. The Animal Care and Education staff are knowledgeable and passionate about what they do. As a ZAA Accredited facility, Austin Zoo is held to a high standard for husbandry and education. In a management position, I did appreciate some flexibility in my schedule (after I worked almost every day for well over a year) and was compensated competitively. I was able to experience creative freedom and grow a department virtually from the ground up. I loved that even though I was a manager, I was still involved in ambassador animal care, facilitating programs, program development, etc. Being boots on the ground is always more rewarding than being stuck behind a desk.
Cons
I would say the 3 biggest downsides are lack of communication, staff morale is not prioritized, and turnover is high. Additionally, management level employees are essentially expected to work 50-60 hours a week - I was often expected to work from home on my days off. After just over 3.5 years, I was one of the most senior employees at the facility. Lastly, whenever I brought concerns to upper management, I was often brushed off or met with a "things will get better" comment.