facilities manager

educator

Reptilia Zoo

The culture of Reptilia is meant copy Disney; every person walking through the door is a guest not a customer, our employee's are a cast that are playing a role to provide the best experience everyday rain or shine, the guests come first. Unfortunately, this came at the expense of both the cast and the animals under Reptilia's care.

In my final days before escaping that facility were filled with cast members breaking down and seeking therapy from emotional turmoil. This was directly a result of being made to feel as though they would be abandoning the animals should they resign for a better job that provided the basic necessities that are provided to employees. It was regularly expected for cast members to stay extra hours unpaid to care for the animals because the president felt there was no purpose to hire more people. When leaving on time meant leaving animals without water, clean enclosures, and medication to sick animals unadministered.

It is a company that takes advantage of people that want to work with animals because they can get away with it. Being told you're apart of the Reptilia family means you're expected to live there to get everything you're told to do done in a single day. Having constant battles with the accounting department due to consistantly failing to pay people on time or the correct wages. Arguing with the president to get repairs that were desperately needed for the facility that made it unsafe to work for cast and for guests to visit.

Do not work there. You will be made to feel that leaving is a betrayal to the animals and that the only thing that matters is everything except for your own well-being.

Working with the animals is great but it does not make up for the terrible way employees are treated here. The only reason the animals had the care that they did is because the zookeepers and other staff were passionate, hardworking, cared and put in the extra time and effort (unpaid) to train and learn themselves. But the owner doesn't care about you or the animals- all he cares about is money. Zookeepers are paid horribly (i.e. about minimum wage and very often not on time or accurately, with no benefits despite being there for years) and are constantly required to work overtime unpaid in order to make sure all the animals are cared for properly or fulfill the whims of the owner, work with venomous species without the owner willing to buy anti-venom, and fill multiple positions because the place is constantly under staffed and the owner is unwilling to hire anyone. It's also very very rare to get a lunch break with all the work that is required of one person. On multiple occasions (definitely over a dozen times), I've seen the owner fire people on the spot irrationally and many many times yell at people for no reason. There's no job security. This is not someone you want to work for or a business you want to support. There's a reason why all the previous zookeepers, plus other staff, quit at the same time in solidarity- taking care of the staff is just as important as the animals but the owner doesn't care about either.

The workplace culture here is incredibly toxic. Employees, especially those who have been around for a while, often engage in negative gossip about their colleagues—including you, behind your back. The training provided is insufficient, and when you have questions, they often go unanswered. Responses to simple queries sent via email or Slack take 1-2 weeks, which leads to confusion. The management, particularly the manager, constantly criticizes even minor mistakes and threatens job security when you try to explain circumstances beyond your control. Despite her position, she demands praise without fulfilling her responsibilities effectively. Favoritism rules here. Those favored by management consistently get the best onsite shifts, while others are sent to offsite locations 1-2 hours away. If you’re even 10 minutes late, the manager will act harshly towards you. The facility itself is outdated, and the animals are not properly cared for. Frankly, I wouldn't recommend customers visit the zoo—it’s overpriced, with a limited number of animals, making it far from worth the experience.

Absolutely love working for Reptilia. They have flexible, shifts  and a great understanding for personal needs and families. Management is extremely supportive and understanding in all departments, the team work environment is very positive and everyone is always willing to help one another. Reptilia is willing to teach you new things and expand your knowledge with reptiles and much more. I am so unbelievably happy. I came across the indeed ad I have been more than happy with my employment with Reptilia and would recommend it to anyone. It’s especially great for students who are still going to school or potentially have another job there’s always opportunity to grow and learn new things. I have never had an employer who is so understanding with personal life and who takes care of your mental health this is something a lot of jobs like these days and even though Reptilia, of course, is a business and looking to bring in the best they’re also very concerned about their employees well-being and their mental health and make sure that they have the time off that is needed or the help that is needed I highly recommend. 

As with any new job change and adaptation will be the hardest part. This is a job where the need to learn and evolve is always growing and never  ending. 
    This job is not for everyone but it’s perfect for someone like myself and the peers I’ve met within this job. People that love science, people that love to learn and expand their knowledge. In this job you will gain hands on experience and mentoring  with amazing animals that we’re lucky enough to care for at Reptilia. Alligators, crocodiles, venomous animals. 
   I personally love the shows we do as they teach people about reptiles and allow people to get up close and personal in a comfortable way that often gets rid of fears and misconceptions about or scaly friends!
    I love providing top notch care to our extremely wonderful group of rescues, I love this job and I consider myself lucky to have it. 
     Anyone that loves exotic animals and wants to level up their knowledge should consider applying to one of our locations! 

Animals were absolutely amazing and my time here was incredible in spite of the owner.

Co-workers were great and I learned a lot, but do not expect to get your work done and leave on time. In the entire time i was there it was severely understaffed and STILL cutting hours.

Benefits were promised but never delivered and you will be paid as close to minimum wage as they can get away with. Lots of opportunity for advancement just don't expect a raise to go along with it. Management, when working independent of the owner, was great. 

I only wish I had more time for the animals, you will be pulled away from them in order to deal with literally anything that comes up, and/or deal with something the owner suddenly decided he doesn't like and needs someone (not him) to address it this instant.

Reptilia has been a really lovely place to start formally working with reptiles. It's awesome working so closely with so many different species. There is always something new to learn and it is a very supportive learning environment. You're taught things at a pace that is comfortable to you and encouraged to say something if you are feeling overwhelmed with your training path. Personal safety is prioritized first and foremost and is regularly talked about. Management is very supportive and wants your input with daily operations and regularly includes us in important decisions and conversations that apply to us. Overall having a great time.

In February of 2020 all the Zoo Keepers walked out on the owner after an intervention where he failed to realize he was treating the people and animals wrong. This is a business for him, and nothing else. He makes money and that’s all that’s important. The animals need meds? Well it better be cheap otherwise they’re getting euthanized. Need antivenom because it’s going to expire and you’re working with Mambas? That’s too bad, it’s way to expensive to buy new stuff. Wiggly dock for feeding nile alligators and crocodiles? No need for that to get fixed. I could type up this review for hours but I won’t waste your time. Long story short, you don’t want to work here. 

Management didn’t care about anything that didn’t make money, including the animals and staff that he wouldn’t be able to make money without. 

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Facilities manager 1 salary reported	$41,500 per year
Educator 1 salary reported	$25.00 per hour

Working at Reptilia Zoo: company overview and reviews

Reptilia Zoo

Reptilia Zoo ratings

Popular jobs at Reptilia Zoo

Salary satisfaction

Job seeker tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected