Facility
Denver Zoo
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
Denver Zoo is a leader in animal care, wildlife conservation, education, and guest experience. We are passionate about our commitment to excellence in support of our mission to secure a better world for animals through human understanding. We provide extraordinary experiences every day for our animals and visitors and our core values of Protect, Honor, Innovate, Serve, Engage, and Empower are evident in everything we do. We value the different strengths our staff bring to Denver Zoo. We expect our staff to embrace and to commit to our core behaviors for engagement: Passion, Respect, Innovation, Diversity, and Excellence.
Denver Zoo’s Animal Care Department has an opportunity for a full time Bird Zookeeper to provide the safe exhibition, handling, feeding, and husbandry of animal species at the Zoo. The bird division is comprised of a diverse bird collection of 127 species and 524 individual birds that include of ratites, waterbirds, cranes, raptors, hornbills and a large variety of softbill species. In addition, the institution has significantly supported bird programs including an avian propagation center, an interactive Lorikeet feeding experience and associated new bird exhibits. We are looking for a candidate with experience in the captive husbandry, exhibition and propagation, training and enrichment of a varied number of bird species. The candidate should have some experience in capture and restraint of varied bird species; avian captive propagation techniques; exhibit maintenance, design and renovation; good record keeping skills, operant condition training and the ability to work well as part of a team. In addition, avian artificial incubation and hand-rearing experience is desirable, but not required.
In this role, you will:
• Provide innovative animal husbandry that is in compliance with AZA and USDA standards.
• Provide reliable, competent animal care through:
o Preparation and feeding of approved diets.
o Monitoring of physical and behavioral aspects of the animals under assigned care.
o Implementation of the behavioral program of the animals under assigned care.
o Designing and maintaining proper animal enclosures/props/exhibits.
o Handling and restraining animals appropriately.
o Assisting with veterinary care and medical follow-up as needed.
o Utilizing preventative husbandry techniques and providing proactive health care as required.
o Provide proper care for eggs, neonates and young (may require care outside of normal working hours).
• Capture, handle, and move animals using accepted Denver Zoo practices to facilitate internal movement, external shipping, medical procedures, or normal routines.
• Enhance breeding possibilities through the recommendation and implementation of approved animal management techniques such as breeding efforts, behavioral enrichment, and operant conditioning/training, etc.
• Interact with Denver Zoo guests in both formal and informal settings, providing insight about the animals and their care.
• Provide area tours, keeper talks and work special events in area of responsibility as needed.
• Train fellow keepers, interns, and volunteers in standard section routines.
• Respond to zoo-wide animal related emergencies.
• Coordinate the efforts of contractors and maintenance staff when they are working in animal areas.
• Record data and prepare assigned reports/records, (i.e. daily reports, enclosure logs, facility logs, water quality logs, etc.) and other pertinent data on the collection and facilities as required.
• Use appropriate equipment to perform essential duties.
• Cooperate and coordinate with other departments, (e.g., education, maintenance, horticulture) and outside contractors.
• Maintain professional working relationships with zoo team members and maintain a professional appearance.
• Actively participate in conservation, research projects, and educational programs as requested.
• Participate in and support zoo-wide initiatives, committees and work groups.
• Follow Denver Zoo safety protocols.
• Adhere to and promotes Denver Zoo’s mission, core values, and strategic initiatives.
• Value and consistently apply Denver Zoo’s ROADMAP (Reaching Our Audiences by Developing Mission Aligned Programs) process and resources in engaging and educating guests at Denver Zoo.
• Demonstrate a commitment to Denver Zoo’s Safety and Sustainability Policies by adhering to all environmental, safety, and health regulations, procedures, and goals
Education and Pre-requisites
The Ideal Candidate will have the following qualifications:
• Bachelor’s Degree in an animal-related or animal behavior-related field plus two years of full-time zookeeping experience in the care, feeding, and handling of a variety of exotic animals (birds, fish, herpetology, or mammals, depending on the specific vacancy) in an AZA-accredited institution. Comparable facilities may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
********OR*******
• Associate Degree or equivalent number of college credit hours in an animal-related or animal behavior-related field plus four years of full-time zookeeping experience in the care, feeding, and handling of a variety of exotic animals (birds, fish, herpetology, or mammals, depending on the specific vacancy) in an AZA-accredited institution. Comparable facilities may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Intern experience within Denver Zoo’s animal department will qualify for the AZA-related years of full-time zookeeping provided at least an Associate degree in biological sciences is held. Intern experience at other institutions will not be considered.
********OR*******
• Individuals without a degree may be considered only with ten or more years of full-time experience at the minimum level of zookeeper involved in the exhibition and husbandry of a variety of exotic animals at an AZA-accredited institution. Comparable facilities may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Ability, with proper training, to work in all aspects of animal care, husbandry and training within the department in which individual is assigned.
• Work on weekends and holidays are required.
• Able to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Operate a variety of light and medium equipment.
• Clear driving record.
Compensation and benefits
Not specified.
Application instructions
Completed applications must be submitted by May 4, 2018
Denver Zoo reserves the right to close the position prior to the above date.
Denver Zoo is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Please apply through www.denverzoo.org