Facility
Animal Park at the Conservators Center
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
Full Job Description
Immediate opening! This position is part of a dynamic and progressive Animal Care team.
Responsibilities include managing all animal care operations; supervising keepers and keeper roles; maintenance of exhibits; providing a positive guest experience; supervising all Keeper positions; assisting management with the animal collection and collection planning and assist veterinarians and veterinary technicians in the tasks associated with the Park’s medical program.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES include the following:
Animal Care & Welfare:
Manages the animal care department and the corresponding team of Keepers in providing the highest standards of care to ensure the health and well-being of the animal collection.
Establishes themselves as role model/leader in animal husbandry, care and welfare.
Possess an overall understanding of animal husbandry, care and welfare and provides direction using their experience and knowledge
Understands the seriousness of abnormal behaviors and medical conditions and provides outcomes and solutions to leadership
Understands the importance of welfare and daily reviews the welfare of animals and makes decisions and suggestions for the animals in their care.
Confirms regular adherence to USDA Animal Welfare Act and assists on completing the USDA inspection.
Communicates veterinary and animal husbandry information in a timely manner to the leadership team and keeper team
Works with the Park’s team of external veterinarians and veterinary staff
Uses training techniques to optimize care and welfare, identifies and determines training goals
Ensures application of enrichment and enriching experiences to optimize care and welfare, identifies and prioritizes enrichment goals, evaluates enrichment activity schedules & devices to determine effectiveness, and collaborates with enrichment consultants to achieve enrichment goals and advance the behavioral enrichment program.
Partnering with the leadership team to assess and develop exhibit/animal space modifications and enhancements
Enters daily records into the database Animal Care Software
Evaluates content and completeness of daily records in team area.
Performs regular formal evaluations for staff.
Emergency Situations
Acts as internal lead and/or incident commander in animal escape situations
Responds to animal emergencies quickly and calculates risks involved
Active participant in the Weapons Team
General
Ensures exhibit presentation quality standards for cleanliness and maintenance to maximize our guest experience
Interacts with visitors to assist and share information
Shares critical information, best practices, and procedures on a consistent basis with staff.
Promotes a collaborative relationship across the whole AC department and with other zoo departments.
Exemplifies the highest ethical standards to ensure the health and well being of the animal collection.
Ensures that all regulatory standards are met such as USDA Animal Welfare Act,
Reports animal maintenance issues and potential hazards for staff in a timely manner.
Ensures consistent productive operating practices by identifying areas for potential revenue generation, reduction of costs and more efficient procedures.
Interacts with other department managers as a member of the Business Operations team.
Holds peers accountable for their performance.
Represents the zoo for some public relations and media events on behalf of the department.
Adheres to Park’s policies and procedures as outlined in the Employee Policy Manual.
Attends monthly all-employee meetings.
Attends weekly animal management meeting with leadership
Education and Pre-requisites
Bachelor’s degree in Life Science such as Biology, Zoology, Ecology or closely related discipline; Minimum three years’ experience with exotic mammal species in a zoo, aquarium or closely related activity; experience working with large mammals required; experience in supervision, management and leadership required.
Position schedule is considered in advance and includes weekends, holidays and all-weather conditionsLicense, Certification, or Preferred Qualifications:Valid driver’s license with good driving record is desirable.
Ability to certify in First Aid/CPR/AED
Ability to be part of the Weapons Team
Compensation and benefits
COMPENSATION:
The salary for this position is commensurate with experience. Shared housing opportunities may be available. This is a full-time, regular, exempt position.
Application instructions
APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS:
Please include 2 references with your resume. There will be a 2-step selection process from this point. First, there will be a round of traditional interviews. These can be done over the phone for individuals who are not local. The final step in the selection process will be a working interview.
Please submit resume to: applications@animalparknc.org