Facility
Houston Zoo
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
The Denton A. Cooley Animal Hospital at the Houston Zoo is seeking a highly motivated Hospital Keeper. This position provides care for a wide range of species in hospital and quarantine settings. We are looking for a candidate who is professional, hard- working and organized.
Our facility at the Houston Zoo is a spacious, well-equipped hospital that operates 7 days a week year round and provides medical care to zoo collection animals as well as local wildlife such as sea turtles, Attwater’s prairie chickens and Houston toads. The Denton A. Cooley Animal Hospital strives to provide excellent service to our animal programs department by maintaining the highest standard of animal care and hospital readiness.
Under the direction of a Zoo Supervisor, the Zoo Keeper is responsible for supporting the day-to-day operations associated with the husbandry of the animals and the maintenance of animal exhibits within a specified animal area.
Carries out all aspects of the daily care of assigned animals including cleaning, feeding, exhibit maintenance, general upkeep of support facilities.
Maintains clean and organized exhibits, holding areas, service areas and equipment.
Prepares and feeds appropriate diets as per established feeding practices and diet sheets.
Administers prescribed medications, supplements, or treatments under the guidance of the veterinary and supervisory staff.
Records and reports any abnormal animal health or behavioral issues to the Zoo Supervisor.
Maintains daily reports, logs, training and enrichment records, research or veterinary records, as appropriate and according to established guidelines; requires basic skills with TRACKS and Microsoft Office software applications.
Understands and applies a practical understanding of operant conditioning as it relates to the daily management of species under his/her care.
Understands and applies the basic principles of animal enrichment as part of the daily management of species under his/her care.
Maintains clean and organized exhibits, equipment, and keeper areas.
As appropriate, maintains water quality through filtration, balance of chemical elements, and sanitation methods for aquatic or semi-aquatic animal species.
As appropriate, maintains live exhibit plantings to enhance exhibit aesthetics; eliminates weeds and toxic plants from animal enclosures.
In conjunction with the Zoo’s pest control officer, may assist in pest control through the use of exclusion or traps.
Identifies potential maintenance or safety issues and reports them to the Zoo Supervisor.
Participates in keeper chats, tours, animal presentations or demonstrations, and/or other public interactions as requested by the Zoo Supervisor.
May assist with departmental research projects, conservation, AZA, or other industry activities as directed/approved by the Zoo Supervisor or Curator; provides support for other Zoo projects as needed.
May oversee work activities and/or provide training for interns, seasonal workers, or volunteers.
Exhibits good teamwork and communication skills both within the home team and when working with other teams or departments.
May be required to safely operate a motor vehicle.
Other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISION:
This position reports to a Zoo Supervisor and does not directly supervise any Zoo staff but may serve as a lead person for special projects or for interns or volunteers as assigned by the Zoo Supervisor.
PHYSICAL EFFORT/SKILL:
This position may require significant physical effort on a daily basis such as walking, bending, stooping, repetitive motions, lifting heavy objects (up to 50 pounds), or standing for long periods. This position may require the ability to make coordinated gross motor movements in response to changing external stimuli within moderately demanding tolerances.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
There are routine exposures to significant levels of heat, cold, moisture, or inclement weather. This position may involve exposure to zoonotic disease, chemical substances or physical trauma of a minor nature. This individual may be required to work around potentially dangerous animals. Annual tuberculosis testing and vaccination for rabies or other zoonotic diseases may be required.
The work schedule for this position may include week-ends, evenings, and holidays.
PUBLIC CONTACT:
This position involves extensive contact with the public, donors, Zoo Members, and the media, requiring excellent interpersonal skills and an appreciation of the importance of guest service.
Education and Pre-requisites
• Two-year or four-year degree in one of the natural sciences or a closely related discipline or a certificate of completion from an acceptable exotic animal care program of not less than 30 semester hours is preferred.
• One year of experience in animal care at an AZA or equivalent facility, gained through employment, internships, or volunteer experience.
• Specific training and work experience in other settings, such as aquaculture, schools, nature centers, agricultural operations, or conservation centers may be considered on a case-by-case basis as fulfillment for the experience requirements.
• Strong interpersonal, team-building, and communication skills.
• Valid Texas driver’s license or ability to obtain one within 60 days of employment.
Compensation and benefits
Not specified.
Application instructions
Applicants can visit www.houstonzoo.org/careers to download an application
E-mail resume and completed application to careers@houstonzoo.org
Houston Zoo is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer