Facility
EcoTarium
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
Position Summary:
The EcoTarium, A Museum of Science & Nature, seeks an enthusiastic professional to join our dedicated and dynamic team. The successful candidate ill provide excellent animal care and a positive guest experience. The Keeper works in all areas of animal husbandry including feeding, cleaning, record keeping, training and enrichment, behavioral observations, and exhibit maintenance for all of the museum’s live animals. The animal collection includes mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, small marine animals and insects. This position is responsible for current habitat design as well. Other responsibilities include formal and informal presentations to guests, and developing conservation and education initiatives. Habitats are located both indoors and outdoors. The position is physically demanding and requires working in all weather conditions.
Responsibilities/Essential Functions:
• Provide daily care and maintenance of wildlife, including but not limited to diet preparation, exhibit cleaning and repair, capture and restraint, and medical care.
• Conduct behavioral observations, provide enrichment and daily training of animals utilizing operant conditioning necessary for husbandry care and stimulation.
• On a weekly rotational basis, serve as the primary conduit for communication within the department and with other departments as Point Person of the Day.
• Train volunteers and interns in daily animal care, behavioral observations, and public education.
• Responsible for design and maintenance of current habitats
• Maintain daily files and records on animals
• Work with team to identify opportunities to educate guests on conservation issues
• Perform all physical aspects of the job, including shoveling snow, raking and hauling mulch, etc.
• Be welcoming and gracious to our guests
• Present formal and informal wildlife programs to the general public and groups, at the museum and off-site, and interact with guests to answer questions
• Serve as the lead coordinator on several on-going projects and/or functions with in the department.
Non-Essential Functions:
• Serve on staff ad-hoc committees when needed
• Other duties as assigned
Education and Pre-requisites
Qualifications:
• Bachelor of Science or working toward a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Animal Science, or related field preferred
• Experience and knowledge in working with captive animals; preferably in a zoo/museum setting
• Experience in general plumbing, aquatic systems, or mechanical repair highly desirable
• Experience in exhibitory techniques: design, maintenance and repair
• Excellent observational skills
• Must be available to work a weekend day and holidays
• Must be flexible and highly dependable
• Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force to lift, push, pull, carry, or otherwise move objects, climb a 5 foot ladder and work outdoors in all conditions
• Computer skills, MS Word and Internet search skills
• Excellent communication skills and comfort with performance and/or public speaking, a flair for public presentation
• Must pass a CORI/SORI background check
• Must be fully vaccinated for rabies no later than three (3) months after hire date.
Compensation and benefits
Status: $11 Hour/Non-Exempt
Application instructions
Instructions:
Please send a cover letter, resume and names of three references to:
Human Resources, Attn: Wildlife Keeper, EcoTarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA 01604 or email resume@ecotarium.org (please include job title in the subject line)
AA/EOE