Facility
Frank Buck Zoo
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
We have an opportunity to add an Animal Care position! A successful candidate will have had previous sustained experience in a zoological setting. Intern & volunteer experience count. We are in search of a positive light that will add value to our team. Can work both independently and as a team when needed. With flexibility, adaptability, proficiency and longevity comes opportunity to cross train to work with multiple taxa. Candidates with interpretive, operant conditioning and animal handling experience encouraged to apply. Frank Buck Zoo embraces a proactive approach to optimizing animal welfare through; husbandry training; weekly area meetings and discussions with leadership. Frank Buck Zoo actively develops and advances “best practices” through data collection, research and collaboration. In recent years Frank Buck Zoo has been recognized for innovative breeding programs, habitat design and training for cooperative medical care. If this sounds like a team you wish to contribute to, please apply.
Education and Pre-requisites
Associates degree in Zoo Technology or Exotic Animal Training & Management or a
Bachelors degree in Zoology, Animal Science or related degree plan or combination of hands-on experience in a zoological setting.
Must have a valid drivers license.
Compensation and benefits
Starting pay $13.62. Excellent benefits include:
HEALTH BENEFITS
The City of Gainesville provides medical and prescription coverage for eligible employees through Texas Municipal League Health Benefits Pool (TML Health) at no cost to the employee. Coverage begins 30 days after the employee’s date of hire. Voluntary dental and vision benefits are also available at the employee’s expense.
LIFE INSURANCE
The City of Gainesville provides eligible employees with $10,000 in life insurance coverage and $10,000 in accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
OPTIONAL LIFE INSURANCE
Eligible employees may purchase optional and dependent life and/or AD&D coverage for employee, spouse, and dependents. Rates for optional life insurance are dependent upon the amounts purchased and the employee’s age.
FLEXIBLE SPENDING
The City of Gainesville offers Section 125 Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA’s) for eligible employees through TML Health. The maximum amount an employee may contribute to an FSA is $2,500 annually.
CAREFLITE CARING-HEART MEMBERSHIP
CareFlite membership protects eligible employees and their family members living in their household against out of pocket costs for medically necessary transports. All costs not covered by the employee’s health insurance are absorbed by the membership program. Anyone without insurance or non-medically necessary transports (like a fixed wing for family convenience) receives a 50% membership discount.
HOLIDAYS, VACATION AND SICK LEAVE
Paid holidays include New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day (September 11th holiday for Firefighters), Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Vacation is accrued as follows:
10 days vacation per year
15 days vacation per year after 10 years of service
20 days vacation per year after 20 years of service
Sick leave is accrued at the rate of 8 hours per month.
RETIREMENT
The City of Gainesville participates in the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS). Eligible employees are automatically enrolled as a member of TMRS upon hire. Employee contribution rate is 6%; the City matches member contributions on a 1.5 to 1 basis upon retirement of the employee. Employees are vested in TMRS after earning 5 years of service credit. Employees are eligible to retire when vested and at least age 60 or have 20 year of service credit at any age.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION
457 Deferred Compensation plans are available to City employees through Nationwide Retirement Solutions and/or Security Benefit. Contributions to a 457 deferred compensation plan are made through pre-tax payroll deduction.
Roth IRA plans are available through LSW.
CREDIT UNION
Any city employee is eligible to join the City Credit Union or 4U Credit Union.
TUITION REIMBURSEMENT (EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE)
After six months of employment with the City of Gainesville, employees may request tuition reimbursement for college level courses to improve their skills, knowledge and abilities relating to their present job. For approved courses, the City will refund the costs for courses after the completion of courses and up to $200 for the cost of books for the semester. (Tuition reimbursement is an expense to the City, and as such, must be budgeted. The City is not obligated to agree to pay tuition reimbursement if the budget does not allow for the expense.)
LONGEVITY PAY
Longevity pay is paid every year on the first day of December. Eligible employees receive $60.00 for each full fiscal year they have been employed with the City.
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
LEGAL SHIELD/ID SHIELD
AFLAC
Frank Buck Zoo provides uniform shirts, sweatshirts, coats (except rain gear) caps and beanies.
Application instructions
Candidates interested in pursuing a career with Frank Buck Zoo should fill out application online at this link.http://www.gainesville.tx.us/685/Employment-Opportunities
Please send cover letter and resume directly to skleven@cogtx.org upon completion of online application.