Facility

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

Closing Date

Description

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (TLD) is seeking exceptional candidates to join the Animal Care team as Animal Care Keepers. We are looking for animal care professionals who have a desire to make a positive difference for desert wildlife. The animal care keeper role requires a motivated, dedicated team player who is willing to make a significant commitment to the organization.

Position Summary:
The Animal Keeper is an energetic front-line staff position responsible for providing the highest quality daily care, husbandry and behavioral management of a defined portion of The Living Desert’s animal collection, including the daily care of the habitats. The role includes a high level of interactive engagement with our guests.

A TLD animal care keeper is an example to others while working towards an improved future and shared vision within TLD. This position educates, engages and provides exemplary guest service experiences for all Zoo guests through various programs, activities, and continuous guest interaction as outlined by animal management.

Under the direction of an Animal Care Curator, this person must have the ability to make good decisions regarding the welfare and safety of animals, staff and guests. This person will support the zoo in our mission “to support desert conservation through preservation, education and appreciation” and will help the zoo achieve a forward-thinking vision of a modern zoo and inclusive culture.

Specific Skills include but are not limited to:
• General knowledge of zoo animal husbandry and observational skills for a variety of taxa. Positions to be filled are primarily birds and reptiles, however, some small mammals are intermixed.
• Ability to work with potentially dangerous animals, including venomous.
• Must be capable of emergency response handling to avoid injury to self, others, and animal.
• Ability to remain calm and professional in a variety of situations and able to effectively use communication skills
• Must represent The Living Desert in a professional manner, and act accordingly at all times.
• Ability to speak to guests and give animal presentations both informally and formally.
• Ability to intelligently articulate observations accurately and document animal daily reports using computer ZIMS record keeping program.
• Must have strong organizational, observational and time management skills.
• Ability to give and comprehend written and oral instructions, and to accurately carry out such instructions.
• Must be a motivated self-starter who needs minimal supervision and the ability to work well in a team setting.

This class specification should not be interpreted as all inclusive. It is intended to identify the major responsibilities and requirements of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification.

Education and Pre-requisites

Qualifications:
• AA, AS or higher degree in Zoology, Biology, Animal Science or other related degree. Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• At least 1 year of exotic animal experience. Previous experience working with a wide variety of reptile, including venomous, and/avian is a plus.
• Experience with positive reinforcement animal training and public presentations a must.
• Will substitute training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skill, and abilities. Generally, one year of full-time exotic animal experience will translate to one year of college.
• Valid California driver license.
• Must be insurable on The Living Desert’s automobile policy.

Physical Position Description:
ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL TASKS: Standing, walking, twisting, climbing, crawling, kneeling, reaching motions, lifting up to 50lbs.
TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS: Exposure to extreme heat, chemicals, and dust/airborne materials. Work with potentially dangerous animals (i.e. large ungulates, carnivores, venomous animals).
HOLIDAY WORK: Holiday and weekend work required.
TRAVEL: Occasional conference and workshop attendance available, if funding available. Some or all expenses paid.

Compensation and benefits

Full time position at $15.26 per hour.

Paid Time Off (PTO) is accrued at a rate of .769 days per pay period which is equivalent to twenty (20) days on an annual basis. In addition to PTO you will receive seven (7) paid sick days on an annual basis. Your paid sick time for your first year will be pro-rated from your date of hire and then earned every July 1st thereafter.

The Living Desert offers to its employees: Health, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance that is either paid in full or significantly subsidized by the organization. We also offer voluntary Life Insurance, Short Term Disability Insurance and Flexible Spending Accounts. You are eligible to participate in our insurance programs the first day of the month following thirty days of employment.

We also offer a 401(k) Plan to our eligible employees. You are eligible to participate in this plan after six months of employment here. A one-time annual discretionary match of up to 2% of your annual wages.

Application instructions

To apply for this position: Qualified applicants must send resume, three (3) references and cover letter to Heather Down, Animal Care Curator at animalcaremanagers@livingdesert.org. Cover letter should include how you will be key in moving the Animal Department forward, and how you will move The Living Desert mission forward. Deadline for submissions: Friday, September 4, 2020 at 5pm (pst).