Facility

Ellen Trout Zoo

Closing Date

Description

The Ellen Trout Zoo is seeking an experienced candidate with experience managing and propagating reptiles at a professional institution. This position is responsible for carrying out all aspects of daily animal care and husbandry for a diverse collection of animals, assists the Collection Manager, and ensures that operations continue as expected in the absence of the Collection Manager.

Functions and qualities:
• Responsible for the daily observation of animal health and welfare.
• Preparation of animal diets, feeding and watering according to an established schedule. Clean, disinfect and sanitize water and food dishes.
• Clean and disinfect animal enclosures, holding areas, and exhibit features; drain and clean pools; collect and dispose of refuse.
• Maintain on and off exhibit aesthetics (planters, yards, perches, other exhibit “furniture”, etc.). Maintain live exhibit plantings to enhance exhibit aesthetics for visitors and provide a comfortable habitat for animals.
• Maintain clean and organized animal enclosures, equipment, and keeper areas.
• Maintain water quality through filtration, appropriate chemicals, and sanitation methods for aquatic and semi-aquatic animals.
• Physical aspects of the job include: lifting logs, rocks, hay bales, and feed bags.
• Perform minor repairs and improvements to enclosures.
• Maintain and inspect area of responsibility to meet AZA and USDA standards.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Report births, deaths, injuries and/or abnormal behavior of animals to supervisor.
• Assist with husbandry and veterinary procedures.
• Maintain daily reports, logs, veterinary records, and other records as assigned.
• Carry out duties and tasks as assigned by supervisor.
• Assist with scheduling and training personnel
• Promote safe work practices and high husbandry standards
• This position requires an energetic, self-motivated person that works well within a team atmosphere and independently.

This position works with an extensive collection of reptiles, including a high proportion and variety of venomous snakes. Other animals under the care of this person will include non-venomous snakes, crocodilians, lizards, turtles/tortoises, invertebrates, amphibians, as well as some birds and mammals.

Education and Pre-requisites

The position requires: Bachelor of Science degree in Biology or related field; a minimum of two years paid experience working with a diverse collection of animals; good physical condition; ability to work both independently and as a team member with other employees and to present a positive professional image of the City of Lufkin and the Zoo to members of the public.

Compensation and benefits

This is a full-time position with excellent benefits and opportunities for professional growth and development. The position involves working on weekends and holidays. Starting salary is $29,284.78/year. The position is exempt for overtime. Employees are required to contribute 7% (pre-tax) to the retirement fund.

Application instructions

To be considered, you must submit all of the following 3 documents: resume, cover letter, and completed application. Applications are available for download at http://cityoflufkin.com/hr/jobs.htm. Mail these 3 documents to Human Resources Department at Lufkin City Hall, 300 E. Shepherd Suite 226, Lufkin, TX 75901. Please include your email address if you have one to facilitate correspondence. Candidates must be able to be present for onsite interviews.