Facility
Buffalo Zoo
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
The Buffalo Zoo is seeking a dynamic, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable Assistant Curator to oversee and lead multiple areas of the Zoo’s animal care department.
Basic Purpose and Responsibilities:
Reporting to the General Curator, the Assistant Curator is responsible for coordinating the daily operations of multiple animal areas of the Zoo’s animal care department. These duties include the daily care and husbandry of the animal collection, the functional efficiency of the department and supervision of the animal department staff. The Assistant Curator position is responsible for supervising, mentoring, and evaluating interns, Apprentice Keepers, Zookeepers levels I – III, and Team Lead Zookeepers in assigned areas.
Essential Functions:
• Manage day-to-day animal care logistics and operations in assigned areas to provide uncompromising animal care and wellbeing for the animals and high engagement and satisfaction for guests. This includes ensuring that all animal care husbandry routines meet or exceed industry and government standards and that all Zoo guidelines and protocols are being followed. Exhibits, holding, and back of house areas should be clean and presentable at all times.
• Supervises and coordinates enrichment, welfare, and operant conditioning programs with Team Leads and keepers in assigned areas.
• Supervises guest engagement activities to ensure safety and high-level guest engagement.
• Ensure assigned teams are reporting animal medical issues to the veterinary department in a timely manner and following all proscribed treatment plans. Participate in the scheduling of routine physical exams, medical procedures, and other preventive or treatment procedures to ensure health of the animals.
• Oversee supply acquisition and inventories to ensure that essential materials, supplies, equipment and food supply are available for assigned areas.
• Help to oversee and train Zoo staff on all emergency protocols, scheduling safety drills, coordinating the Emergency Response Team, and maintaining inventory of emergency and personal protective equipment.
• Must be able to shoot rifles, shotguns, capture dart guns and operate other emergency equipment as required and/or directed to assist in the animal escape and recovery plan. Must be able to calmly respond to emergency situations as needed.
Education and Pre-requisites
Position Qualifications:
Education (Minimum Needed):
• Minimum two year Associates Degree in one of the natural sciences or closely related field plus experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of behavioral management, including operant conditioning philosophy, techniques and terminology, as well as knowledge of benefits and goals of environmental enrichment preferably obtained through classes, workshops, and other formal learning environments.
Experience (Minimum Needed):
• Must have knowledge of animal husbandry, preferably with at least five years exotic animal care experience at an AZA-accredited facility. Diversified experience in the husbandry and management of an exotic animal collection is preferred.
• One to two years leadership experience at an accredited AZA institution preferred.
• Must have the ability to motivate, lead, and coach a team. Must be a capable leader/manager and an effective role model that can create a supportive, fun, team environment.
Special Skills:
• Familiarity with design and operation of freshwater and salt-water aquatic life support systems for a variety of taxa including marine and aquatic mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish is helpful.
• Experience with firearms and physical animal restraint equipment, vehicles and related maintenance equipment is a plus.
• Must be able to provide and accept crucial, productive feedback.
• Able to provide mentorship and guidance for keepers and animal area volunteers including ownership of process, organization and communications.
• Working knowledge of personal computers and software applications (e.g., MS Word, Excel, Power Point, and Google email and DOCs); be able to produce needed reports and summaries; ability to enter accurately/audit animal daily reports using in house computer program and be knowledgeable with Species 360 ZIMS.
Other:
• Assistant Curator will be on 24-hour call. May be required to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• TB Test conducted annually.
• Be organized and exhibit “follow through” on tasks and goals.
• Display a positive attitude, demonstrate presence and self-confidence.
• Must possess or be able to obtain within 30-days of employment a valid New York State driver’s license and have an average or better driving record based on the evaluation process of our insurance company. Retention of position is contingent upon maintaining required license.
Compensation and benefits
Compensation and Benefits – Salary is commensurate with experience. The Zoo offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, dental, retirement, vacation and sick leave. Exempt position. Equal Opportunity Employer.
All Buffalo Zoo employees are subject to employment eligibility and background security checks as well as testing for illegal substance use as allowed by law.
Application instructions
To apply please send resume, cover letter and salary requirements in Word document or PDF to: buffalozoojobs@buffalozoo.org. Position is open until filled. No telephone calls please. For more information about the Buffalo Zoo, please visit our website: www.buffalozoo.org