Facility

Safari West

Closing Date

Description

Safari West Wildlife Preserve
An African adventure in the heart of California wine country. The mission of Safari West is to actively promote conservation, environmental education, and share knowledge that will help each individual make personal choices in regards to the environment and conservation efforts.

Safari West is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated animal keeper to join our team to work with a variety of avian species (see species list below). This is a very demanding job; we are looking for a dedicated keeper who has a strong work ethic with a willingness to learn, attention to detail and a heavy passion for birds. The applicant will be expected to have knowledge of or be able to efficiently learn the natural history and behavior of the animals under their care. The applicant needs to have strong communication skills, the ability to multi-task, a positive attitude, and the ability to function in high stress situations if need be. This position has numerous physical daily requirements, including lifting weights of over 50 lbs, and the applicant must have the ability to accomplish these demands. The applicant must be able to adhere to all safety protocols including proper lifting procedures, handling of dangerous materials, and movement around animals.
This position will have interactions with guests, interns and other staff members from various departments. The applicant will be expected to interact with others in a professional, respectful and positive manner at all times.
Job Tasks:
Job tasks will include but will not be limited to; diligent care of collection birds, upkeep and maintenance of animal enclosures, behavioral enrichment, animal training, aiding in veterinary treatment and medical procedures including the possibility of capture, restraint and transport, and documentation of daily activities.
You will be expected to follow the assigned training, enrichment, cleaning and feeding protocols put in place by management staff. You may need to perform routine maintenance on exhibits as needed and report any severe issues to your supervisor to get them fixed in a timely manner.
Species To Be Cared For Include, But Not Limited To:
Ground Hornbills, Hooded Vultures, Black Swans, Secretary Birds, Stanley Cranes, Screamers, variety of Macaws, Purple Gallinule, variety of duck species, African Greater and American/Caribbean Flamingos and Sulcate Tortoises.

Education and Pre-requisites

Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 2 years of experience in exotic animal keeping. A 4-year biology related degree is preferred, but not a necessity if the applicant has comparable experience. The applicant should be versatile, flexible, and have a willingness to work within constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm. We require a professional appearance and demeanor as well as a valid Driver’s license and clean DMV record.

Compensation and benefits

$15/hour

Application instructions

Please send a cover letter, resume or CV and 2 letters of recommendation to Nikki Smith at nsmith@safariwest.com
Please note which position you are applying for in the subject line of the submitted email.