Facility

Ellen Trout Zoo

Closing Date

Description

Welcome to Ellen Trout Zoo! We are a small but growing and innovative facility located near the major metropolitan areas of East Texas. Our institution emphasizes an excellence in veterinary care, conservation programs, animal welfare and community involvement.
This is a working supervisory position responsible for the daily management and care of a variety of animals and facilities. The position involves direct animal husbandry, supervisory skills, adaptability, and an ability to continue learning and developing animal management skills. The person in this position must be able to work within the framework of a small municipal zoo. Species include Clouded Leopards, Lemurs, DeBrazza’s Monkeys, numerous Cotton-top Tamarin families, Chinese alligators, psittacines, flamingos, tortoises, koi, and more.
Functions and qualities:
• Implement Zoo priorities
• Demonstrate initiative and expertise to regularly find ways to make improvements
• Guide, train, motivate, and support staff and volunteers
• Maintain accurate records
• Support the guest experience
• Problem solving
• Ensure safe work practices and high husbandry standards.
• 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.
• Maintain clean and organized animal enclosures, equipment, and keeper areas.
• 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 and inspect area of responsibility to meet AZA and USDA standards.
• 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.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Assist with husbandry and veterinary procedures.
• Carry out duties and tasks as assigned by the curator.
• This position requires an energetic, self-motivated person that works well within a team atmosphere and independently.
This job entails a melding of manual labor and mental know-how / expertise, resulting in visible, professional accomplishments in which employees may take pride.

Education and Pre-requisites

The position requires: Bachelor of Science degree in Biology or related field; a minimum of three years of progressively responsible paid experience in a professional zoological institution, good physical condition; ability to work both independently and with other employees and to present a positive professional image of the City of Lufkin and the Zoo to members of the public. This position is an essential service position, and will be required to provide services during emergency situations. 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 $35,679.32 annually. This position is exempt for overtime. Employees are required to contribute 7% (pre-tax) to the retirement fund through payroll deduction.

Compensation and benefits

Not specified.

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 on site interviews.