Facility
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
This position provides leadership for the daily care, feeding and enrichment of animals in the assigned collection or section. Duties also include maintaining USDA and AZA regulations for food preparation. Included in this job are responsibilities for the cleanliness of food areas including refrigerators, freezer, and grain rooms and ensuring that Zoo policies and protocols are followed consistently. This position will regularly interact with Zoo guests to answer questions, provide animal information, and ensure an excellent guest experience.
Essential Functions:
-Maintains the kitchen and all food storage areas, including walk in fridges and freezers, in a clean, organized fashion consistent with industry standards and regulations.
-Maintains adequate stock of all section supplies, and reports low inventory levels to supervisor in a timely manner.
-Assist in ordering of produce, meat, fish, and other commissary products as needed.
-Assist in receiving deliveries and checking against packing slips, ensuring that animal food is of an appropriate quality through inspection at arrival and at the time of preparation.
-Prepares daily diets for Zoo’s animal collection, follows written and oral instructions concerning type and quantity of foods to be prepared and size of portions, obtaining necessary ingredients from the warehouse/barn/coolers/freezers, and washing, cleaning, peeling, dicing and/or slicing as required.
-Performs preventive maintenance on all food preparation and storage facilities and equipment.
-Maintains accurate diet, USDA or AZA records as assigned.
-Exercise good judgement when making decisions that affect our collection.
-Assists the Emergency Response team in animal events.
-Performs special assignments and projects as requested, including animal observations, medications or feedings as assigned, assisting hospital staff when requested, and assists with other shifts as needed.
Leadership Responsibilities:
-Performs preventive maintenance on all food preparation and storage facilities and equipment
-Addresses animal and/or employee issues as they arise, and provides a status/progress report to the Curator(s) on a daily basis. Requests guidance from Curator or other member of management as warranted by the situation.
-Monitors safe work practices for all section staff.
-Assists Curator in developing and updating area protocols and represents the Curator in his/her absence.
Management Accountabilities:
-Customarily and regularly exercises discretion and independent judgement during the course of the work day. Actively demonstrates leadership through actions, reactions, decisions, and professional demeanor. Practices solution based problem solving and learns from mistakes. Works with the team to find solutions and asks for help when you need it.
-Reports to meetings/activities fully present, prepared and punctual. Thoughtfully prioritizes needs in order to be respectful of each other’s time. Respond to emails and other communications in a timely manner. All written communication contains professional and proper language. Demonstrates follow through and is accountable for the management of the team.
-Willingly engages the team/Zoo staff and proves to be an inspirational leader. Actively create connections that encourage open and honest communication with all.
-Remains accessible to the Zoo staff by cell phone. Uses professional courtesy and only call/texts on day off in the event of an emergency.
-Provides regular performance feedback to reporting staff. Completes timely and appropriate written evaluations that highlight strengths and areas for improvement.
Education and Pre-requisites
Qualifications/Basic Job Requirements:
-Minimum of an Associate’s degree or 60 credits towards a Bachelor’s degree. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Animal Science, Zoology or other applicable field is preferred.
-Minimum three (3) years’ related experience in an AZA accredited facility preferred.
-Twelve units of accredited college or university level course work in animal science, zoology, biology, wildlife management, or related field may be substituted for six (6) months experience.
-Strong verbal and written English skills and the ability to communicate effectively with the public. Bilingual skills a plus.
-Valid California driver’s license and good driving record, preferred.
ServSafe Certified, preferred.
-Ability to work evenings, weekdays, weekends, and holidays.
Compensation and benefits
Full Time, Benefits
Application instructions
Interested Applicants should apply through our website: www.fresnochaffeezoo.org/careers