Facility
Lindsay Wildlife Experience
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
Celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2020, Lindsay Wildlife Experience connects people with wildlife to inspire responsibility and respect for the world we share. It is a unique natural history and environmental education center where live wild animals are just inches away from visitors. It serves more than 100,000 children and adults and treats more than 5,500 animals each year. Lindsay’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital is a pioneer in the field of wildlife care and America’s first wildlife rehabilitation center.
The Position
Lindsay Wildlife Experience seeks a self-motivated, flexible and responsible individual capable of guiding the daily operations of the Animal Encounters Department. This position requires an experienced professional, possessing a wide variety of animal husbandry, training and presentation experience. Keepers are expected to be competent and reliable handlers of a wide variety of bird species, including raptor, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Lead Animal Keepers provide direct supervision and training of the Animal Husbandry Volunteers. Lead Animal Keepers are an integral part of Lindsay’s interpretive program, participating in daily public programming and working alongside the Education Department to provide a high-quality guest experience.
Primary Responsibilities
Work with Curator, veterinary staff, Lead Animal Keepers, Animal Keepers (part time), Animal Husbandry Volunteers, and Animal Husbandry Interns to ensure the highest standards of animal care.
Participate in daily husbandry, including handling, enrichment, training and record keeping.
Participation in public programming using live animals; including daily exhibit hall programming and events on and off-site.
Work with the Curator on LWE’s behavioral training program. Responsible for training of assigned animals and evaluate all activities with regards to husbandry, medical, enrichment, handling and public presentations
Training and supervision of Animal Keepers (part time), Animal Husbandry Volunteers, and Animal Husbandry Interns.
Facility maintenance (cleaning, equipment upkeep, organizational projects, maintaining naturalistic exhibits).
Accurate observation, evaluation and documentation of animal behaviors.
Maintain excellent written and verbal communication with co-workers, manager, director, and vet staff; maintain accurate daily reports and records. All animal records are logged using a digital format.
Provide scheduled and unscheduled educational and interpretive presentations to zoo guests on exhibit, behind the scenes, and in guest areas
Work in coordination with the other departments to represent Lindsay and its mission in a professional manner and with high-quality customer service.
Education and Pre-requisites
Bachelor’s degree in zoology, biology, or a related field required.
Candidates must have 2 years full time paid experience working with wild/exotic animals in a zoological setting.
Managerial experience preferred. Does not have to be in a zoological setting.
Experience training wild/exotic animals using positive reinforcement techniques.
Experience with public speaking as it relates to informal environmental education.
Experience in researching, writing, and presenting ecological, biological, and environmental conservation topics to an audience of diverse ages.
Excellent communication skills with staff, volunteers, and guests.
Ability to manage multiple and complex responsibilities at the same time.
Pre-exposure rabies vaccination or the ability to obtain one within 6 months of hire.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Word/Excel and Google Suite (Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Drive, etc)
Must be willing to work weekend days and some holidays
Physical Demands
Medium strength demands include exerting 20-50 pounds occasionally, 10-25 pounds frequently, or up to 10 pounds constantly. Requires handling, using vision and hearing, and talking.
Frequently requires standing, fine dexterity, walking lifting, sitting, reaching, pushing/pulling, balancing, and twisting. Occasionally requires carrying, kneeling, foot controls, bending, and crouching. Rarely requires climbing.
Non-physical Demands
Frequently requires time pressures, frequent changes of tasks, irregular schedule/overtime, performing multiple tasks simultaneously, working closely with others as part of a team, tedious or exacting work, and noisy/distracting environment. Rarely request emergency situations.
Overall Working Conditions:
Occasional exposure to unpleasant environmental conditions and/or hazards.
Primarily zoological environment, secondarily an office environment, as well as public exhibit hall programming, and infrequent outdoor event and/or outreach sites.
Compensation and benefits
Non-exempt full time position, 40-hours a week, $16 per hour
Lindsay offers a competitive benefits package including paid sick time, vacation, holidays and 401K eligibility.
Flexibility to work some evenings, early mornings and special events as needed.
Application instructions
To apply for this opportunity send cover letter, resume, and three references to: jobs@lindsaywildlife.org Please put “Lead Animal Keeper” in the subject line.
Preference will be given to candidates who submit the following additional materials:
A video of candidate conducting an animal training session
A video of candidate preforming a public animal presentation
No phone calls, please.
Automatic applications from websites, such as Indeed, will not be considered. References will not be checked without permission.
*Submit all materials in PDF format with your first initial and last name in the document name
Example: JSmith_Resume.pdf