Lead Elephant Keeper

Facility

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium

Closing Date

[jobclosingdate]

Description

Job Title: Lead Elephant Keeper

Date Position Opens: 08/10/2018

Date Position Closes: 08/24/2018

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Hours: Full-time

Number of Positions: 1

INTERESTED APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT A COVER LETTER AND RESUME.

Summary:

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is currently seeking a Lead Elephant Keeper for the African Grasslands Exhibit.

This position is responsible for leading the elephant department in the absence of the Elephant Manager. This includes daily reporting to senior staff, ensuring the elephant daily report is complete and accurate, training of new full time and seasonal keeper staff, and reporting and/or facilitating the completion of necessary maintenance work.

Elephant natural history is the driving force behind the management philosophy of this elephant program. Maintaining solid female herd dynamics and facilitating natural breeding are the focus of this program while providing the maximum amount of choice and control to our elephants. The elephants are managed in a protected contacted system following AZA’s Standards for Elephant Management and Care. They are a part of a mixed species exhibit with zebra and impala, good communication is essential to ensure the safety of all staff and animals across departments. Individuals must function well as a part of the elephant team to ensure a safe and productive work environment. Duties will include but are not limited to all aspects of the daily management of African elephants including daily cleaning, feeding, enrichment, detailed record keeping, behavioral observations, browse collection, general maintenance, public demonstrations, husbandry training and all other duties as assigned. This position reports directly to the Elephant Manager.

Responsibilities and Duties (include but not limited to):

Manage the elephant department in the absence of the elephant manager
Assist in the training of new full time and seasonal keeper staff
Completion of daily records and reporting to senior staff
General exhibit and holding area cleaning and maintenance
Planning, implementing, and evaluating daily behavior based enrichment
Collection and identification of approved browse species
Daily husbandry training via protected contact utilizing positive reinforcement
Behavioral observations
Preparing diets and following feeding schedules
Assisting with veterinary care
Public training demonstrations and keeper chats
Regular team meetings
Other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Work Skills:

Strong leadership skills
The ability to work well as part of a team, by listening and contributing
An understanding of environmental enrichment, its importance, and implementation
The ability to follow all protocols and standard operating procedures to assure the highest level of animal welfare.
A thorough understanding of and strict adherence to the Occupational Safety Guidelines for elephant care professionals.
Be able to give/receive constructive criticism regardless of prior experience
Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, both with their peers and all other zoo personnel
An ability to work in a fast paced and dynamic environment
Great attention to detail in all aspects of their work and record keeping
An excellent safety record
A strong work ethic
Advanced skills in operant conditioning utilizing positive reinforcement techniques
Strong public speaking skills
Basic computer skills for data entry utilizing Microsoft programs

Experience:

Qualified candidates will possess a minimum of 2 years of full time paid experience as an elephant keeper in a protected contact program at an AZA accredited institution.

Qualifications:

Successful candidates will have demonstrable experience with operant conditioning techniques utilizing positive reinforcement.
Working knowledge of the AZA Standards for Elephant Management and Care and Occupational Safety Guidelines for elephant care professionals is expected.
Experience with managing elephants as part of a breeding herd is a preferred.
Completion of AZA’s Principles of Elephant Management 1 is a plus.
Successful candidates will also be familiar with or capable of learning the safe use of various power tools and heavy equipment including but not limited to chainsaws, drills, power augers, and a Bobcat or similar equipment.
All candidates are required to pass a pre-employment background check, including a drug test, and possess a valid driver’s license. A negative TB test is also required.
Hours may vary and successful candidates must be able to work weekends and holidays.

Education:

Minimum requirements for this position include a High School diploma with a preference for a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology, Biology, or related field.

Physical Demands:

Must be able to walk, stand, sit, kneel, bend, twist, reach above head, pull, and climb stairs and ladders.
Must be able to lift 70 lbs. routinely and work outdoors for prolonged periods in the weather and temperature extremes common to Omaha, Nebraska.

Work Environment:

The position involves working within 3+ acres of outdoor exhibit space and a 25,000 square foot elephant barn.
Exposure to biting flies and mosquitos is likely.

INTERESTED APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT A COVER LETTER AND RESUME.

DISCLAIMER

The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, nor is it to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and objectives required of employees assigned to this job.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer as defined by the EEOC.

Education and Pre-requisites

Not specified.

Compensation and benefits