Facility
Oregon Zoo
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
Deadline: October 29, 2015 @ 5:00 pm PDT
Pay rate: $20.97 – $28.11 hourly
Summary:
One part-time position is available. Work week is typically Friday through Monday, either 7:30 – 11:30 a.m. or 7:30 – 4:00 p.m. days and shifts will vary due to program needs.
Owned and operated by Metro Regional Government, the Oregon Zoo has an annual attendance of over 1.6 million visitors. The zoo located along the MAX light rail line, just minutes from downtown Portland, is highly regarded nationally, regionally and locally. The Oregon Zoo is home to over 2,000 animals representing 279 species of amphibians, birds, fish, invertebrates and mammals.
The Program Animal Specialist functions as a member of the program animal care team presenting a variety of education programs, such as guided tours, school programs, media appearances and/or free-flight summer shows. The Program Animal Specialist provides training and support to youth and adult volunteers, schedules animals for education program use, and works within the parameters of the Oregon Zoo’s animal care and handling guidelines.
The Program Animal Specialist works directly with a variety of animal species, including reptiles, invertebrates, birds and mammals and may also work hands-on with exotic and potentially dangerous animals. Daily husbandry duties are also part of the Program Animal Specialist duties, including animal training; maintaining records relating to health, diet and behavior; and observing and communicating animal health with veterinary staff. The Program Animal Specialist participates in training volunteers to handle animals, and caring for and training the animals used in education presentations. Supervision is received from the Program Animal Supervisor and requires close collaboration with the other Program Animal Specialists, Youth Volunteer Coordinator and Education Program Coordinators.
Education and Pre-requisites
Associate’s degree in biology, zoology or a related field and two years of experience conducting public presentations for general audiences in both classroom and informal settings, mentoring and supervising volunteers, and working with a variety of animals in a zoo or similar setting with direct responsibility for the daily husbandry routine; or any combination of experience and education that provides the necessary skills, knowledge and ability to perform assigned tasks may be substituted. Requires a valid driver’s license.
Compensation and benefits
Pay rate: $20.97 – $28.11 hourly
Application instructions
To apply: visit www.oregonmetro.gov/jobs for the complete job announcement and a link to our online hiring center.
Metro is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.