Facility

Oakland Zoo

Closing Date

Description

The Supervising Primary Animal Keeper – Animal Room is responsible for the daily management of our Education Animal Room which houses a variety of birds, reptiles, and small mammals in our ambassador animal program, as well as supervising the String staff that includes relief, floating, and apprentice Animal Keepers, plus interns, volunteers, and behavioral observers. Work ranges from the physical tasks associated with feeding, enrichment, and maintenance of the animals’ living areas to more analytical tasks of planning, record keeping and communication. The Senior Animal Keeper takes direction from the Zoological Manager and Department Vice President regarding daily operations as appropriate.

Essential Job Duties

· Implement Department/Zoo priorities as well as demonstrate the initiative and expertise to regularly find ways to make improvements, which may include Departmental administrative tasks

· Guide and support junior staff and volunteers as appropriate

· Train, inspire, coach, set expectations, and provide feedback with a wide variety of people including docents, teen volunteers, and Education staff

· Act as a department leader and can be expected to cover department function and emergency response coordination in the absence of Zoological Manager or Department Vice President.

· Perform other related duties as required and assigned

Education and Pre-requisites

At least three years full time professional experience in the care of wildlife at an AZA zoo or comparable facility

· Experience in the areas of animal care/management

· Experience with supervision of paid staff and unpaid volunteers/interns, including leadership training/conflict management

· Have or develop significant level of knowledge of the natural history and captive wildlife management for the animals under their care to insure their best possible physical and psychological well-being

· Able to use the tools of animal observation, enrichment, training, and other behavioral husbandry methods to ensure the best possible psychological well-being of the animals in their care

· Good physical condition: able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs. (i.e., feed sack) and move a minimum of 120lbs. (i.e. hay bale)

· Valid driver’s license and clean driving record

· Willingness to work outside normal business hours including weekends and holidays

· Knowledge of the habits and hazards of working with wild animals; willingness to work with some physical risk while observing proper safety precautions

· Able to represent the Zoo in a variety of public settings including press interviews, instructional classes, and casual communication with Zoo guests

· The Oakland Zoo requires COVID vaccination
Bachelor’s degree in zoology, biology or a related field.

· Significant knowledge in the natural history and captive management of wild animals

· Significant behavior-based husbandry (enrichment and training) and welfare assessments

· Knowledge and experience with small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, raptors, parrots, and invertebrates, particularly in education programming

Compensation and benefits

Starting at $26.29/hour (depending on experience)

Comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, life insurance, PTO (Paid Time Off) and 403B retirement benefits.

Application instructions

Click on link to apply: https://recruiting2.ultipro.com/OAK1008OZOO/JobBoard/754619c4-d7c6-489f-83fa-37cd81c2513d/Opportunity/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=f8bff42d-3e81-4c03-b5fb-bbd960ad29c9

Applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, and 3 professional references

Candidates not meeting minimum requirements may not receive a response.

Applicants selected for candidacy are required to attend an on-site working interview.