Facility
Oakland Zoo
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
The Hospital Keeper plays an integral role in maintaining the physical health and psychological well-being of the animals at Oakland Zoo’s Veterinary Hospital. Daily work includes the physical tasks associated with feeding, enrichment, and maintenance of the animals’ living areas, and analytical tasks of planning record-keeping and communication with team members. The Hospital keeper trains, guides and supervises junior staff, volunteers and interns and may be expected to represent the Zoo in a variety of public settings including press interviews, instructional classes and casual communication with Zoo guests.
Essential Job Duties
Daily care of animals in Oakland Zoo’s Veterinary Hospital, including feeding, maintenance of safe and sanitary conditions for animals and facilities
Provide physical and psycho-social health evaluation of animals
Provide an ongoing program of appropriate enrichment for each species and individual animal
Provide an ongoing program of operant conditioning through regularly scheduled training sessions to meet established goals
Develop and/or maintain appropriate string, department and Zoo records
Willingness and ability to participate in animal medical procedures including postmortem
Support veterinary team with non-husbandry tasks including laundry, package pickup, prescription delivery
Education and Pre-requisites
Minimum of 2 years’ experience in the care of captive wildlife in the zoo field.
Knowledgeable about the habits and hazards of working with wild, dangerous animals; willingness to work with some physical risk while observing proper safety precautions
Knowledgeable in the natural history, behavior and captive management of the animals under your care and be able to communicate that knowledge
Knowledge and experience in behavioral modification programs including animal training and enrichment
Able to work cooperatively and communicate well with co-workers and supervisors and demonstrate good public relations skills with zoo guests.
Able to work independently and maintain reliable and consistent attendance, which is critical to the function of the Animal Care Department.
Good physical condition; able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs. (i.e., feed sack) and move a minimum of 120 lbs. (i.e., hay bale); ability to walk long distances on uneven terrain in variable environmental conditions (e.g., steep, muddy, etc.)
Experience or ability to learn to operate heavy equipment such as Bobcat, excavator, backhoe, and/or lift.
Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
Willingness to work outside normal business hours including weekends and holidays
Good written and verbal communications skills
Bonus if you have
Bachelor’s degree in zoology, biology, or a related field.
Compensation and benefits
$21.44-$24.29
Application instructions
Follow this link
https://recruiting2.ultipro.com/OAK1008OZOO/JobBoard/754619c4-d7c6-489f-83fa-37cd81c2513d/Opportunity/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=8cf5a769-2169-458f-a8ff-84e2e5ab35f2&sourceId=0f7bb8a3-d275-4c89-8a2d-e6129dd50d41