Job Postings

Wildlife Keeper II

Facility

EcoTarium

Closing Date
February 26, 2019
Description

The EcoTarium, A Museum of Science & Nature, seeks an enthusiastic professional to join our dedicated and dynamic team. The successful candidate will provide excellent animal care and a positive guest experience. The Keeper works in all areas of animal husbandry including feeding, cleaning, record keeping, training and enrichment, behavioral observations, and exhibit maintenance for all of the museum’s live animals. The animal collection includes mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, small marine animals and insects. This position also provides overall care and support of new felid species. Other responsibilities include formal and informal presentations to guests, and developing conservation and education initiatives. Habitats are located both indoors and outdoors. The position is physically demanding and requires working in all weather conditions.

Responsibilities/Essential Functions:
• Provide assistance with developing a care plan and training programs with felids and other species associated with a new exhibit.
• Provide daily care and maintenance of wildlife, including but not limited to diet preparation, exhibit cleaning and repair, capture and restraint, and medical care.
• Conduct behavioral observations, provide enrichment and daily training of animals utilizing operant conditioning necessary for husbandry care and stimulation.
• On a weekly rotational basis, serve as the primary conduit for communication within the department and with other departments as Task Point Person of the Day.
• Support Lead Keeper in the role of husbandry and staff mentorship.
• Train and oversee volunteers and interns in daily animal care, behavioral observations, and public education and act as mentor to those coming up in the field
• Responsible for design and maintenance of current habitats
• Maintain daily files and records on animals in written and computerized form
• Work with team to identify opportunities to educate guests on conservation issues
• Perform all physical aspects of the job, including shoveling snow, raking and hauling mulch, gutting exhibits, re-perching bird enclosures, and conducting pool drains and cleans, hosing exhibits, etc.
• Be welcoming, professional, and gracious to our guests
• Present formal and informal wildlife programs to the general public and groups, at the museum and off-site, and interact with guests to answer questions
• Serve as the point person on several on-going projects and/or functions with in the department.
• Assist with after-hours events
• Represent facility and department in professional development settings and conferences.

Non-Essential Functions:
• Serve on staff ad-hoc committees when needed
• Other duties as assigned

Education and Pre-requisites

• Bachelor of Science in Biology, Animal Science, or related field preferred
• Concentrated experience of 1-2 years minimum with medium to large felids in their daily husbandry, training, and enrichment.
• Experience and knowledge in working with captive animals; preferably in a zoo/museum setting including but not exclusive to birds of prey, small mammals, and a variety of reptiles and invertebrates.
• Experience in general plumbing, aquatic systems, or mechanical repair desirable
• Experience in exhibitory techniques: design, maintenance, and repair and modification
• Excellent observational and record-keeping skills with great attention to detail
• Must be available to work weekends and holidays, position includes one weekend day
• Must be flexible and highly dependable
• Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force to lift, push, pull, carry, or otherwise move objects, climb a 5-foot ladder and work outdoors in all conditions including assist with snow removal
• Must be able to move quickly, position oneself to reach and access awkward and tight spaces, and able to work with hand nets and/or snares to capture animals in exhibits and on museum grounds
• Must be able to use a variety of tools (hand and power) and to operate motor vehicles safely
• Computer skills, MS Word and Excel with background in Species 360 record keeping
• Excellent communication skills and comfort with performance and/or public speaking, a flair for public presentation with and without a microphone
• Must pass a CORI/SORI background check
• Must be fully vaccinated for rabies no later than three (3) months after hire date.

Compensation and benefits

$15/hr

Application instructions

Please send your resume and a cover letter to: Human Resources, Attn: Wildlife Keeper II, EcoTarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA 01604 or email:resume@ecotarium.org with “Wildlife Keeper II” in the subject line.

Review begins immediately; applications accepted until position is filled.
EOE