Facility
North Carolina Zoo
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
Successful candidate will be assigned to work with Chimpanzees, Lions, Ring-tailed Lemurs, and Red-ruffed Lemurs. May be asked to assist with care of other African species within the sister work unit, which include Zebra, Ostrich, Giraffe, and Red River Hogs. Responsibilities include daily assessment and care of exhibit and off-exhibit animal areas, systematic observation of all taxa in work area, maintains and trains husbandry behaviors applying principles of operant conditioning, develops and implements behavioral enrichment programs to elicit species-typical behaviors, food presentation and assessment of consumption, visual observations, written records, use of computer-based programs for record keeping, interaction with zoo visitors in formal and informal settings. Candidate will work in a team environment and will participate in team problem solving and decision-making processes. Must participate in occupational health program due to potential exposures to zoonosis. Position has rotating schedule that involves working holidays and weekends. Also involves indoor and outdoor work.
Education and Pre-requisites
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES / COMPETENCIES:
**To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must list the information on the application form. Any information omitted from the application form, listed under the text resume section, or on an attachment will not be considered for qualifying credit**
• Must have recent hands-on working experience with primates and/or felids, including knowledge of husbandry behaviors and practices, basic biology, and natural history obtained from working in an AZA accredited zoo, sanctuary setting or related facility.
• Must have recent hands-on working experience in operant conditioning and environmental enrichment skills obtained from an AZA accredited zoo, sanctuary setting or related facility.
• Must have keen observational skills and the ability to discern and interpret subtle changes in animal health and behavior.
• Must possess strong oral and written communication skills and good interpersonal relations/teamwork skills.
• Must have good physical agility, strength, vision & hearing, and the ability to perform strenuous physical work in extremes of weather and challenging physical environments, e.g. outdoor animal enclosures. Specifically, this means the ability to lift 50 pounds, walk, stand, see animals & exhibits for observation and safety as well as hear animal’s sounds, radio communication and emergency situations.
• Ability to capture, handle and restrain live exotic and potentially dangerous animals and use associated capture equipment.
MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
Graduation from a two-year technical or community college with a degree in zoo animal technology or other related curriculum; or graduation from high school and two years of animal care experience in a zoo or related facility; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be from appropriately accredited institutions.
Compensation and benefits
RECRUITMENT RANGE: $27,903
For description of benefits: http://www.oshr.nc.gov/jobs/benefits.htm
Application instructions
JOB CLASS TITLE: Zookeeper I
POSITION NUMBER: 60033455
DEPARTMENT: Dept. of Environment & Natural Resources
DIVISION/SECTION: NC Zoo
SALARY RANGE: $27,903.00 – $41,789.00 Annually
RECRUITMENT RANGE: $27,903
SALARY GRADE / SALARY GRADE EQUIVALENT: 60
COMPETENCY LEVEL: Not Applicable
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Permanent Full-Time
WORK LOCATION: Randolph County
OPENING DATE: 02/17/15
CLOSING DATE: 02/27/15 5:00 PM Eastern Time
DESCRIPTION OF WORK:
The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) primary mission is to protect North Carolina’s environment and natural resources. In executing this mission, DENR operates with the broad-based understanding that the following three fundamental principles are integral components of its protective mandate: Fundamental Philosophy, Fundamental Economics, and Fundamental Science. Ultimately, a collaborative stewardship among the citizens, government regulators, and the business community will maintain and enhance North Carolina’s environment and natural resources for the benefit and enjoyment of everyone living in or visiting our great state.
Primary Purpose of the Organizational Unit:
The North Carolina Zoo exists for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of all of North Carolina’s citizens and visitors to the zoo. The mission of the zoo is to encourage the understanding of and commitment to the conservation of the world’s wildlife and wild places through the recognition of the interdependence of people and nature. The Zoo displays, conserves and protects representative examples of natural beauty, plant and animal species and ecological features of the North American and African regions of the world through the presentation of live animal exhibits from these regions.
Primary Purpose of this Position:
Successful candidate will be assigned to work with Chimpanzees, Lions, Ring-tailed Lemurs, and Red-ruffed Lemurs. May be asked to assist with care of other African species within the sister work unit, which include Zebra, Ostrich, Giraffe, and Red River Hogs. Responsibilities include daily assessment and care of exhibit and off-exhibit animal areas, systematic observation of all taxa in work area, maintains and trains husbandry behaviors applying principles of operant conditioning, develops and implements behavioral enrichment programs to elicit species-typical behaviors, food presentation and assessment of consumption, visual observations, written records, use of computer-based programs for record keeping, interaction with zoo visitors in formal and informal settings. Candidate will work in a team environment and will participate in team problem solving and decision-making processes. Must participate in occupational health program due to potential exposures to zoonosis. Position has rotating schedule that involves working holidays and weekends. Also involves indoor and outdoor work.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES / COMPETENCIES:
**To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must list the information on the application form. Any information omitted from the application form, listed under the text resume section, or on an attachment will not be considered for qualifying credit**
• Must have recent hands-on working experience with primates and/or felids, including knowledge of husbandry behaviors and practices, basic biology, and natural history obtained from working in an AZA accredited zoo, sanctuary setting or related facility.
• Must have recent hands-on working experience in operant conditioning and environmental enrichment skills obtained from an AZA accredited zoo, sanctuary setting or related facility.
• Must have keen observational skills and the ability to discern and interpret subtle changes in animal health and behavior.
• Must possess strong oral and written communication skills and good interpersonal relations/teamwork skills.
• Must have good physical agility, strength, vision & hearing, and the ability to perform strenuous physical work in extremes of weather and challenging physical environments, e.g. outdoor animal enclosures. Specifically, this means the ability to lift 50 pounds, walk, stand, see animals & exhibits for observation and safety as well as hear animal’s sounds, radio communication and emergency situations.
• Ability to capture, handle and restrain live exotic and potentially dangerous animals and use associated capture equipment.
MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
Graduation from a two-year technical or community college with a degree in zoo animal technology or other related curriculum; or graduation from high school and two years of animal care experience in a zoo or related facility; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be from appropriately accredited institutions.
SUPPLEMENTAL AND CONTACT INFORMATION:
Applicants must document on the application their knowledge skills and abilities as well as all related work experience to the position for which they apply.
All relevant experience must be included on application to receive proper credit. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of state application.
SEE ATTACHED RESUME WILL RESULT IN AN INCOMPLETE APPLICATION.
To receive credit, all experience must be included in the work history sections. Any information omitted from the application but included in the resume will not be considered for qualifying credit.
Persons eligible for veteran preference must submit a copy of Form DD-214.
DENR uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Personnel Act with the most qualified applicants. When a salary range is posted, the actual salary will be based on relevant competencies, knowledge, skills and abilities, internal equity and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position. The State of North Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
For additional information, please contact:
Ellie Meadows
NC Zoo
HR Department
336-879-7310
Please visit our website at www.nczoo.org for more information regarding our facility.
APPLICATIONS MAY BE FILED ONLINE AT:
http://www.oshr.nc.gov/jobs/index.html
NOTE: Apply to the department listed on posting
An Equal Opportunity Employer, NC State Government
Position #15-00636 ZOO60033455
ZOOKEEPER I – LION, CHIMP & LEMUR