Facility
Chehaw Park & Zoo / Flint RiverQuarium
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
Chehaw Park & Zoo and Flint RiverQuarium are looking for a motivated professional to join our animal husbandry team and ensure high standards of animal care and positive guest experience. The ideal candidate will have a solid working knowledge of zoo and aquarium safety and animal husbandry best practices.
This role requires a dedicated person who can maintain aesthetically pleasing terrestrial habitats that promote positive animal welfare for a variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Team work will be essential to complete large projects and effectively care for the collection as a whole.
JOB DUTIES
• Attend to assigned animals; prepare diets, feed, and provide water; sanitize enclosure furniture/floors and food/water dishes as scheduled or necessary; perform approved enrichment and training activities; assist in the capture and restraint of animals
• Inspect animals for health problems; collect fecal samples for testing; condition/train animals for veterinary procedures; assist veterinarians with medical exams and procedures, including surgery and necropsies; administer medications to animals
• Record relevant information in facility’s recordkeeping database, including animal observations, health concerns and treatments, acquisitions/births, dispositions/deaths, etc.; objectively complete animal welfare assessments, as assigned
• Perform routine repairs and maintenance on exhibits/enclosures as needed; construct improvements, furnishings, and decorations for exhibits; may replace substrate, control weeds, and collect browse
• Assist in planning and conducting educational and interactive guest programs; engage the public to encourage curiosity and facilitate a positive experience
• Support institution’s Vision, Mission, and Value statements; maintain a positive example in meeting the needs of fellow staff, volunteers, and guests
Education and Pre-requisites
• Associate degree or equivalent experience
• 2+ years of previous experience and/or training involving animal care, wildlife biology, or related field
• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and have reliable transportation to/from work
• Significant knowledge about exotic animal husbandry and captive management; ability to build upon this knowledge and to adapt as necessary to animal collection changes
• Basic computer skills
• Must be able to lift 60 pounds and work outdoors in all weather conditions on a daily basis; must be able to tolerate strong odors, dust, hay, dander, and dampness; may be required to stand or sit for extended periods of time and/or to twist, bend, crouch, squat, climb, crawl, kneel, jump, swim, or carry objects for short distances; may be exposed to chemicals, fumes, odors, dust, moving mechanical parts, vehicles, and potentially dangerous animals
Compensation and benefits
Full-time (40 hours per week)
Starting wage: $10.22 – 11.18 per hour, based on experience
Benefits: paid-time-off; sick time; vision, dental, and health Insurance; retirement plan.
Relocation package available to eligible new hires.
Application instructions
Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to ckoenig@chehaw.org prior to October 1, 2021. Subject line should read: Zookeeper II AAZK.