Animal Care Specialist

Animal Care Specialist Job Description

Join our team as an Animal Care Specialist, where you'll play a crucial role in maintaining the welfare and vitality of our diverse animal collection at the preserve. Working in accordance with established protocols, you'll ensure the optimal care of mammals, birds, and reptiles.

Your responsibilities will encompass food preparation, feeding regimes, exhibit maintenance, pest management, and sanitation protocols. Additionally, you'll actively participate in operant conditioning and husbandry programs to promote behavioral enrichment and overall wellness for our animals.

Collaboration is integral to our approach, as you'll work alongside fellow team members to enhance animal exhibits and deliver engaging educational presentations and tours for our guests. If you're committed to professional excellence in animal care and enthusiastic about contributing to our conservation efforts, we welcome your application.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Care for assigned animals and their homes every day to ensure they stay healthy and safe, following rules from FWC, USDA, and AAI. * Keep an eye on animals' health and behavior and tell the manager if anything seems wrong. * Prepare and give food, water, and medicine to animals as needed for their health. * Keep animal areas, food prep areas, and equipment clean and safe, and report any problems. * Make sure animals stay happy and engaged by giving them toys and training. * Help catch and handle different animals, including ones that might be dangerous. * Keep detailed records and help with projects to learn more about animals. * Fix up and take care of animal homes, including painting and fixing things. * Assist with moving animals and other tasks as needed. * Work well with other staff and volunteers who care for animals. * Teach visitors about animals and why they're important through presentations. * Come up with new ideas to keep animals entertained and document how well they work. * Work together with other staff for the preserve's goals, like events and public relations. * Support plans and projects for the whole zoo. * Learn about animals and their behavior from materials provided. * Follow safety rules and be ready to help in emergencies.

Requirements:

• Should know how to take care of animals and have some experience, preferably one year, with exotic animals. * Needs to be flexible, efficient, and able to work well with others. Should be good at solving problems. * Must be able to handle and control different types of animals safely, even potentially dangerous ones. * Should be able to get along with everyone, including managers, co-workers, interns, volunteers, and visitors. * Needs to communicate well, both when talking and writing, and should keep records of animal care properly. * Should always represent the Preserve in a professional way. * Must make good decisions in emergencies and know what to do. * Should have a good relationship with managers, co-workers, and visitors. * Needs to be able to do physical work, like walking, lifting up to 50 pounds, and working outside even when it's hot or bad weather. * Must be available to work on holidays, weekends, and at different times if needed. * Being on time for work is very important. * Must pass drug tests, background checks, and TB tests before starting the job. * Should have a driver's license and a reliable way to get to work.

Remember, these are just general descriptions of the job, and there may be other tasks not listed here.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $28,000.00 per year

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

Experience:

• Animal care: 1 year (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Saint Cloud, FL 34772 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Saint Cloud, FL 34772: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $28,000