Animal Care Specialist

This position is responsible for the daily care, maintenance and observation of assigned animal collection and the associated facilities at the Frank Buck Zoo.  Will perform exhibit maintenance, diet preparation, assist with veterinary procedures, maintain established animal training criteria, provide behavioral enrichment, interpretive chats and education programs (as assigned).

Distinguishing Characteristics:

This is the entry-level class in the Animal Care Specialist series. This class is distinguished from the Senior Animal Care Specialist taffer by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within the series under close supervision. Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgment on matters related to established procedures and guidelines as are positions allocated to the senior level.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential Functions:

• Observe, evaluate, and report animal behavior and condition to a supervisor on a daily basis.
• Exchange information with supervisory staff and coworkers at established am & pm meetings as well as during weekly meetings with the Director (more frequently as needed).
• Maintain and repair area equipment as needed and keeping such items in proper working order. 
• Provide assistance in construction and maintenance of animal enclosures and facility renovation.
• Establish and maintain positive, cooperative, and effective working relations with co-workers and supervisors.
• Constantly exhibit a guest service attitude, a smile, and an obvious interest in guest comfort and service.
• Communicate with the public in a courteous and tactful manner and assist guests with questions and directions to various areas of the Zoo. Address the guest - do not wait to be asked.
• Preparation and feeding of the zoo animals; ensure that diets meet nutritional species-specific standards and are given in approved portions;  restock, inventory, report needed feed supplies to procurement to be ordered as needed.  Maintains food preparation areas and equipment.
• Ensure that the animals’ environmental conditions are appropriate to maintain healthy animals and plant life.
• Perform daily wellness checks of animals to determine if animals need additional care or medical attention; administer medical attention as assigned and participate in the general husbandry of the animals.
• Perform the raking, washing, cleaning, and disinfecting of animal exhibits and enclosures as trained, approved and assigned. Shift animals to another exhibit or location, while exhibits and enclosures are being cleaned or repaired according to approved SOPs.
• Monitors life support systems including but not limited to water filtration, ozone generators, HVAC and backup generators as needed.
• Identifies and communicates situations for repair and maintenance for the safety of animals, visitors and staff as well as overall upkeep of the facilities.
• Researches the animal collection; researches scientific journals, observes and recognizes a variety of courtship behaviors; creates environments that induce breeding and general animal welfare.
• Monitors incubation process of eggs; records weight and size, sets eggs in containers of correct substrate/H20 ratio, monitors temperature and humidity, candles eggs to determine fertility and assists egg hatching.
• Recognizes signs of pest infestation in animal areas and combat pests as directed.
• Maintains area compliance with all local, state, federal and international regulations and standards (USDA & ZAA inspection ready).
• Answer questions and provide information to the public; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints.
• Ensure that established safety practices and protocols are observed daily by all zoo personnel and visitors.
• Inspect zoo facilities for cleanliness and safety; participate in maintaining the grounds and repairing zoo facilities.
• Perform daily area cleaning routines; inspect animal enclosures to ensure proper repair; repair exhibits and housing as necessary. Perform assigned area closing of common work areas daily. Read and fill out area digital records daily.
• Captures, restrains, and transports animals as assigned, and assists in crisis management situations.
• Clean and maintain zoo vehicles; maintain proper fluid levels; submit repair requests as needed.
• Provide training for new personnel working within assigned zoo area.
• Ensure all locks are secured at all times.
• Ensure animals receive approved, novel, environmental enrichment daily.
• Reports animal related health issues to Senior Animal Care & Zoo Director.
• Responds to emergency calls after normal operating hours.

Additional Duties:

• As assigned, conducts lock checks at end of work day, checking every lock in the zoo, ensuring all enclosures, building and gates are property secured for the night. 
• As assigned, receives morning opening calls from other zoo keepers.
• As assigned, provide training, mentoring and coaching to newly hired zoo keepers.
• Work special events as assigned.
• Work as a team to cover staff shortages.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of Exotic Animal Husbandry or Wildlife Management.
• Safety procedures for working with wild animals.
• Animal behavior and feeding habits.
• Imperial Standard and Metric measurement systems.

Ability to:

• Ability to work weekends, holidays and occasional after-hour assignments.
• Ability to work safely around delicate, wild, and dangerous animals.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Able to communicate in English.
• Able to safely operate light motor vehicles.
• Have basic computer knowledge and skills.
• Supervise and train assigned personnel.
• Accurately evaluate the condition of zoo animals and provide care accordingly.
• Work with wild and dangerous animals in a safe and competent manner.
• Follow establish practices and procedures to ensure a safe and healthy zoo environment for the animals, personnel and visitors.
• Perform work in adverse weather conditions.
• Professionally respond to requests and inquiries from the general public.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Operate and use a variety of equipment, machinery and tools in the maintenance and repair of zoo facilities.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions and work in a team environment.
• Operate a John Deere Gator.
• Work on uneven ground.
• Maintain a safe work environment for yourself and others.
• Have a yearly TB test and stay current on the Tetanus vaccine.
• Work in rapidly changing environment.
• Communicate effectively with members of the public and other members of the staff.
• Work as a member of a team.
• Exhibit good time management and organizational skills.

Experience and Training Guidelines:

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

Experience in Exotic Animal Husbandry or Wildlife Management working with a zoo or other wildlife facility.

Education/Training:

Associates Degree in Zoo Technology or Zoo Science. Degree in Biology, Animal Science, Wildlife Management or related field.

License(s)/Certification(s):

Possession of a valid driver's license.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Regularly required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear.
• Frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Occasionally required to climb or balance.
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. 
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of this job.

• Regularly works near moving mechanical parts and in outside weather conditions.
• Regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, extreme cold, and extreme heat.
• Occasionally works in high, precarious places.
• Occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, risk of radiation, vibration, and biological pathogens.
• Regularly works with animals that may cause bodily harm.
• May be exposed to zoonotic diseases that may be life threatening.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

This job description is not an employment agreement, contact agreement, or contract.  Management has exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

Salary : $15 - $26