Animal Keeper

The NOVA Wild is a newly formed zoo and safari park located in Vienna, Virginia. NOVA Wild is American Humane Certified and ZAA Accredited.

We are growing and seeking to hire an experienced, forward-thinking, and energetic individual to help us on our animal care team. We are seeking applicants with experience with primates, hoof stock, small mammals, and carnivores. We also prefer keepers with significant public speaking, training, animal rearing, and/or enrichment experience.

Keepers will work closely under the Director of Animal Welfare to ensure high standards of animal care and welfare are met. Lead Keepers are responsible for ensuring all daily operations within animal care are upheld in the absence of the Curator/Assistant Curator.

DUTIES

· Runs day to day animal care operations with the team under supervision of the Lead Keeper

· Ensure animals are held to high animal welfare standards exceeding USDA, ZAA, and AH standards

· Help to establish animal training, enrichment, and ambassador animal programs under direction of the Director of Animal Welfare and Curator

· Maintains animal care reports, medical records, and adherence to animal care protocols

· Ensures daily delivery of animal medications, diets, and enrichment

· Reports animal behavior and medical concerns to veterinarians and supervisors. Assists with medical procedures. Functions as a member of the animal escape and recapture team. Delivers medications as prescribed.

· Looks forward to doing preventative habitat maintenance, creating work orders for repairs to the maintenance team. Maintains park and habitat cleanliness standards

· Thorough knowledge of rearing animals and breeding procedures

· Understanding of animal nutritional requirements, body conditioning, and familiar with animal welfare assessments.

· Develops staff, interns, and volunteers to run routines operationally

· Identify and report potential safety concerns

· Performs other duties as assigned

EDUCATION AND PRE-REQUISITES

· 1-2 years of paid animal care experience in a zoological setting

· Higher education, with preference towards a Bachelor’s of science in Biology or Zoology preferred

· Experience with public speaking with a professional demeanor

· Experience coordinating or assisting with volunteer, intern, enrichment, and training programs

· Experience with large animal restraint, animal ambassador programs, hand-rearing, hoof care, forage programs, body conditions, gestation and or breeding periods are preferred

· Demonstrated progressive leadership experience

· Must have the ability to work in all weather conditions, able to see color, be physically fit, able to stand/stoop/crawl, able to run, and lift a minimum of 50 lbs.

· Experience with yard maintenance machinery and power tools

· Valid driver’s license and able to work weekends and holidays

· Performs other duties as assigned

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $29,000.00 per year

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Holidays
• Weekends as needed

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Shift availability:

• Day Shift (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $1,000 - $29,000