Hospital Keeper II

Department: Animal Care Center

Supervisor: Hospital Manager

Supervises: None

FLSA Status: Full Time, Regular, Non-exempt

Starting Pay Rate: $22.98/hour

Application Submission Deadline: 4/10/2024

General Statement:

The Hospital Keeper II is responsible for the safety, health, and well-being of all hospitalized animals through the performance of documented husbandry practices. In addition to Keeper duties, this position is responsible for developing and implementing volunteer programs at the Animal Care Center.

Essential Duties:

• Provide quality guest service to both internal and external guests by maintaining a WILD (friendly, helpful, positive and professional) working attitude and appearance.
• Have a working knowledge of a wide array of species including but not limited to carnivores, birds, reptiles, primates, amphibians.
• Perform routine cleaning and maintenance of assigned enclosures consistent with documented Standard Operating Procedures.
• Maintain optimal environment, i.e., heating, lighting, and humidity, for each hospitalized animal.
• Feed prescribed diets, monitor and report diet consumption.
• Report any observed health or behavioral abnormalities of specimen, administering treatments to animals as prescribed, and maintaining daily records of animal weights, behaviors, and conditions as warranted.
• Follow isolation and quarantine protocols for hospitalized animals as outlined.
• Provide behavioral enrichment and operant conditioning when time permits.
• Assist in restraint, crating, and transfer of animals.
• Prepare enclosures for acquisitions and sick animals as related to a variety of animal’s needs.
• Report any structural problems and perform minor repairs of exhibits. Monitor and maintain equipment to ensure the tools remain in good working condition.
• Maintain hospital areas (including but not limited to cleaning, laundry, mopping, organizing, etc.)
• Assist with accurate record keeping (filing paperwork, data entry, maintains and compiles records and reports, creating health certificates, etc.) using various programs including Zoological Information Systems (ZIMS).
• Assist with inventory and ordering of supplies, assist with medical care procedures as well as the preparation for and clean up after procedures.
• Prepare medications/med sheets, surgical equipment, lab supplies, etc.
• Respond to animal emergency situations according to approved protocols.
• Assist in administrative duties, i.e. data entry, record keeping, filing, etc.
• Monitor the public ensuring the safety of visitors and animals.
• Assist in developing and implementing volunteer programs at the Animal Care Center.
• Work collaboratively with other staff and departments to support designated public experiences and other communication activities and goals that include participating as necessary with Special Events, Group Services, Marketing and PR events.
• Assist other hospital staff members as time permits.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, or working conditions associated with the job. Management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change (e.g. emergencies, changes in personnel, workload, rush jobs, or technological developments.)

• Bachelor’s degree in life science or equivalent.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in work relevant to zoo animal husbandry.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to bend, stoop, and crawl.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to work in extreme weather conditions.
• Possession of a valid driver license.
• Ability to pass pre-employment background check, drug test, DMV check and clear annual TB test.