Animal Keeper

Description

General Statement of Duties

The Animal Keeper I is responsible for excellent care and welfare of the Museum’s bird, mammal, and collections, both ambassador and exhibit animals. The Animal Keeper I works in cooperation with Living Exhibits staff as well as other departments to achieve established facility/operational and AZA standards.  This position recognizes the capacity to achieve greater results by integrating skilled volunteers, as well as leveraging their diverse knowledge and skills. This position reports directly to a Senior Keeper. 

Qualifications

• A passion for animals, their welfare and conservation.
• Bachelor’s degree or current progress towards a degree in biology or related field. Significant professional animal care experience may be considered.
• Minimum 6 months paid animal care experience, exotic (non-domestic), preferably in an AZA facility.
• Experience with current training and enrichment practices and ability to learn proper handling techniques of animals in assigned areas. 
• Proficiency in safe operating procedures with hand and power tools in order to make enclosure/exhibit repairs or improvements while ensuring animal, coworker, and public      safety. 
• Excellent reliability, time management, and observational skills.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to speak to guests of all ages.
• Must be self-reliant, motivated, and able to remain calm, make sound decisions and provide clear directions in a crisis situation.
• Current rabies vaccination or agree to be vaccinated at museum expense.
• First Aid/CPR certified or willing to become at the museums      expense.

Duties and Responsibilities

Be a positive, enthusiastic representative of the Virginia Living Museum.

• Support the mission and Strategic Plan initiatives of increasing impact and expanding reach.

Support excellent animal welfare:

• Acquire, maintain and deploy modern zoological processes and procedures in relation to animals, exhibits, museum policies, procedures, and facilities.
• Provide excellent animal husbandry to include, but not limited to: cleaning, diet preparation, feeding, inspecting/observing, maintaining exhibits, implementing veterinary, nutrition and enrichment programs, and record-keeping. 
• Provide regular enrichment to the collection, assist with veterinary care and provide medications as directed.
• Maintain accurate cleaning, feeding, and enrichment records and charts.
• Ensure adequate supplies for animal areas and notify Senior Keeper of low inventory.

Support excellent Human welfare:

• Communicate & work effectively with teammates, Senior Keepers and B&M Curator. 
• Work with animal care volunteers: Including but not limited to proper sanitation of enclosures and dishes; proper diets, protection from zoonosis; recordkeeping; and proper handling of select ambassador and exhibit animals. 
• Enhance guest experience by interacting with museum visitors, answering questions, providing engaging tours, and educational enrichment activities.

Support and ensure Safety:

• Follow proper AZA protocols and safety guidelines, report any concerns to Supervisor.
• Follow all quarantine procedures, including the cleaning of foot baths and proper use of PPE. 
• Properly clean and secure all animal enclosures on a daily basis, ensuring safe and well maintained habitats.
• Follow museum dress code. 
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Must be able to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word and perceive detailed information through oral communication.
• Ability to lift and/or exert up to 50 pounds of force alone, 75 pounds with assistance. 
• Must comfortable around a variety of animals.
• The candidate must have visual acuity to be able to operate motor vehicles and/or equipment.
• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, push, pull, lift, grasp, feel, and utilize repetitive motions.
• Must be able to move throughout the Museum’s building(s) and outdoor trail as needed.
• The candidate will be subject to outdoor environmental conditions such as wind, humidity, and extreme temperatures.