Part- Time Zookeeper

About the role

Responsible for the daily care and continuous improvement of welfare of an assigned group of captive animals, while contributing to conservation, education, science, and customer service.

Responsibilities

• Participates in the care and feeding of the animal collection, which may include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates
• Prepares diets according to specifications, checks foodstuffs for spoilage, feeds animals according to procedures, records food intake and makes notes on changes, recommends diet changes based on food intake, behavior, and general appearance
• Cleans exhibits and adjacent public areas to insure sanitary and safe conditions by hosing, scrubbing, sweeping, raking, shoveling, and disinfecting to remove manure, unconsumed food, litter, poisonous plants, and foreign objects
• Trains other staff, and shifts animals in adjacent stalls, pens, or dens for feeding or cleaning purposes
• Observes animals for unusual behaviors or appearance, signs of illness or injury, aggression, breeding, births, egg laying, hatching, deaths, and eating habits. Maintains daily records on this information and reports problems to his/her supervisor
• Makes recommendations for the artificial incubation of eggs and handraising of young by maintaining equipment and applying appropriate techniques to insure viability, health, and survival of eggs and hatchlings
• Monitors, evaluates, and seeks to improve animal wellness. Develops objectives, strategies and tactics to satisfy and enrich the animals
• Conducts approved, and cooperates with existing, operant conditioning sessions to continuously assess and improve animal wellness through husbandry and health of the animals
• Attends veterinarian on rounds through assigned area. Assists Curators, zoo veterinarian and veterinary staff in capture and restraint of zoo specimens for medical procedures or animal transfers using appropriate techniques and equipment
• Medicates animals according to the veterinarian's instructions to ensure adequate health maintenance of the collection including measuring out medication or putting medication in the food or water. Notes levels of medication and informs supervisor of refill needs
• Acclimates animals to exhibits, stalls, chutes, crates, halters or perches for use in medical procedures, transfers, or educational demonstrations
• Assists in the transfer of animals by capturing, restraining, crating, and transporting
• Maintains exhibits, public areas, off-exhibit holding areas and grounds. Monitors heating systems, records temperatures; records operation of equipment, makes minor repairs, uses power tools once trained, uses landscape equipment and machinery once trained, fabricates minor exhibits and enhancements to provide attractive, safe and comfortable exhibits for zoo specimens and public areas for zoo guests
• Removes snow to provide access for staff and animals
• Interacts with and answers questions of zoo guests by providing information about zoo animals and policies, conducts tours and interviews as needed to meet the education and guest relations needs of the zoo
• Monitors working laborers and contractors for animal safety and watches animals for signs of stress. Checks exhibits upon completion of work for safety hazards
• Trains and oversees new employees and volunteers assigned to exhibit areas and/or research projects. Allowed to mentor interns
• Attends safety training as required. Encouraged to attend keeper training and other professional development programs when offered, with supervisor approval
• Participates in formal and informal programs to educate the public. As assigned by his/her supervisor, conducts and assists in research projects designed to improve animal care
• Participates in integrated pest control management as directed by the Pest Control Manager. May include, setting and clearing traps, reporting problem areas, and problem solving for exclusion
• Carries a two-way radio as assigned and handles it responsibly
• Assists in department record-keeping by maintaining and submitting daily keeper reports, individual care charts, census forms, enrichment calendars, ASRs/event reports, training logs to ensure consistent, and professional communications regarding all aspects of the collection's maintenance
• Uses this information to compile reports as needed. May be assigned to work in any area of either zoo
• Performs related work as required and/or assigned

Requirements

• Effective November 14, 2021, must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19
• Bachelor’s degree or 2+ years of experience working as an animal care professional
• TB tested negative before starting and tested yearly thereafter
• Acceptance of zoonotic disease prevention protocols as mandated by Zoo New England, including rabies, hepatitis, prophylactics, fecal screens, serum storage, etc.
• Good work history
• Must speak and read English, and possess written and oral communication skills to understand instructions and information of a technical nature
• Must have a valid drivers' license in good standing and be able to drive a full-size vehicle on public roads
• If qualified, may be asked to train volunteers and others in safely working with zoo animals
• Must have the ability and willingness to enhance the knowledge and skills needed to provide professional animal care
• Must have the ability and willingness to function independently and as a member of a team
• Must have the ability to work for extended periods in harsh climatic conditions
• Must have the ability to work safely around dangerous animals, chemicals, and around animals with contagious diseases
• Must have no allergies, diseases, or conditions that would prevent working in any area of the Zoos
• Yearly TB Test required
• Must be capable of basic math
• Must be able to withstand physical hardships associated with duties, i.e., animal restraint
• Must be able and willing to work weekends, holidays, and overtime
• In absence of both the Lead Keeper(s) and Assistant Curator may be asked to be the Point of Contact (POC) for the day

Qualifications

• College degree in related field
• Demonstrated general knowledge and skill development in the management of animals in a zoo

Skills

• Ability to use hand and small power tools
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to work safely around dangerous animals, chemicals, and around animals with contagious diseases
• Ability to work for extended periods in harsh climatic conditions
• Ability to work weekends, holidays, and overtime

Benefits

Not specified

Pay

Not specified

Schedule

Not specified