Zoological Specialist, Aviculture (Associate - Senior)

About the role

Join us and help bring joy, excitement, and lasting memories to people from around the world. We're seeking enthusiastic, dedicated, and hard-working individuals to become our Ambassadors.

Responsibilities

• Provide care and compassionate training to a variety of magnificent animals.
• Perform daily husbandry tasks, including administering vitamins and medications as directed, preparing food, and maintaining a safe and sanitary working area for all animal habitats.
• Observe animals and report any abnormalities to supervisor and team.
• Maintain all animal records and equipment.
• Ensure working environment follows established guidelines and safety procedures.
• Consistently display consideration, tolerance, cooperation, open communication, and reliability.
• Support education and general public shows in order to develop speaking skills and stage presence.
• Proactively engage with guests and respond to guest inquiries.
• Help prepare educational aspects of shows.
• Serve as secondary animal person and safety spotter when needed.
• Act as primary trainer when approved and as directed by leadership.
• Engage in and execute all aspects of guest interaction programs.
• Train behavior to completion under minimal supervision.
• Lead education and general public shows, and guest interaction programs.
• Be proficient in application of behavioral modification techniques used across the organization.
• Communicate professionally and effectively with Ambassadors, Vendors and our Guests.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What It Takes to Succeed

• Able to complete provided CPR training/certification.
• Able to demonstrate strong verbal communication skills and enthusiastically share a passion for the animals and conservation with our guests.
• Must be comfortable speaking to large groups of people on stage during presentations.
• Ability to lift, push, pull and/or carry up to 50 lbs.
• Position engages in extensive walking and standing throughout entire work shift and climb/ascend heights, if needed.
• Perform the following physical activities: kneeling, squatting, bend floor-to waist/waist-to-overhead, reach overhead, simple grasp and fine hand manipulation tasks (use of tools/keyboard/writing).
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors, in varying weather, to include extreme heat.
• Position may be exposed to fumes, dust, odors and cold/heat temperature extremes.
• Perform cleaning duties; including use of cleaning chemicals.
• Work a flexible schedule/hours based on business need, to include opening, mid-, and closing shifts; nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Candidates must be available to work varying shifts/hours to support year-round operating needs.

Required Position Level and Compensation Rate

Experience required for each level is detailed below:

• Associate: Entry level position
• Specialist: Minimum of 12 months (2,080 hours) professional zoological experience
• Senior: Minimum of 2.5 years (5,200 hours) professional zoological experience
• Senior 1: Minimum of 5 years (10,400 hours) professional zoological experience

Pay

Level is determined through review and assessment of applicable experience by Zoo leadership.

Schedule

This may include working opening, mid-day, closing shifts, weekends and holidays.

Benefits

• FREE park admission
• Discounts on park admission tickets and passes for family and friends
• Park discounts on food, merchandise, etc.
• Scholarship opportunities
• Exclusive employee events and giveaways

Equal Opportunity Employer

SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT REGARD TO AGE, RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, PREGNANCY, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, DISABILITY OR COVERED VETERAN STATUS.