General Summary:
The Relief Keeper is responsible for providing care
and maintenance to collection animals and their associated exhibits and holding
areas. Relief Keepers may be assigned to work in any of the animal areas to
meet business needs. Therefore, this
person must be knowledgeable and comfortable working with a variety of species
on a regular basis. Relief Keepers are expected to support Animal Keeper staff
and Management in the observation of collection animals, by paying special
attention to health, safety, dietary consumption, and behavioral abnormalities.
This position will directly report to the Area Manager, and may take direction
from other Animal Department staff as scheduled. Additionally, the Animal Keeper will support the Zoo’s conservation,
sustainability, education, and DEAI (Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and
Inclusion) goals.
Essential
Functions:
Primary
Functions:
- Staff contact yard areas and animal guest interactive
areas as scheduled;
- Assist Animal Keeper staff in animal areas as
scheduled;
- Report
changes in animals’ appetite, disposition, habits, and in physical appearance
and/or excreta to Animal Keeper staff;
- Inspect
enclosures, fencing, pools, and furniture for cleanliness and/or structural
defects and to perform minor repairs as needed;
- Prepare
diets for animals, clean and fill water containers, and place food in exhibits
at specified times per daily protocol;
- Clean
facilities, exhibits, and associated animal areas according to the area
protocols or as directed;
- Provide
species appropriate and approved enrichment and training to animals according
to area protocols;
- Assist
in data collection for approved research projects;
- Provide
routine maintenance of facilities and minor repair of equipment, exhibits, and
all associated animal areas;
- Maintain
familiarity with all animal recapture and restraint equipment;
- Assist
with routine veterinary, emergency, training or husbandry, and management procedures;
- Assist
with medical care procedures and administer medication as directed;
- Provide
general maintenance of grounds in and around exhibits and associated facilities;
- Act
as a member of the Animal Recapture Team as needed and directed;
- Drive
to specified locations as needed;
- Interact in a consistently
pleasant and helpful manner to fellow employees, guests, vendors, and other
visitors of the Zoo and demonstrate the highest standards of internal and
external customer service;
- Perform other duties as
assigned; and,
- Adhere to all
policies and procedures of the Zoo.
Communication
(Internal and External):
- Maintain
reports on all animal conditions in daily reports, diary, records, etc. per
departmental protocol;
- Provide
regular updates to the Animal Keeper staff on the condition and status of the
animal collection;
- Attend
Zoo general staff meetings and departmental meetings;
- Interpret
the Zoo to guests, donors, and zoo associates;
- Attend
all staff training sessions as directed; and,
- Promote
the mission of The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.
Management
of Resources (Financial, Human Resources, Facilities):
- Unload
and store commissary items; and,
- Maintain
equipment and tools in a good state of repair.
Minimum
Qualifications:
Education:
- Associates degree in zoology, biology, or related
field preferred. Or, two years of
continuing education towards a bachelor’s degree in zoology, biology, or
related field preferred.
Experience/Training:
- One
year of paid or unpaid animal experience, excluding pets;
- Must
possess a valid driver’s license; and,
- Must
be familiar with computer operations including Microsoft Office programs and
data entry.
Traits
Desirable:
- Ability
to work with a wide variety of individuals from ethnic, cultural, and economic
backgrounds;
- Ability
to operate both independently and as part of a team in a productive and
efficient manner with proper time management skills;
- Extremely
well organized;
- Self-directed,
collaborative, and detail oriented; and,
- Possess
a positive attitude and a general philosophy/outlook in line with the Zoo’s
mission.
Equipment:
- Must
be able to operate a variety of machines and equipment including computer,
telephone, radio, and vehicles, hand tools, animal restraint and capture
devices, incubators, gardening/carpentry tools and machinery, computer, scales,
etc.
Working
Conditions:
- Must
be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, 25 pounds frequently
and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry,
push, pull or otherwise move objects.
Physical demands are in excess of those for sedentary work; must be able
to remain on feet for periods of time, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, push, pull,
climb, balance;
- Must
be able to lift 75 pounds with assistance and 50 pounds unassisted as needed;
- Must
be able to travel large areas of the Zoo on foot as needed;
- Ability to work a flexible
schedule to include weekends, holidays, and special events;
- Must be able to stand and
remain active for an eight-hour shift;
- Must be able to work in an
outdoor weather environment in all seasons and weather, including
heat/humidity, cold temperatures, and/or wet conditions;
- Must
be able to climb a ladder carrying up to 15 pounds;
- Exposure
to zoonotic diseases and risk of animal attack;
- Exposure
to potential environmental hazards such as poison oak/ivy, uneven terrain, and
insect bites/stings; and,
- TB
test, physical required;
Benefits:
- We offer an excellent
benefits package including 24 days of Paid Time Off (PTO), Sick and Safe Leave,
and 2 paid holidays.
- Eligible for medical, dental,
vision, short- and long-term disability and life insurance.
- 401(k) with employer match.
Disclaimer:
The statements above are intended to describe the general
nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this
classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive
list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of all personnel so
classified. Therefore, management reserves the right to revise the job or
to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change.
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