Maryland Zoo is an EEO Employer - M/F/Disability/Protected Veteran Status
General Summary: Provides day-to-day
leadership and management of specific animal areas which supports the mission
and core values of the Zoo to the staff engaged in the care and exhibition of
the collection. The Area Manager will be responsible for the daily operations
of the area and oversight of the keeper team. They will need to work closely
with the taxon curators, behavior team, and medical staff, and will report to
the General Curator. Additionally, the Area Manager will support the Zoo’s mission to save wildlife and protect wild places and contribute to its environmental, social, governance sustainability, conservation, education, and DEAI (Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion) goals.
Essential
Functions:
Primary
Function:
- Foster
a success-oriented, accountable environment within the Zoo;
- Support
the guest experiences;
- Serve
as the liaison for the Collection Managers and Curators as to daily concerns of
the department;
- Observe
animals to detect signs of illness, and report the same to the Collection Manager
and Medical Staff to determine type of medication/treatment required and help
in the treatment;
- Develop
and maintain SOPs for assigned area(s);
- Coordinate
pest control needs/activities with the Senior Animal Care Technician;
- Ensure
that adequate and appropriate pest control practices are carried out and that
all pest control records are maintained;
- Coordinate
water quality testing and Life Support Systems equipment preventative
maintenance with the Water Quality Specialist and ensure that adequate and
appropriate water quality records are maintained;
- Inspect
all exhibits and related facilities regularly for cleanliness and structural
integrity;
- Direct
or perform all keeper activities necessary to the direct maintenance of the
animal collection;
- Inspect
the care and well-being of the animals in their area;
- Supervise
and coordinate all activities of the keeper staff;
- Supervise
and participate in moving of animals to new quarters or in crating or uncrating
animals for shipment or display;
- Oversee
and/or assist with medical treatments, preparation of food, feeding of animals
and maintenance and repair of animal quarters/exhibit;
- Ensure
that area activities are recorded in the daily diary and other permanent
records;
- Collaborate
with Animal Department Curators, Managers and medical staff in development of
diets, husbandry techniques, and area protocols;
- Develop
action plans for projects and present them to the Collection Managers;
- Assist
in AZA-sanctioned programs as requested;
- Available
24 hours/day, if necessary;
- Attend
weekly medical meetings;
- Serve
and support assigned area(s);
- Coordinate
the training opportunities for volunteers, Junior keepers, and interns;
- Participate
on the animal recapture team and maintains qualifications to use firearms on
zoo grounds;
- Train
and educate Animal Keepers;
- Coordinate
construction projects and outside vendors and contractors while maintaining
safety for animals and staff;
- Work
with the Animal Training and Enrichment Coordinator to develop and maintain
animal training and enrichment programs;
- Manage
the particular aspects of scheduling and payroll essential to supervising
staff;
- Responsible for acting as
member of Zoo’s emergency response firearms shoot team;
- Perform other
duties as assigned; and,
- Adhere to all
policies and procedures of the Zoo.
Communication
(Internal and External):
- Actively
collaborate with divisions to ensure that husbandry and behavioral management
practices are to the highest standards;
- Represent
the zoo to guests, donors, zoo community associates, and the general public;
- Answer
the public's questions concerning animals' habits or zoo operations;
- Actively
collaborate with the Marketing, Development, Education and Guest Services
departments to design and implement programs and presentations directly related
to the animal collection;
- Actively
collaborate with the Marketing, Development, Education and Guest Services departments
to produce and participate in non-routine special events;
- Organize
behind the scenes tours as requested; and,
- Conduct
and/or contribute to Area, Department and All-Staff meetings.
Management
of Resources (Financial, Human Resources, Facilities):
- Make
recommendations to the General Curator and Collection Managers on the hiring
and firing and personnel actions such as promotions, transfers and disciplinary
actions;
- Read
keepers’ daily reports and ensure appropriate corrective action;
- Determine
which information/data from daily reports should be included in the Zoo’s
permanent animal records;
- Prepare
and communicate performance evaluations of keeper staff;
- Recommend
improvements and repairs to animal exhibits and facilities;
- Recommend
updates, clarifications and additions to Animal Department policies and
procedures and area SOPs;
- Coordinate
with the Maintenance department for repairs, non-capital renovations and
improvements;
- Schedule
staff to various tasks as needed;
- Support
inventory control/ensure the proper working condition of all department
equipment; and,
- Provide
supervisory back up for the other area managers.
Minimum
Qualifications:
Education:
- Bachelor’s
Degree preferably in Biological Sciences, Zoology, Wildlife Management, Animal
Science or related science; and,
- Experience
may be substituted for a degree.
Experience/Training:
- Three
years paid experience with an AZA accredited zoological institution
(preferred);
- At
least one year of supervisory experience or equivalent experience working with
animals in a supervisory capacity;
- Valid
driver’s license; and,
- Demonstrated
supervisory ability as well as ability to lead and mentor professional staff;
Traits
Desirable:
- Ability
to work with a wide variety of individuals from ethnic, cultural and economic
backgrounds;
- Extremely
well-organized;
- Strong
leadership, communication, mentoring, time management, interpersonal and
follow-up skills;
- Self-directed,
collaborative and detail-oriented; and,
- Strong
background in animal husbandry, training, or enrichment.
Equipment:
- Must
be able to operate a variety of machines and equipment including telephone,
two-way radio, motor vehicles, electric golf carts, hand tools, animal
restraint and capture equipment, gardening/carpentry tools, power equipment,
e.g. leaf blower, weed eater, lawn mower, or power washer and computer
equipment, scales, transponder reader, digital thermometers and water chemistry
equipment. Must be proficient with a
word processing and spread sheet program (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel).
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 travel large areas of the Zoo as needed;
- 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 lift and/or carry weights of up to 75 pounds and climb a ladder;
Exposure to potential environmental hazards such as poison oak/ivy, uneven terrain, insect bites/stings, and Hepatitis B depending on the position.
- Exposure to zoonotic diseases and risk of animal attack; and,
- TB
test, physical, and rabies vaccine 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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