Job Title: Senior Keeper
Department: Primates
Reports to: Lead Keepers and Curatorial Staff
FLSA Status: Exempt
Job Status: Full-time
Job Summary:The Senior Keeper position is expected to demonstrate leadership and provide support and guidance for the department/team. The Senior Keeper is not a supervisory position but may accept some supervisory functions in the absence of area managers, particularly in situations that require immediate action. Animal keepers are responsible for animal welfare and husbandry, including training and enrichment. Additionally, animal keepers are responsible for maintenance of habitats, holdings, and public areas as assigned. A Senior Keeperreports to the area managers.For more information about our mission, animal, conservation, and research programs visit www.zooatlanta.org. Zoo Atlanta is home to one of North America’s largest populations of gorillas and orangutans. Our primate programs are nationally and internationally recognized with our research, training, enrichment, and animal care techniques contributing to the world’s knowledge of ape biology, behavior, and management. Zoo Atlanta is also the only facility in North America that houses drill monkeys, considered endangered by IUCN. Our small primates live in dynamic mixed species habitats.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Must be willing to support Zoo Atlanta’s strategic plan, mission and values, and work with all zoo staff to support these plans.
- Must be able to demonstrate leadership through example by supporting Zoo Atlanta’s strategic plan, mission and values, and work with all zoo staff to support these plans.
- Maintain a high-performance level of excellent animal care.
- While a Senior Keeper must be able to function as a team member, they also must be willing and able to provide necessary leadership and mentoring to staff.
- Take an active role in coordinate efforts pertaining to the care of the collection including training, enrichment, research, and education.
- Complete behavioral management training provided by Zoo Atlanta and utilize operant conditioning and enrichment techniques.
- Complete animal welfare training provided by Zoo Atlanta, participate in animal welfare assessments, and contribute to follow-through on animal welfare action items when necessary.
- Effectively monitor health and behavior of the animal collection and communicate changes to supervisor and veterinary staff. Oversee administration of medications as applicable.
- Actively support and participate in the improvement of area policies, procedures, and protocols to ensure the highest standards of care for the collection and the safety of staff and guests.
- Maintain the highest level of safety in the work area through implementation of safety protocols and procedures.
- Use positive interpersonal skills to form and maintain professional relationships within the work environment.
- Maintain a high-performance level of guest interactions including scheduled on-ground talks.
- Takes action to advance and promote department function and productivity and motivates others to do the same.
- Highly proficient at communicating with supervisory staff and co-workers both written and orally.
- Write daily reports, logs, animal records, and other records as assigned and serves as a resource for effective record keeping.
- Demonstrates the ability to coordinate and supervise activities of interns and volunteers.
- Must be able to work independently.
- Actively assists others in expanding and developing their job knowledge.
- Responsible for special projects, procedures, and goals set forth by the area managers.
- Demonstrates the ability to meet challenges with a solution-oriented approach.
- Must be dependable and reliable: be timely, be responsive, be organized, meet deadlines, take responsibility, and help other zoo staff as needed.
- Actively pursue opportunities to participate in workshops, seminars, activities, and conferences aimed at continually improving job knowledge and professional development with the goal of benefitting the Zoo Atlanta organization.
- Promote communication and information sharing between the zoological community.
- Employees must strive to decrease our environmental footprint to serve as models to our patrons to do the same through education and example.
- Must be able and willing to work flexible hours, weekends, and holidays.
- Must be able to be trained and carry pepper spray.
- Must be willing to comply with department PPE policy.
- This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; therefore, the employee may be required to perform other reasonably related duties as assigned by management.
Qualifications:
- Experience with operant conditioning and enrichment techniques is strongly preferred.
- Must have the ability to: demonstrate focus, follow written verbal instructions, effectively promote organization, manage stress to perform the job effectively, remember details, manage time effectively, apply critical thinking techniques, analyze, and solve problems.
- Must have strong written and oral communication skills.
- Demonstrate computer proficiency to complete the functions of this position.
- Must be able to use light power tools after suitable training.
- A minimum of 7 years animal care experience as determined by Zoo Atlanta is required. Sufficient relevant experience will also be considered. Paid experience at an AZA accredited facility is also preferred. In addition to excelling in animal care, a Senior Keeper must demonstrate the ability to use their experience and knowledge to improve existing care and lead and initiate innovative approaches to animal care.
- Previous primate experience required.
Education:
- Four-year degree in biology, psychology, or related field is preferred; sufficient relevant experience will be considered.
Driving Requirements:
- Must obtain and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license with a safe driving record.
Work Environment and Physical Demands:
- Must be able to work outdoors in all weather conditions and have the physical ability to perform strenuous work.
MISC: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Therefore, the employee may be required to perform other reasonably related duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor or other management. The company reserves the right to revise or change job duties as business requirements dictate. It is mutually agreed that this job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.
Zoo Atlanta is an EOE and provides a Smoke-free and Drug-free Work Environment
