General Summary - The Animal Keeper will provide care and maintenance of the animals and their associated exhibits and holding areas. The Animal Keeper is responsible for working collaboratively with other keepers and coworkers to achieve departmental and Zoo-wide initiatives. The Animal Keeper will report to their assigned Area Manager and General Curator.
Essential Functions:
Primary Function:
? Observe animals’
appetite, disposition, habits, physical appearance and/or excreta to detect and
assess indications of stress, illness, welfare, and medical and behavioral
trends;
?Inspect
enclosures, tanks, fencing, pools, furniture and public areas for cleanliness
and/or structural defects and to perform minor repairs and maintenance as
needed;
?Prepare diets for
animals, clean and fill water containers, and place food in exhibits or holding
areas at specified times and in compliance with established practices for the
assigned work area(s);
?Maintain facilities,
public areas, exhibits, and associated animal areas according to the area
protocols or as directed by management;
?Transfer animals
in accordance with departmental policy and standards from one enclosure to
another for animal management purposes;
?Provide species
appropriate and approved enrichment to animals in accordance with departmental
policies and guidelines;
?Participate in
planning, execution and data collection for approved research projects;
?Work
collaboratively with other zoo staff and departments to support institutional
advancement opportunities, marketing initiatives, conservation programs, public
relations communications, and the development of educational materials;
?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 and all animal
recapture policies;
?Capture and
restrain animals for required veterinary and management procedures;
?Assist with
medical care procedures and administer medical treatments as directed and
prescribed;
?Implement pest
management strategies;
?Assist in the
coordination ofbuilding maintenance
and other projects. Escort and carefully
monitor facilities and contractor activities in animal areas;
?Act as a member
of the Animal Recapture Team as needed and directed;
?Travel
periodically to attend professional development opportunities;
?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, diaries, electronic records, etc.;
?Review all
available animal management records, reports and diaries as directed in order
to plan and execute daily operations in assigned area(s);
?Provide regular
updates to the Area Manager on the condition and status of the animal
collection;
?Attend all staff
and departmental meetings, and attend all staff training sessions as directed;
?Interpret the Zoo
to guests, donors, and zoo associates; and,
?Promote the
mission of the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.
Management of Resources (financial, human resources,
facilities):
? Unload and store
commissary items;
?Maintain
equipment and tools in a good state of repair; and,
?Inspect and
maintain safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, first aid kits, eyewash
stations, and PPE.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education:
?
Bachelor’s degree
in zoology, biology, or a related field of study strongly preferred.
Experience/Training:
?
Three years of
paid or unpaid professional animal experience preferred; Experience may NOT
include pets;
?Experience in a
zoological or related institution strongly preferred;
?Must possess a
valid driver’s license; and,
?Must be familiar
with computer operations including email, 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, respectful,
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, scales, etc.
Working Conditions:
?
Must be able to
lift 75 pounds with assistance and 50 pounds unassisted as needed;
?Must be able to
climb a ladder carrying up to 15 pounds;
?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 stand and remain
active for an eight hour shift; must be able to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl,
push, pull, climb, balance;
?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
work in an outdoor weather environment in all seasons and weather, including
heat/humidity, cold temperatures, and/or wet conditions;
?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,
?
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