PT Education - Program Staff, Animal Care
Job Summary
Provides daily care for Education Ambassador Animal population including but not limited to: feeding; cleaning; providing, observing and evaluating enrichment; as well as maintaining records that pertain to daily care, health and wellbeing. Clearly and effectively communicates with supervisors and coworkers, as well as responding in a timely manner to communications when necessary. Interacts with and completes necessary evaluations of students, job shadows and interns.
Primary Job Functions (list three with specific tasks listed)
Animal Care & Area Maintenance
- Demonstrate and maintain knowledge of basic natural history and behavior of all animals in Education Ambassador Animal population.
- Effective and timely communication with supervisors, coworkers and, if needed, veterinary staff of any concerns with animal behavior and/or health conditions.
- Handle animals for medical purposes and in preparation for transport.
- Under direction of veterinarians and/or supervisors, administer medications or treatment as instructed.
- Prepare animal diets which may vary widely among taxa.
- Clean and maintain service areas, animal habitats and viewing areas, ensuring areas are clean, organized and free of clutter.
- Use wheel barrows, rakes, shovels, hoses, scrub brooms, tubs and a variety of other tools.
- Communicate any pest control concerns to supervisor.
- Conduct minor repairs to facilities or promptly submit concerns to supervisor.
Animal Wellbeing
- Adhere to institutional enrichment protocols and provide species specific behavioral enrichment as scheduled.
- Monitor general health and behavior of animals, recognize abnormalities and potential medical conditions and report such to supervisors immediately.
- Provide input during annual and impromptu wellbeing evaluations.
- Communicate promptly with all team members as needed to provide optimal care and wellbeing to each individual animal.
- Complete routine weights, disinfection, and assigned tasks within time/date parameters set by supervisor.
Record Keeping and Data Entry
- Document all requested information in daily animal care records, including regular husbandry, health and wellbeing information.
- Observe, evaluate and document enrichment as directed.
- Input documented enrichment evaluations in appropriate database/file location.
- Input program use data in appropriate database/file location as directed.
- Input appropriate data into the E Daily Zookeeper files as directed.
- Input appropriate data into ZIMS software as directed.
Secondary Job Functions (list no more than five)
- Interact with guests participating in Ambassador Animal Wild Encounters, including but not limited to handling animals for the encounter, as well providing information about the species and/or individual animal using appropriate interpretive techniques.
- Follow all safety protocols and area SOP’s while working with and around delicate, wild and potentially dangerous animals.
- Complete all required training and safely operate all equipment for completion of job duties
- Participate in guest encounters in both formal and informal settings, and in education programming, as well as hosting job shadows.
- Represent the Zoo and/or Sedgwick County at various offsite events such as regional, national, and international conferences, meetings, community events, outreach programs, etc.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Coursework from an accredited college or university or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
- Must be 18 years of age.
- Valid US driver’s license without restrictions.
Preferred Qualifications:
- One to two years of coursework in Zoology or Biology from an accredited college or university.
- 6 months to 1 year of zoo practicum experience in an AZA Facility.
- Experience working in a formal or informal learning setting.
Working Environment/Conditions
The employee is subject to activities that occur in both inside and outside environmental conditions. The employee is subject to any potential hazards of working in a zoo. The employee is subject to potential hazards of working with and near dangerous animals. The employee may be exposed to zoonotic diseases. Employee must be able to work a schedule that may involve working weekends, holidays, or after regular work shifts.
Physical requirements
Direct reports
N/A
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