The seasonal zookeeper is primarily responsible for assisting with the daily husbandry of a collection of animals that comprise the seasonal exhibits at the Memphis Zoo – both our kangaroo/emu exhibit as well as butterflies.
The successful candidates will be a team- and customer-service oriented individual with a passion for conservation, wildlife management and learning more about animal care in the zoological field.
Essential Job Functions
· Daily husbandry of assigned animals.
· Facilitate formal and informal public presentations to engage guests and provide a positive guest experience.
· Be willing and able to monitor the exhibit/public interactions, outside during summer months.
· Actively observe animals’ behavior, reporting irregularities and abnormal behavior to supervisor.
· Prepare and administer appropriate daily diets, medications and maintain accurate records of assigned animals.
· Appropriately clean and disinfect assigned animal enclosures/barns according to written protocols and ensures a sanitary and safe environment.
· Incorporate modern behavioral husbandry techniques such as operant conditioning and environmental enrichment into animal care.
Minimum Requirements:
· Willing to undertake/pass a drug test, a background check and a TB skin test
· Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
Preferred Qualifications, Skills and Abilities:
· Demonstrated customer service, problem solving, conflict resolution, decision making, team building, time management, guest engagement and motivational skills.
· Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of Memphis Zoo and coworkers as well as diverse volunteers, guests, donors, community partners, vendors and others.
Supervisory Responsibility: None
Reporting Structure: Reports to Associate Curator.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: Hours would be anywhere from 7AM-630PM, usually 40 hours per week. Positions could start immediately and will last through November 5th.
Work Environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is expected to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.
Physical Demands: This job requires the employee to spend the majority of the day on their feet and occasionally requires lifting up to 50 pounds.
Please note that this job description is not exhaustive and additional duties may be assigned, or existing duties may be modified, at any time to meet the needs of the organization.
Memphis Zoo is a drug free workplace. All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment drug screening and background check.