This position is subject to a collective bargaining agreement
Pay Rate: $30.03/hour
*We are hiring a keeper for Giraffes at either the Keeper or Senior Keeper level, depending upon experience. We have posted both roles separately at this time to help our candidates find the position that most aligns with their experience and goals. However, only one position will be filled. Please note: If you apply for the Keeper or the Senior Keeper, you will be automatically considered for both. The Keeper role is linked here.*
Application Process -- Applications due by December 19
- Applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, and 3 professional references
- Candidates not meeting minimum requirements may not receive a response
- Applicants selected for candidacy are required to attend an on-site working interview
Position Summary
A Senior Animal Keeper must be an experienced keeper with extensive knowledge in the areas of animal care/management and supervision of paid staff and unpaid volunteers/interns, including team building, leadership training, and conflict management. Work ranges from the physical tasks associated with feeding, enrichment, training, and maintenance of the animals’ living areas to more analytical tasks of planning, record keeping, and communication.
This Senior Keeper position is a Primary Keeper role with the Oakland Zoo’s giraffe team. This position works 5 days per week on the giraffe team.
Essential Job Duties
- Implement Department/Zoo priorities as well as demonstrate the initiative and expertise to regularly find ways to make improvements, which may include Departmental administrative tasks
- Guide and support staff and volunteers as appropriate
- Train, inspire, coach, set expectations, and provide feedback with a wide variety of people including docents, teen volunteers, and Education staff
- Act as a department leader. Can be expected to cover department functions and emergency response coordination in the absence of Zoological Manager or Department Vice President
- Perform other related duties as required and assigned by Animal Care leadership
- Must be able to represent the Zoo in a variety of public settings including press interviews, instructional classes, and casual communication with Zoo guests
- Expected to use animal observation, enrichment, training and other management methods to ensure the best possible psychological well-being of the animals in their care
Who You Are
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Minimum of two year’s experience working directly with giraffe (preferably at an AZA facility)
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At least five years full time professional experience in the care of wildlife at an AZA zoo or comparable facility
- Bachelor’s degree or specialized associate's degree (ex. Moorpark) or 6 years of experience at an AZA facility or equivalent
- Experience in the areas of animal care/management
- Experience with supervision of paid staff and unpaid volunteers/interns, including leadership training/conflict management
- Have or develop significant level of knowledge of the natural history and captive wildlife management for the animals under their care to insure their best possible physical and psychological well-being
- Able to use the tools of animal observation, enrichment, training, and other behavioral husbandry methods to ensure the best possible psychological well-being of the animals in their care
- Good physical condition: able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs. (i.e., feed sack) and move a minimum of 120lbs. (i.e. hay bale)
- Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
- Willingness to work outside normal business hours including weekends and holidays
- Knowledge of the habits and hazards of working with wild animals; willingness to work with some physical risk while observing proper safety precautions
- Able to represent the Zoo in a variety of public settings including press interviews, instructional classes, and casual communication with Zoo guests
- Oakland Zoo requires COVID vaccination*
Bonus if you have
- Significant knowledge in the natural history and captive management of wild animals
- Significant experience in behavior-based husbandry (enrichment and training) and welfare assessments
- Knowledge and experience in behavioral training theory and practical application. Specifically, experience training giraffe for voluntary medical husbandry behaviors, including shaping of new behaviors.
- Knowledge and hands on experience in hoof care with giraffe and/or other domestic and exotic ungulate species
- Knowledge and experience with edible browse plant identification for ruminant species
- Experience with giraffe anesthesia and giraffe emergency response procedures
- Experience with giraffe transport (including loading and unloading), as well as introductions.
- Experience with management of a diverse giraffe herd including breeding animals, castrated males, and geriatric individuals
- Experience mentoring and teaching novice staff, interns, or volunteers
- Strong interpersonal skills necessary to support communication across a diversely skilled team
Knowledge, Skills, and Qualities– May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills and abilities commonly associated with this position.
- Collaboration – builds trusting relationships with both internal and external stakeholders across our organization and community-wide and approaches differences of opinion with curiosity and humility
- Communication – communicates respectfully and effectively with stakeholders across identities, both verbally and in writing
- Inclusive Culture - fosters a culture of mutual respect, transparency, collaboration and belonging which allows all employees to feel appreciated, included, and valued
- Organization – strong attention to details and able to build and/or maintain efficient systems
- Time management – strong capabilities with a demonstrated ability to effectively prioritize multiple commitments
- Sustainability – oriented toward the mission and values of the Oakland Zoo and able to put those into practice by finding creative and resourceful ways to develop sustainable practices within your role and department
- Passion – wholeheartedly believes in, represents, and models Oakland Zoo’s mission and PRIDE values at all times
- Wildlife Aware - understands mission to support the conservation and welfare of animals at The Zoo, locally and globally. This is demonstrated by a willingness/passion to reflect this mission in all actions and to continue to learn how to take action for wildlife
Benefits
Oakland Zoo offers a comprehensive benefits package, including Health insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, Flexible spending account, Union pension, Paid time off, Employee Assistance Program, and a Family Zoo Membership.
Who We Are
Oakland Zoo (managed by The Conservation Society of California) is an award-winning facility stretching 100 acres and overlooking the city of Oakland atop the hills of beautiful Knowland Park. Our mission is to inspire respect for and stewardship of the natural world, while providing a quality visitor experience. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Zoo is part of the largest conservation organization in the nation. Our employees take PRIDE in our values of being Positive, Respectful, Inquisitive, Driven and Effective members of a team who places the care of our animals, stewardship of the natural environment, and the experience of our guests at the forefront of all that we do.
Oakland Zoo’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access
We believe that all people should have safe access to the Zoo and culturally relevant and responsive experiences with our staff, programs, and curriculum. Oakland Zoo is also striving to create an equitable and inclusive internal culture where all staff members feel represented and valued for their identities and lived experiences. We examine how power, bias, race, and other aspects of identity impact our organization. We work to build a culture of continuous learning and improvement toward a vision of equity and belonging for all staff. We are looking for team members who can actively join us in this process. We are committed to reflecting the diverse community in which we exist and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ identifying folks, and women to apply.
The Conservation Society of California is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, QAOV status, or other characteristics protected by law. The Conservation Society of California also promotes respect for all people and will not tolerate harassment based on any of these characteristics.
Oakland Zoo participates in E-Verify to verify work authorization.
