Animal Keeper-McCormick Bird House

Overview

Lincoln Park Zoo is an AZA-accredited zoo inviting candidates to explore a career in animal care and related roles. Lincoln Park Zoo is a historic, not-for-profit organization in Chicago, free and open 365 days a year. For more information, visit lpzoo.org.

Lincoln Park Zoo

Animal Keeper – McCormick Bird House

Lincoln Park Zoo inspires communities to create environments where wildlife will thrive in our urbanizing world. The zoo is a leader in local and global conservation, animal care and welfare, learning, and science.

Under general supervision, participates in all aspects of daily animal care and enclosure maintenance within McCormick Bird House. This position works with species such as Kagu, Guam Kingfishers, Bali Mynah, and Jambu Fruit Doves. This role collaborates with a team to provide progressive, high standards of care to ensure animal health, safety, and well-being.

• Provides daily care to animals and their enclosures, including cleaning, feeding, watering, securing, observing, animal training and enrichment, record keeping and maintaining exhibits.
• Participates in daily operant conditioning training sessions, developing training plans and completing training records.
• Advances behavioral enrichment through planning, implementing and evaluating activities.
• Participates in welfare discussions and assessments, implementing welfare action items as needed.
• Promotes a positive and productive work environment.
• Collects Zoo Monitor data as assigned.
• Performs heavy manual tasks and handling related to food items, hoses, equipment, and crate transport as needed.
• Collaborates with horticulture, conservation & science, development, learning and community engagement programs as assigned to advance the zoo mission.
• Assists in delivering education programs through the Learning Department and guest interactions; may conduct tours and participate in research as needed.
• Cleans and maintains exhibits, including use of chemical agents and tools to ensure animal health and safety.
• Maintains exhibit displays, furnishings, and performs minor repairs and upkeep as appropriate.
• Prepares and distributes prescribed animal diets as determined by senior staff.
• Under supervision, administers therapeutics as prescribed by the veterinarian.
• Monitors daily health of animals and reports abnormal conditions to management promptly.
• Makes recommendations regarding diet changes and habitat redesign, taking steps to implement them.
• Prepares detailed written daily reports and completes record keeping in TRACKS system.
• Monitors habitats, equipment, and facilities and communicates work orders or emergency repairs as needed.
• Maintains a clean and safe work environment and inventory of tools and supplies.
• Adheres to established animal handling and safety guidelines.
• Participates in animal escape drills; under supervision, captures, restrains, and transports animals as needed.
• Coordinates with other zoo departments as required.
• Promotes a positive guest experience and supports training of new staff and temporary keepers as needed.

• Evening/night shift keepers focus on animal observations and assigned duties.
• May oversee specialized aspects of assigned animals; other duties as assigned to maintain operations.
• Work hours include all shifts, weekends, holidays, and special events.

• Knowledge of current industry standard husbandry practices and methods.
• Knowledge of animal behavior, enrichment, training practices, biology, and related subjects.
• Ability to assess animal health and well-being through behavior.
• Knowledge of occupational hazards and safe work practices around potentially dangerous animals.
• Knowledge of cleaning materials, methods, tools, and equipment.
• Strong observation, documentation, and record-keeping skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills and ability to follow directions.
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback; organize tasks and time effectively.
• Ability to work in any assigned animal area and respond to animal behavior issues or emergencies.
• Ability to work with potentially dangerous machinery, tools,…