Zookeeper - Ambassador Animal

Zookeeper – Ambassador Animal

The Ambassador Animal Care team provides overall care, training, and presentation of ambassador animals, ensuring optimal human and animal safety while providing guests with engaging and educational animal experiences. As a keeper on this team, the Zookeeper – Ambassador Animal provides care and training for ambassador animals and educational animal demonstrations for onsite and offsite guests, in accordance with established procedures and protocols.

This includes the care and feeding of exotic and domestic animals; the engaging presentation of ambassador animals; the transport of ambassador animals; the cleaning and maintenance of buildings, exhibits, and yards; observation and reporting on the physical and behavioral condition of the animals.

A Zookeeper – Ambassador Animal provides care and training of the ambassador animals and engaging and educational animal experiences to guests. This position will collaborate with teammates and managers to ensure optimal daily animal care and ambassador animal programs. This includes care, feeding and training of exotic and domestic animals; presenting ambassador animals; delivering engaging educational messaging; cleaning and maintenance of buildings, exhibits, and yards;

observing and reporting on the physical and behavioral conditions of the animals; administering medical treatment; transporting animals offsite; and completing related record keeping. Working on the Ambassador Animal Care team, this position will frequently collaborate with the Education and Volunteer departments. The schedule for this position will have set days off but will be required to work weekends, holidays, and occasional evenings.

This position will complete necessary documentation as instructed, including preparation of daily notes/reports to document all animal care activities. They will also respond to patron questions concerning animals and their behaviors and regularly deliver presentations in the community.

• One to two years’ experience in exotic animal care in a zoo or aquarium setting
• Knowledge of operant conditioning and positive reinforcement training techniques demonstrated experience preferred.
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills
• Demonstrated clear written and verbal communication skills with colleagues and managers; ability to receive constructive criticism.
• Positive attitude, affect, articulation, and affability, which serve to enhance the performance of co-workers and team morale.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment
• Ability to effectively collaborate with colleagues and managers to ensure daily animal care and overall team progress and success.
• Good time management skills, with ability to prioritize, ask for assistance, and pivot as necessary; ability to take initiative.
• Ability to handle animals of all taxa, as instructed, ensuring guest, animal, and handler safety.
• Ability to recognize and respond as instructed to signs of animal stress
• Rabies vaccinated, or able to be rabies vaccinated
• Must have valid driver’s license
• Must be able to work variable evenings, weekends, and holidays.

• We offer incredibly competitive benefits. This includes FREE:
  Medical plan option;
  Short-term disability;
  Long-term disability;
  Life Insurance;
  Employee Assistance Program;
  Dental & Vision for employee & family; 12 Full weeks of parental leave

We offer generous vacation time, 9 days of personal time, and 11 paid Holidays each year. We offer a 4% match and 3% employer contribution to your 401k, zoo discounts, employee-only zoo experiences, tuition reimbursement, additional medical benefits to meet your and your family's needs, and a FREE Premium Zoo membership for you and your family.

Employee will work in various environments both inside and outside and will be exposed to inclement weather; pollen, mold, dust, dirt, and other airborne contaminants; and temperature variations. Must be able to tolerate exposure to anti-bacterial,…