Family Farm

Overview

Hello, we’re Metro! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow.

The Oregon Zoo is looking for a Variable Hour Employee to join the Family Farm animal care team. This position will include direct animal husbandry duties in the Family Farm and presenting formal and informal educational live-animal programs to a wide variety of audiences, with a particular focus on younger guests. This role requires excellent communication and critical thinking skills. The Family Farm team fosters meaningful connections between people and wildlife, inspiring conservation action through educational animal experiences.

April 1 – September 30: 30-40 hours per week

September 30 – March 31, 2027: variable hours

• Present engaging and inspirational education programming to a variety of audiences using effective storytelling techniques. Presentations may include animal encounters, goat interaction yard facilitation, media appearances, public events, and other zoo-related programming.
• May handle and train the Family Farm animal species under care for programs using operant conditioning techniques. Follow appropriate presentation methods for animals used in educational settings.
• Perform day-to-day husbandry as required for species under care, including maintaining standards of care as outlined by area curator, creating and providing behavioral enrichment, and complying with record keeping protocols.
• Perform animal feeding duties such as preparing prescribed diets and reporting on food consumption; may administer prescribed medications and follow veterinarian orders for care.
• Perform daily care and maintenance of enclosures, food and water receptacles; check condition of animal environments to assess security and safety of animals; alert supervisor and initiate corrective actions as needed.
• Observe animals to identify normal and abnormal behavior, health problems, adjustments to diet, and changes or response to medication. Identify and report concerns to area supervisor.
• Maintain care standards and comply with all USDA and AZA rules, regulations, and guidelines; work in compliance with safety rules, OSHA standards, work rules, and zoo area policies and procedures.
• Document supply needs and work with supervisor to acquire items used for the area’s daily operations of animal care, training, and educational programming.
• Assist the public and other employees in a professional and courteous manner.
• Follow both written and verbal instructions.
• Effectively communicate to area managers, team members, other zoo departments and guests.

• Ability to communicate ideas effectively before groups of all sizes and backgrounds.
• Knowledge of animal husbandry and presentation techniques for a wide variety of domestic and exotic animal species.
• Ability to maintain comprehensive and accurate records.
• Comfort and experience working around animals
• Ability to work well independently and function as a team member.
• Ability to learn prescribed routines quickly and work without close supervision.
• Ability to perform essential duties, which may include lifting up to 50 pounds and working outside in all weather conditions.

At Metro, we strive to cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro’s goal is to hire, develop and retain highly skilled and talented individuals across all departments and programs who best reflect the diversity of our community.

Learn more about Metro’s Diversity Action Plan

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is…