Job Description
Job Details
Description Summary: The seasonal zookeeper in this position will be responsible for the care of animals in either the Farm, Tropical Bird House, Herpetarium, Animals of the Night, or Ambassador Animal collection. The successful candidate will work with non-class one animals and be responsible for the daily husbandry of the animals under their care. Guest engagement through keeper chats and encounters are a possibility.
While the specific area that the candidate will be assigned is dependent upon institutional need, the species with which that the candidate will be working may include small mammals such as armadillos, aardvarks, binturong, bushbaby, kinkajou, and sloth (Animals of the Night), a variety of avian species (Tropical Bird House), domestic large and small mammals such as goats, Zebu cattle, Caspian horse, and sheep (Farm), non-venomous reptiles and a variety of amphibians (Herpetarium), or a mix of taxon including reptiles, birds, amphibians, and small mammals (Ambassador Animal collection).
The ideal candidate would be proficient in all aspects of zoo animal care including husbandry, enrichment, training, exhibit maintenance, record keeping and keeper chats, as well as engaging guests to connect with the animals in both formal and informal settings. Candidates for this position should be self-motivated, excellent at time management, hard-working, positive, and dependable, who can work both independently and within a team setting.
Essential Job Functions - Daily husbandry of assigned animals.
- Engaging the public in both formal and informal public presentations to provide a positive guest experience during regular zoo and during after-hours events.
- Actively observing animals’ behavior, checking for any signs of illness or disorder; reports irregularities and abnormal behavior to supervisor; works with vet staff to address medical needs.
- Preparing and administering appropriate daily diets and maintaining accurate records of assigned animals.
- Appropriately cleaning and disinfecting assigned animal enclosures/habitats according to written protocols and ensures a sanitary and safe environment.
- Assisting with husbandry in butterfly exhibit.
- Exercising good judgement when making decisions that affect our collection.
- Assisting hospital staff in all aspects of animal treatment within the assigned section.
- May incorporate modern behavioral husbandry techniques such as operant conditioning and environmental enrichment into animal care.
Minimum Requirements - A high school diploma.
- Some college-level coursework in the fields of Zoology, Biology, Psychology, or a related field.
Preferred Qualifications - Previous experience with animal care and handling.
Competencies - Written and oral communication Proficiency
- Proficient in MS Office, current technology and applications for communication, research and record keeping.
- Records and reports creation and management
- Problem Solving/Analysis.
- Stress Management/Composure.
- Flexibility.
- Teamwork Orientation.
Supervisory Responsibility: None
Reporting Structure: Reports to Associate Curator, Team Lead.
Position Type/Expected Hours Of Work Seasonal positions are defined as temporary work to meet an organization’s temporary needs during certain times of the year and can last up to 6 months. This position can be scheduled to work approximately up to 40 hours per week. Scheduling is at the discretion of the manager. This position is considered non-exempt under the federal and state wage and hour laws.
This position regularly requires flexible hours including weekdays, holidays, and weekends including early morning, daytime, and evening hours to provide coverage during Zoo hours of operation.
Work Environment While performing the duties of the job, the employee will frequently work outdoors (Zoo grounds). When outdoors this position is required to work in various weather conditions including rain, humidity, and extreme heat or cold.
Physical Demands : The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
This position requires frequent standing/walking/bending/kneeling/crouching and may occasionally move or lift objects up to 50 pounds.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Other Requirements - 18 years or older.
- Clear background check.
- Clear drug screening.
- Clear TB screening.
Benefits & Perks The Memphis Zoo has a comprehensive benefits and employee perks package. Please see our Memphis Zoo Careers page for details.
EEOC And Inclusion Statement The Memphis Zoo believes that human diversity is as important as the biodiversity we seek to conserve. World-class zoos are comprised of world-class team members representing a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We value a diverse workplace and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, and veterans to apply.
The Memphis Zoo is an equal-opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws. If you need to request any accommodations for the interview or hiring process, please let the Human Resources team (HR) know. HR can be contacted at hrteam@memphiszoo.org.
The Memphis Zoo participates in E-Verify and is an EEO/ADA/Veteran employer.
All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of pre-employment screening. Memphis Zoo is a drug-free workplace. How To Apply Applications should be submitted via the Memphis Zoo Careers page. Please note that any other application submissions will not be considered.
Job Tags
Holiday work, Temporary work, Seasonal work, Local area, Outdoor, Flexible hours, Night shift, Afternoon shift, Early shift, Weekday work,