Animal Care Specialist - Aviculture I [Full-Time]

Choosing where to grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the place you choose to work at will support and guide you. With a diversity of passionate people, San Antonio Zoo is a place where you can collaborate with others securing a future for wildlife.

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role

• As an Animal Care Specialist in the Aviculture Department, you will be responsible for all aspects of daily animal care, maintenance of exhibits and plants, data collection, and documents. Knowledge and/or experience with husbandry for a diverse group of bird species is required. Your work involves an amount of independent action with less immediate leadership given after expertise is acquired. 
• As an Animal Care Specialist, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative and diverse people in San Antonio. Here, you will make an impact by:
• Daily Care
• General husbandry and daily care of assigned animals/birds, including preparing and distributing approved animal/birds diets.
• Inspect, clean, and maintain both exhibit and off-exhibit areas, including substrate work, perching, trimming, and vital plant care. 
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills and the ability to maintain, train, and troubleshoot complex animal/birds behavior daily.
• Maintain detailed daily records on assigned animals/birds.
• Knowledge of safety SOP, safety concerns, and reporting protocols.
• Demonstrate the ability to assist other team members with their animal-related goals and challenges and support team growth.
• All work must perform the following industry best practices, safety protocols, standards, and guidelines established by San Antonio Zoo, governing agencies, and regulatory/accrediting bodies including AZA.
• Upholds all company policies as outlined in the Standard Operating Procedures, Team Member Handbook, and Code of Business Conduct.
• Consistently exhibit an attitude of service inside and outside of the Zoo, showing hospitality to all.
• Be fully committed to the mission of San Antonio Zoo to create awareness that inspires action to care for the wild world we steward and animals we protect.

Behavioral Observations

• Increase the behavioral repertoire of all assigned animals.
• Continually observe and evaluate animal behavior and conditions for animals in the department and report any problems to the appropriate manager.
• Maintain detailed daily records on assigned animals, area routines, and medical treatments.

Safety

• Ability to exercise sound judgment in analyzing animal/birds behavior concerns or emergencies, and to respond with the appropriate action.
• Ability to work safely around delicate, wild, unpredictable, and potentially dangerous animals/birds.
• For the safety of our internal and external guests, you must secure animals/birds, their enclosures, and other associated structures.

Animal Enrichment

• Propose and perform species-specific enrichment.
• Understanding of principles and application of operant conditioning training for advanced husbandry behaviors and public demonstrations.

Collaboration

• Assist veterinary staff in the treatment of the collection of animals/birds.
• Act as a liaison between vet staff, leadership, and the aviculture team.
• Assist in animal/birds procedures including, but not limited to, translocations, veterinary practices, administering daily treatment and medications, and crating.
• Participate in or assist with the capture and restraint of a variety of taxa, including dangerous species—guide fellow team members in safety practices, improved techniques, and procedures for handling or restraining animals.

Creating Community

• Engage with the Zoo guests, staff, VIP's, team members, and docents.
• Promote active guest engagement through interaction, formal and informal discussions, during special events and as otherwise assigned.
• Staff Management and Development
• Study-specific reference materials pertinent to animal care, behavior, and natural history as assigned.
• Ability to learn and properly identify the bird species of our collection.
• Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relations with fellow employees.

Other Responsibilities

• Performs other work-related duties as required and assigned.
• Assist with Aviculture Departmental Pest Control efforts to maintain health, safety, and wellbeing for animal/bird habitats and keeper areas.
• Perform light maintenance work and repairs for exhibit features and fixtures. Report major maintenance concerns to leadership. 
• Safely operate equipment such as mowers, pressure washers, weed eaters, and power tools as needed.

 Your Skills and Expertise 

•  To set you up for success in this role from day one, the San Antonio Zoo recommends the following skills/qualifications:
• Associate degree or higher in wildlife management, animal science, zoology, biology, or related field preferred—May substitute schooling for additional training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Knowledge of avian behavior and biology is preferred.
• Ability to identify, handle, examine, and transfer eggs safely.
• Knowledge of incubation is preferred.
• Knowledge of chick hand rearing is preferred.
• Background of successful nesting and breeding of various bird species is preferred.
• Experience with husbandry and care of large aviaries and smaller species focused bird habitats in a zoo setting.
• Knowledge of proper plant care and maintenance preferred.
• Knowledge or ability to learn various programs such as ZIMS, TRACKS, and more.
• Ability to assist in overseeing, training, and evaluating volunteers and interns. 
• Ability to speak in front of guests and groups for animal chats as well as keeper behind the scenes tours.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills preferred.
• Responsible for completing all online training courses by assigned deadlines.
• Must be 18 years of age or older with a clean driving record for vehicle operation.
• This position requires a valid Class 'C' Texas Driver's License or a valid driver's license from another state with the ability to obtain a Class "C" Texas Driver's License within 45 days of employment. Considerations can be made as long as there is a dependable means of transportation to commute to scheduled shifts.
• Must be able to report to scheduled shifts on time and be dependable and reliable to promptly uphold their assigned schedule.
• Successful candidates must complete a pre-employment drug screening and background check.
• Must be able to work in varying climate and weather conditions (rain, snow, humidity, hot, or cold).
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule to accommodate the needs of the department.
• We enjoy year-round operation for all staff, must be available day, nights, weekends, and occasional special after-hour assignments.
•  The San Antonio Zoo is an equal opportunity employer. 
• San Antonio Zoo will not discriminate against any applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.

Salary

• $15.50/hr