Summary:
The Animal Interpreter/Zookeeper acts as an ambassador of the Zoo through a variety of on-site and virtual educational programs that feature live animal ambassadors. Interpretive duties include providing encounters, impromptu and scheduled chats, and other programs for all ages; participating in a variety of outreach and appearances; providing general support to daily education and interpretive programs and engaging with Zoo guests daily.
This position is also responsible for providing for daily husbandry of a collection of small mammals, birds, amphibians, invertebrates, and reptiles in the Animals of the Night and ambassador animal collections.
The ideal candidate would be proficient in all aspects of zoo animal care including husbandry, enrichment, training, exhibit maintenance, record keeping, keeper chats, and conservation as well as engaging guests to connect with the animals. Candidates for this position should be self-motivated, hard-working, positive, dependable, who can work independently, but also thrive in a team setting.
Collection:
Ambassador animals include birds of prey (barn owl, red-tailed hawk), a green winged macaw, invertebrates (scorpion, millipedes, and Madagascan hissing cockroaches), reptiles (pancake tortoise, box turtle, Indian star tortoise, blue tongue skink, prehensile-tailed skink, scheltopusik, red-tailed boa, ball python, and gray rat snake), amphibians (smooth-sided toads), and small mammals (rabbit, tenrec, rats).
The Animals of the Night collection is managed in a reverse-light cycle building and encompasses a variety of small mammals including aardvarks, agoutis, armadillos (three-banded and six-banded), bats (bulldog bat, Egyptian Rousettus bat, Seba’s short-tailed bat, and vampire bat), binturong, bushbabies, genets, ringtail cats, kinkajous, pygmy slow lorises, naked mole rats, owl monkey, pottos, tamandua, and two-toed sloths.
Essential Job Functions:
- Provides best available practices in daily animal care, husbandry, enrichment, and training.
- Guest engagement: Facilitates formal and informal public presentations to engage guests and provide a positive guest experience.
- Researches, develops, and presents recurring shows, chats, and encounters with ambassador animals for in person and virtual audiences.
- Provides unique, interactive, educational, and naturalistic experiences featuring ambassador animals for Zoo guests.
- Actively observes 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.
- Prepares and administers appropriate daily diets and maintain accurate records of assigned animals.
- Appropriately cleans and disinfects assigned animal enclosures/habitats according to written protocols and ensures a sanitary and safe environment.
- Performs exhibit maintenance, including concrete work and periodic updates to exhibit perching and hides.
- Exercises good judgement when making decisions that affect our collection.
- Assists 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 Education or Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Zoology, Biology or a related field.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
Preferred Education or Experience:
- Previous experience with animal care and operant conditioning in a zoological setting.
- Previous experience in the education field or with animal presentations.
- Knowledge of current technology and applications for communication, research, and record keeping.
Competencies:
- Flexibility/Adaptability.
- Guest Focus.
- Problem Solving/Analysis.
- Public Speaking.
- Records and Reports Creation and Management.
- Stress Management/Composure.
- Teamwork Orientation.
- Written/Verbal/Oral Communication.
Supervisory Responsibility: None.
Reporting Structure: Reports to Associate Curator.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
Full-time positions are defined as positions scheduled to work approximately up to 40 hours a week. Scheduling is at the discretion of the manager. 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. Position occasionally requires after-hours work.
This position is considered non-exempt under the federal and state wage and hour laws.
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. This position has extensive interaction with the public.
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.
Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
How to Apply:
Applications should be submitted via the Memphis Zoo Careers page. Please note that any other application submissions will not be considered. www.memphiszoo.org/careers.
