Animal Keeper

The Santa Barbara Zoo is seeking a full-time Animal Keeper for our Animal Care and Health team.In this role, you will work with a diverse range of taxa, including mammals, birds, and ectotherms. You will be responsible for husbandry, maintaining naturalistic exhibits, and ensuring the highest standards of animal care and well-being. The ideal candidate would also welcome the challenge of participating in the zoo’s local field conservation activities including California condor, island fox, as well as local bird and ectotherm species.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide exemplary husbandry and care for a variety of animals, both large and small.
• Maintain and enhance naturalistic exhibits, creating a safe and stimulating environment for the animals, focused on demonstrating natural behaviors.
• Actively participate in on-grounds or local field conservation activities, contributing to initiatives involving California condor, island fox, and local ectotherm species.
• Collaborate closely with the Animal Care & Health team, reporting to a Zoological Manager and the Director of Animal Care.
• Engage with the public through educational programs and public speaking engagements.
• Ensure the safety and well-being of both animals and team members in a strenuous work environment that may require lifting up to 50 lbs as needed, navigate uneven surfaces, reaching overhead, climbing and other physical requirements.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 1 year experience in working at an AZA accredited facility or similar facility with a variety of taxa.
• Experience with animal husbandry, exhibit maintenance, and behavioral enrichment.
• A commitment to wildlife conservation and an eagerness to engage in local field conservation activities.
• Strong teamwork ethic and personal accountability.
• Excellent public speaking and communication skills.
• Physical fitness to handle the demands of the position.
• For more details, please go to https://sbzoo.careerplug.com/jobs/2233056/apps/new
• Apprentice Keeper $20-21.60/hour DOE, or Keeper: $22.10-23.80/hour DOE

Schedule:

• 5 days a week based on business need, generally with Tues/Wed off - 40 hours/work week

Experience Required

• Minimum of 1 year experience in working at an AZA accredited facility or similar facility with a variety of taxa.
• Experience with animal husbandry, exhibit maintenance, and behavioral enrichment.

Perks

• Great team, beautiful grounds, great animal collection, sunshine & ocean view almost year-round!
• Comprehensive benefits package, incl. voluntary supplemental insurances, free parking M-F, a paid conservation day, a paid zoo day to visit another AZA accredited institution, free guest passes, paid time off to take your pet to the vet, unlimited free tea/coffee every morning, 20 discounts on food services and retail purchases, access to the San Diego Zoo Global Academy platform, and much more...

Salary

• Apprentice Keeper $20-21.60/hour DOE, or Keeper: $22.10-23.80/hour DOE