This is professional work in food/diet preparation for a variety of different species, fulfilling food orders and routine duties including daily diets, ensuring quality control measures are met, the cleaning and sanitizing of work stations and storage of food for animals at Zoo Miami. Supervision is received from a superior who provides instructions on food requirements and commissary cleanliness and reviews work for satisfactory completion of assignments as well as providing exceptional customer service through engagement while creating friendly and positive interactions with all guests and co-workers.
CORE DUTIES:
- Prepares animal diets includes counting, measuring, cutting or weighing individual diet items including but not limited to meat, produce, whole prey, fish, bones, dry feeds, browse, live insects, hay and canned items.
- Uses kitchen equipment such as choppers, grinders, mixers and saws safely and properly.
- Ensures highest level of food safety through quality control, proper rotation and storage, proper food handling, and appropriate use of chemicals and washing.
- Maintains the cleaning and hygiene of food/prep stations, dishes, tools and equipment, food storage areas, floors, hay barn and all aspects of the Animal Nutrition Center.
- Utilizes systems for recycling and composting food and non-food waste.
- Checks in items from outside vendors including paperwork, rotation and food quality control.
- Assists in the maintenance of Nutrition computer records including food item data, inventories, vendor information, animal diet records and standard operating procedures.
- Organizes food storage area and daily diets to ensure accurate delivery of food items
- Delivers food items to specific animal areas
- Inventories and orders food items.
- Provides tours of the Animal Nutrition Center
- Assists in the training of new Zoo Miami Nutrition Keepers, volunteers and students
- Performs other related tasks as required.
SUPPORTIVE FUNCTIONS:
- Professionally represent Zoo Miami, PROS and Miami-Dade County at all times and maintain current knowledge of the Zoo and its offerings.
- Must maintain a positive attitude and be an exceptional team member that can provide support across all departmental functions.
- Must promote teamwork and facilitate the communication and working relationship across all departments.
- Must be willing to work with a variety of diverse people in order to provide exceptional customer service to our guests.
- Remain calm under stressful situations and be able to handle emergency situations as needed.
KNOWLDEGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES (KSAs):
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, supervisors, departmental officials, and the general public.
- Ability to evaluate operating programs in relation to established goals and objectives and recommend courses of action.
- Ability to train and coach employees and subordinates.
- Ability to establish program goals and objectives that support the strategic plan.
- Skill in the use of standard office equipment and software.
- Skill in using computer applications including spreadsheet, database and word processing software.
- Ability to meet and deal effectively with the general public.
- Ability to use tact and good judgment when dealing with the public.
- Skill in completing assignments accurately and with attention to detail.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet close deadlines.
- Ability to express ideas clearly, concisely, both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to provide information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in person or in writing.
Experience Required
- High School diploma or GED.
- One year of experience in food/diet preparation in a professional kitchen, feed store, animal facility or zoo is required.
- Must be able to work days, nights, holidays, and weekends on a varied work schedule.
- Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
Perks
- This is a full time position with excellent benefits with Miami-Dade County.
Salary
- $35,306.75 - $58,574.73
