The Santa Barbara Zoo is seeking a full-time Animal Keeper for our Animal Care and Health team. If you are a dedicated, passionate, and experienced individual with a strong commitment to animal care and wildlife conservation, we encourage you to apply for the Animal Keeper position!
Position Status: Full-time, Regular, Non-exempt, Hourly
Schedule: 5 days a week based on business need, generally with Tues/Wed off - 40 hours/work week
Compensation: $20.80 – $23.90 per hour DOE
SUMMARY:
- Under general direction of Zoological Manager, Director of Animal Care and V.P. of Animal Care & Health, the Keeper is responsible for the application of daily animal care, maintenance of exhibits, guest experience and applicable research.
- 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 50lbs 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
- Proficiency in 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.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
Animal Care:
- Performs all basic animal husbandry and health duties in the safest manner following established Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs) and protocols
- Records the signs of normal health and changes in animal under his/her care using the daily report system
- Records results of training sessions and enrichment to document and evaluate progress toward team goals
- Develops and documents training and enrichment programs
- Facilitates established animal presentations
- Regular attendance necessary
Understanding/Handling Emergency Situations:
- Responds to animal emergencies quickly and calculates risks involved for animal, guest and staff
- Remains calm and creates an atmosphere of calm and control for those dealing with the emergency situation
- Uses physical capture and restraint equipment as required
- Evaluates the impact of emergency or mock situations on all areas of the Zoo and suggests improvements to the emergency response systems
Guest Relations:
- Associates with guests to assist and share information
- Responds to all guest inquiries, complaints, and comments according to Zoo guest relation procedures
- Meets exhibit presentation quality standards for cleanliness and maintenance to maximize our guest experience
- Develops and facilitates formal and informal educational programs
Staff development:
- Supervises volunteers and interns
- Shares critical information, best practices, and procedures on a consistent basis with staff
- Coaches coworkers, volunteers and interns and provides informal feedback
- Provides training for new keepers on husbandry standard operating guidelines
Operation and Business:
- Exemplifies the highest ethical standards to ensure the health and well being of the animal collection
- Ensures that all regulatory standards are met such as USDA Animal Welfare Act, regional, federal and AZA standards
- Reports animal maintenance issues and potential hazards for staff
- Ensures consistent productive operating practices by identifying areas for potential revenue generation, reduction of costs and more efficient procedures
- Holds peers accountable for their performance
- Adheres to Zoo’s policies and procedures as outlined in the Employee Policy Manual
- Attends bi-monthly all-employee meetings
- Attends departmental meetings
- For a full job description, please go to https://sbzoo.careerplug.com/jobs/2233056/apps/new
Experience Required
- Minimum of 1 year experience in working at an AZA accredited facility or similar facility with a variety of taxa Bachelor’s degree or graduation from two-year college program focused on captive animal husbandry Experience in routine animal husbandry, exhibit maintenance, and behavioral enrichment in a zoo, aquarium or closely related activity
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
- $$20.80 – $23.90 per hour DOE
