Do you have experience with primates? The growing, inclusive, and conservation-focused Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is seeking a full-time, Animal Care Specialist with responsibilities centered on the care and wellness of animals and maintenance of assigned areas. This position provides an opportunity to work with a diverse collection of primates that includes bonobos, gorillas, mandrills, colobus monkeys, and six species of lemurs.
What You'll Do:
Animal Care:
- Monitor, inspect, feed, clean, and make minor repairs to animal enclosures. Observe/record. Maintain daily records.
Guest Interactions:
- An energetic and effective communicator who can engage and convey basic facts and natural history knowledge to guests.
Safety and Security:
- Comply with specific Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), policies, and protocols to prioritize human and animal safety.
What You Bring:
- Proven satisfactory performance in an unpaid or paid position at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
- Completion of a relevant internship, experience, and/or college coursework in a related field.
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Experience working with large mammals and/or hoof stock (non-domesticated).
- Strong observational, organizational, and record-keeping skills.
- An excellent safety record and the ability to adhere to protocols.
- Engaging communication skills for guest interactions and teamwork.
- Ability to perform physically demanding tasks and work in varying environmental conditions.
- Equivalent experience working with wildlife in human care:
- Animal Care Specialist I: At least 6 months of unpaid experience.
- Animal Care Specialist II: At least 2 years of paid experience.
- Senior Animal Care Specialist: At least 5 years of paid experience.
- A Plus…
- A degree in a related life science.
- Paid experience in wildlife care in a zoological setting at an AZA accredited facility.
​PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to safely operate motorized cart, trucks, hand, and power tools.
- Ability to transport and move items up to 50 pounds frequently for short distances.
- Ability to ascend/ descend ladders, steps, and uneven terrain, while maintaining body equilibrium while performing various jobs.
- Ability to consistently remain on your feet for prolonged periods of time.
- Ability to access and navigate each department at the organization on foot and/or operate a motorized cart.
- Exceptional visual acuity required, along with the ability to communicate, comprehend and decipher information accurately, using a two-way radio.
- Manual dexterity for standing, reaching, flexibility, and body movement for bending, crouching, walking, kneeling, stoop, bend, lift, kneel, crawl, climb, jump, dig and prolonged standing.
- Grasp, turn, and manipulate objects of varying size and weight, requiring fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
- Visual and auditory acuity appropriate plant care for safety and to discern differences in documents/labels.
- Inclusion, diversity, and equality as a value
- Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens embraces diversity in a meaningful way and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
- Equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment regardless of a person's actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, sex, age, religion, creed, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, weight, or height.
- EOE / DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE
Salary
- $17.30/hour
