To provide overall daily care of an assigned animal collection, to include a variety of species of birds, small and medium hoofstock, and other exotic animals and their habitats/exhibits at the Little Rock Zoo to ensure the health, safety, training and welfare of assigned animals are in compliance with all applicable guidelines, policies, procedures and standards to include the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) standards.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Provides overall daily care of assigned animal collection, to include a variety of species of birds, small and medium hoofstock, and other exotic animals and their habitats/exhibits at the Little Rock Zoo to ensure the health, safety, training and welfare of assigned animals are in compliance with all applicable guidelines, policies, procedures and standards to include the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) standards.
- Cleans and maintains animal habitats, exhibits, holding areas, service areas and related enclosures utilizing disinfectants, water hoses, shovels, rakes, and various other hand tools in compliance with standards set by the Zoo, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and AZA; performs minor maintenance and repairs on animal enclosures; reports any defects that would endanger animals, staff or guests to appropriate personnel.
- Maintains plant life in animal habitats and displays by watering and fertilizing as necessary; sprays or spreads approved chemicals to exterminate pests, diseases or unwanted plants.
- Prepares food and feeds animals according to established diets and assigned schedule; researches and recommends diet changes based various conditions, to include time of year, behavior and body condition of animals; implements approved changes.
- Observes and monitors the general health and behavior of assigned animals for injuries or symptoms of disease, and changes in behavior; documents observations and information relative to animal health and behavior for departmental records; reports changes and abnormal behavior and problems to appropriate personnel; makes recommendations to improve animals' psychological and physiological well-being; implements approved changes.
- Coordinates with Zoo Senior Management to develop animal behavioral and welfare objectives for animal training and enrichment activities, utilizing operant conditioning; provides species appropriate and approved behavior-based enrichment activities and training for all collection animals; evaluates animal enrichment plans and modifies objectives based on animal behaviors; documents and evaluates progress towards specific objectives to ensure compliance with USDA and AZA standards.
- Conducts various research relative to species-specific natural history and conservation efforts in the Zoological field to stay abreast of best practices, changes, current trends and developments relative to dietary, environmental, and psychological needs of animals and species and ensure husbandry and welfare practices are in compliance with AZA standards and practices; compiles information and recommends new enrichment, husbandry activities, practices or programs for individual animals and species at the zoo; recommends animals to be acquired or transferred.
- Provides assistance to the Zoo Conservation Coordinator regarding conservation activities of assigned animal collection to include research, surveys, behavioral observation and the collection of biomaterials.
- Conducts animal wellness evaluations on all animals of assigned collection in compliance with AZA standards; completes assessments and applicable documentation relative to major life events in coordination with Zoo Animal Registrar and Welfare Coordinator as required.
- Maintains required husbandry records to include detailed narratives and charts on all daily worksheets, animal welfare, medical, training, and enrichment logs in compliance with established guidelines, policies and procedures.
- Provides assistance to appropriate personnel with the capture, special handling, and restraint of animals for transport, examination or medical treatment; transports animals as required.
- Prepares a list of animals in assigned area requiring routine veterinary care; notifies supervisors of animals that require emergency medical attention.
- Administers prescribed medication to animals of assigned animal collection as assigned by mixing with food or by injection as required; provides assistance to the Veterinarian in the administration of medication or treatment of animals.
- Completes daily worksheets listing amount of food eaten, training performed and enrichment supplied, medications administered, changes in animal behavior, symptoms of disease or other indications of needs for special attention.
- Enters animal behavioral observation data into Zoo software utilized by Little Rock Zoo and other AZA zoos to allow for comparisons between zoos of species specific behavior and activity levels.
- Reviews animal surveys and other research materials; completes surveys from other zoos or research facilities; writes narrative and statistical reports to include publications as required from surveys.
- Picks up supplies; unloads and stores shipments of food and supplies; notifies supervisor of supplies needed.
- Answers questions and provides information about animals or exhibits from Zoo guests; serves as a tour guide; educates visitors about the Zoo, specific animals, animal welfare and husbandry activities, conservation, sustainability and other related activities; presents information to various groups and participates in animal training.
- Answers questions and provides information and training to Zoo volunteers and docents as required.
- Operates a City pool automobile in the performance of essential job functions.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- None.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must possess a valid Arkansas Class D (Non-Commercial Vehicle) Driver’s License before employment and maintain licensure for the duration of employment in this position.
- Must be available to respond to emergency calls outside of normal working hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays as required.
DISCLAIMER:
- This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
- Online applications only
- Applicant’s answers to supplemental questions will be used to screen for minimum qualifications electronically.
- Please include a complete work history when completing application. Work history may impact initial salary offer amount for the successful candidate.
- List of qualified applicants will be considered active for up to six (6) months and may be used to fill future openings with same or similar minimum qualifications.
- All communication regarding application status will be sent to candidates via text message/ email address listed on account.
- You may check your NeoGov inbox to review all notices sent to the email address associated with your applications.
- Applicants may check application status for any position by logging into their account at or contacting Human Resources at (501) 371-4590 if they are having computer difficulties.
Experience Required
- Minimum Qualifications, Additional Requirements and Supervisory Responsibilities:
- These knowledge, skills, and abilities are usually, although not always, acquired through completion of an Associate’s Degree in Biology, Life Sciences, Zoology, or a related field and one (1) year of experience working as an animal care professional, to include the care of variety of species of birds, small and medium hoofstock, or other exotic animals in a zoological setting, based on departmental need, or a related area. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must possess a valid Arkansas Class D (Non-Commercial Vehicle) Driver’s License before employment and maintain licensure for the duration of employment in this position.
- Must be available to respond to emergency calls outside of normal working hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays as required.
