Team Lead - Bird/Farm Keeper

Objective: The Team Lead is responsible for leading and assisting a team of zookeepers in the daily husbandry of animals as it relates to the animal’s physiological and psychological well-being; for the general maintenance of enclosures and habitats. This position is also responsible for ensuring a positive guest experience by providing exceptional service and engaging presentations.

Collection Encompasses:

• The Bird/Farm team cares for all inhabitants of The Tropical Birdhouse, Penguin Rock (African penguins), Once Upon a Farm, and a handful of other small exhibits.

Essential Functions

• Actively participates in daily advanced animal husbandry for specific taxa.
• Assists in orienting, training, and monitoring the performance of immediate work group.
• Provide feedback regarding hiring needs, selection and performance management of immediate work group.
• Facilitates exhibit needs and maintenance of assigned area including cleaning of habitats, scheduling regular maintenance and managing work crews in animal areas.
• Follows established standard operating procedures for animal care, food preparation, and clean up, including proper maintenance and sterilization of equipment.
• Supports daily enrichment and documentation to promote, encourage and evaluate natural and engaging behaviors.
• Implements and evaluates animal training programs when needed.
• Facilitates formal and informal public presentations to educate guests and provide positive guest experiences.
• Submits/tracks work tickets, assists with scheduling, communicates with all lines of business, at all levels including the Research, Veterinary staff, Education and Operations teams.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Zoology, Biology, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years’ experience and ongoing training in the collection, care and conservation of exotic animals required

Preferred Education and Experience:

• At least 1 year experience in a supervisory capacity

Competencies

• Written and oral communication Proficiency
• Proficient in MS Office, current technology and applications for communication, research and record keeping.
• Records and reports creation and management
• Problem Solving/Analysis.
• Stress Management/Composure.
• Flexibility.
• Teamwork Orientation.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• Assists Associate Curator with supervising all zookeepers within this area
• Reporting Structure: Reports to Associate Curator.
• Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: This is a full-time 40 hrs per week position which regularly requires weekend work.
• Work Environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, chemicals and vibration.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet while in the office, or moderately loud while on Zoo grounds.

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear.
• The employee is constantly required to use hands and fingers to feel, handle or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and walk.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Other Duties:

• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.
• Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.