This position reports directly to the Animal Nutrition Supervisor who provides direction on animal food preparation, commissary operations and food safety; and reviews work for satisfactory completion of assignments. This team prepares approximately 500 animal diets each day and is responsible for ordering, receiving and properly storing food items, sanitation of the nutrition center, diet preparation and delivery of food for animals at Zoo Miami and assists with ensuring a high level of nutrition for all animals under Zoo Miami care.
Responsibilities/duties include, but are not limited to:
- 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.
Experience Required
- Two years of experience in food/diet preparation in a professional setting.
