Education and Experience: High School Diploma or GED, and one (1) year of confined animal care and handling experience, excluding personal pets. Licenses and Certificates: Texas Class "C" Driver's License or equivalent from another state.
General Purpose
- Under immediate supervision, provide proficient and excellent care for the zoo’s animals in accordance with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) animal health, welfare and conservation principles, standards and practices.
Typical Duties
- Feed, water and care for exotic zoo animals and clean and maintain animal enclosures.
- Involves: Prepare regular and special diets to feed animals.
- Clean, disinfect and maintain holding areas, enclosures and exhibit areas.
- Maintain safety of animals, self, coworkers, and public.
- Monitor animal health and well-being.
- Report animal illness or injury to appropriate staff.
- Assist veterinary staff with administering medications, providing treatment and restraining for medical procedures and/or exams.
- Assist with behavioral conditioning and enrichment programs for animals.
Involves:
- Utilize system of positive reinforcement techniques to achieve desired behaviors to meet health and/or husbandry needs.
- Provide animals with interactive items and activities to relieve stress and encourage natural behaviors.
- Assist other zoo staff and the public.
Involves:
- Identify maintenance problems and resolve or report as necessary.
- Assist with grounds and landscaping maintenance and construction.
- Test water quality in aquatic exhibits.
- Answer questions from other staff and the public regarding zoo animals, exhibits and related.
- Interact with the public in keeper chats/encounters, behind-the-scenes tours, media interviews, or other public educational presentations and event interactions.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Application of good knowledge of care and feeding of zoo animals.
- Application of good knowledge of sanitation and disinfection processes.
- Application of some knowledge of AZA principles and practices.
- Ability to prepare and feed animals regular and special diet foods.
- Ability to support husbandry in any taxa which can include birds, carnivores, primates, reptiles, insects, other small/large mammals, fish, marine mammals, etc.
- Ability to clearly and concisely communicate general reference information, in assigned specialty areas.
- Ability to maintain accurate and thorough daily logs and records of animal care and observation.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, coworkers and the general public.
- Ability to work alone or in a team environment.
- Ability to understand and follow oral instructions, City and Departmental policies and procedures.
- Other Job Characteristics
- Work a schedule across a 7-day week, including weekends and holidays.
- Perform physical work on a daily basis, including lifting/carrying up to 50 lbs.
- Requires mobility within a zoo environment and in all weather conditions.
- Work around a variety of animal species with potential for physical harm from bites, kicks, lifting and restraining animals.
- Exposure to zoonotic infectious diseases from daily contact with exotic and domestic animals including bacterial, fungal, parasitic and viral pathogens.
- Exposure to power tools and machinery.
- Driving through zoo grounds and occasionally in City traffic.
- Immunizations and PPD (TB) skin test are required as a condition of employment unless waived for religious or medical reasons.
Experience Required
- High School Diploma or GED, and one (1) year of confined animal care and handling experience, excluding personal pets.
Further Comments
- Please note: This eligible list will be used to fill full-time and part-time positions.
Perks
- https://www.elpasotexas.gov/human-resources/benefits/
Salary
- $15.56 - $24.77 Hourly
