Summary:
The Zookeeper is primarily responsible for care of the animals at the Once Upon a Farm Exhibit. This exhibit allows visitors to see a variety of farm animals up-close, allowing touch if the animals approach the fence line. Keepers provide all daily husbandry for the animals, as well as training and enrichment. Keepers engage guests in informal chats throughout their daily routine since yards are public facing and give a formal keeper chat daily.
Collection Encompasses: Harlequin sheep, Guinea hogs, goats, Zebus, donkeys, and chickens (Orpington, Rhode Island Red, Cochin bantams).
Essential Job Functions:
- Daily husbandry of assigned animals.
- Facilitate formal and informal public presentations to engage guests and provide a positive guest experience.
- Actively observe animals’ behavior, reporting irregularities and abnormal behavior to supervisor.
- Prepare and administer appropriate daily diets, medications and maintain accurate records of assigned animals.
- Appropriately clean and disinfect assigned animal enclosures/barns according to written protocols and ensures a sanitary and safe environment.
- Incorporate modern behavioral husbandry techniques such as operant conditioning and environmental enrichment into animal care.
- Monitor public presence and engagement with the animals in potential contact exhibits.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Zoology, Biology, or a related field.
- Previous experience with animal care and operant conditioning in a zoological or farm setting.
Competencies:
- Critical Thinking.
- Flexibility/Adaptability.
- Microsoft Office Suite.
- Problem Solving/Analysis.
- Records and Reports Creation and Management.
- Stress Management/Composure.
- Teamwork Orientation.
- Written/Verbal/Oral Communication.
Supervisory Responsibility: None
Reporting Structure: Reports to Associate Curator, Team Lead.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: Full-time positions are defined as positions scheduled to work approximately up to 40 hours a week. Scheduling is at the discretion of the manager. This position regularly requires flexible hours including weekdays, holidays, and weekends including early morning and daytime hours, and will occasionally require after-hours work.
This position is considered non-exempt under the federal and state wage and hour laws.
Work Environment: While performing the duties of the job, the employee will frequently work outdoors (Zoo grounds). When outdoors this position is required to work in various weather conditions including rain, humidity, and extreme heat or cold.
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.
This position requires frequent standing/walking/bending/kneeling/crouching and may occasionally move or lift objects up to 50 pounds.
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.
Other Requirements:
- 18 years or older.
- Clear background check.
- Clear drug screening.
- Clear TB screening.
Benefits & Perks
The Memphis Zoo has a comprehensive benefits and employee perks package. Please see our Memphis Zoo Careers page for details.
EEOC and Inclusion Statement:
The Memphis Zoo believes that human diversity is as important as the biodiversity we seek to conserve. World-class zoos are comprised of world-class team members representing a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We value a diverse workplace and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, and veterans to apply.
The Memphis Zoo is an equal-opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws. If you need to request any accommodations for the interview or hiring process, please let the Human Resources team (HR) know. HR can be contacted at hrteam@memphiszoo.org.
The Memphis Zoo participates in E-Verify and is an EEO/ADA/Veteran employer.
All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of pre-employment screening. Memphis Zoo is a drug-free workplace.
Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
How to Apply:
Applications should be submitted via the Memphis Zoo Careers page. Please note that any other application submissions will not be considered. www.memphiszoo.org/careers.
