Job Description

Department: Zoo

Pay: $23.99 per hour

Work Schedule:

Sedgwick County offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees that includes health coverages, paid leave, regular compensation reviews, retirement plans, and professional development opportunities. For more detailed information, please visit our benefits page at SCBenefits

Supervises, trains, and monitors zookeepers in the care and management of mammals within the assigned Zoo areas. This position requires occasional participation in the care of mammals when covering zookeeper shifts. Ideally this will be no more than 16 hours per week but may on occasion be more. Inspects facilities for security, safety and for repair and maintenance. Interacts and provides customer service to all Zoo-defined customers. This position participates in a mandatory on-call rotation.

Supervision of Zookeepers

• Plan, schedule, and assign work duties within zoological area.
• Monitor and acquire area supplies and resources, under the direction of curator.
• Train and mentor zookeepers, recognize performance deficiencies, and takes corrective action when needed.
• Produce SOPs and other documents for the areas of responsibility including employees, facilities, and animals within the area.
• Supervise and monitor animal introductions and animal restraint.
• Participate and assist curator and registrar in planning animal transfer activities. Work with veterinary staff to facilitate associated medical testing needs.

Animal Well-being, Care and Management

• Ensure animals are housed and cared for in ways that meet all Zoo-defined goals.
• Handle animals for husbandry needs, medical purposes, and in preparation for transport.
• Maintain a current understanding of animal natural history and terminology. Interpret animal behavior, recognizes abnormalities and potential medical conditions. Under the direction of veterinarians and/or curators, administer medications or treatments as needed.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of AZA Accreditation Standards, as pertains to all job duties.
• Communicate observations of animal behavior and health condition to veterinary department and/or curators, administers medications or treatments, as needed.
• Ensure regular and timely recording of animal behavior observations, training and enrichment activities, and animal health conditions.
• Monitor and participate in the preparation of animal diets. Communicate nutritional needs and concerns to curator and veterinary staff.
• Drive Zoological Society-owned vehicles, as needed, to care for or transfer animals to other zoological facilities. Animal transfer trips may occasionally require overnight travel.
• Safely work with and around delicate, wild, and potentially dangerous animals. Complete required training and safely operate all zoo-required equipment for completion of job duties.

Area Maintenance

• Ensure service areas, animal habitats and public viewing areas meet safety requirements and are properly maintained.
• Ensure all areas are clean, organized, and free of clutter. Ensure public areas are clean, presentable, and aesthetically pleasing.
• Monitor and ensure usability and availability of tools used regularly by team: wheel barrows, rakes, shovels, hoses, scrub brooms, tubs and a variety of other tools used in the care of animals.
• Complete or conduct minor repairs to facilities as needed.
• Ensure that habitats are timely prepared for public display openings.
• Identify and communicate any pest control problems to the veterinary department and curator.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Zoology, Environmental Resources, Wildlife Management, or a related field. Two years of animal care experience working with mammals. Per Sedgwick County policy, this is a driving level position that requires a valid US driver’s license without restrictions and current proof of automobile insurance.

Preferred Qualifications: Three years of animal care experience working with great apes at an AZA Facility.

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