Program Staff Animal Care - Part-time

Provides daily care for Education Ambassador Animal population including but not limited to: feeding; cleaning; providing, observing and evaluating enrichment; as well as maintaining records that pertain to daily care, health and wellbeing. Clearly and effectively communicates with supervisors and coworkers, as well as responding in a timely manner to communications when necessary. Interacts with and completes necessary evaluations of students, job shadows and interns.

Primary Job Functions

Animal Care & Area Maintenance

• Demonstrate and maintain knowledge of basic natural history and behavior of all animals in Education Ambassador Animal population.
• Effective and timely communication with supervisors, coworkers and, if needed, veterinary staff of any concerns with animal behavior and/or health conditions.
• Handle animals for medical purposes and in preparation for transport.
• Under direction of veterinarians and/or supervisors, administer medications or treatment as instructed.
• Prepare animal diets which may vary widely among taxa.
• Clean and maintain service areas, animal habitats and viewing areas, ensuring areas are clean, organized and free of clutter.
• Use wheel barrows, rakes, shovels, hoses, scrub brooms, tubs and a variety of other tools.
• Communicate any pest control concerns to supervisor.
• Conduct minor repairs to facilities or promptly submit concerns to supervisor.

Animal Wellbeing

• Adhere to institutional enrichment protocols and provide species specific behavioral enrichment as scheduled.
• Monitor general health and behavior of animals, recognize abnormalities and potential medical conditions and report such to supervisors immediately.
• Provide input during annual and impromptu wellbeing evaluations.
• Communicate promptly with all team members as needed to provide optimal care and wellbeing to each individual animal.
• Complete routine weights, disinfection, and assigned tasks within time/date parameters set by supervisor.

Record Keeping and Data Entry

• Document all requested information in daily animal care records, including regular husbandry, health and wellbeing information.
• Observe, evaluate and document enrichment as directed.
• Input documented enrichment evaluations in appropriate database/file location.
• Input program use data in appropriate database/file location as directed.
• Input appropriate data into the E Daily Zookeeper files as directed.
• Input appropriate data into ZIMS software as directed.

Secondary Job Functions

• Interact with guests participating in Ambassador Animal Wild Encounters, including but not limited to handling animals for the encounter, as well providing information about the species and/or individual animal using appropriate interpretive techniques.
• Follow all safety protocols and area SOP’s while working with and around delicate, wild and potentially dangerous animals.
• Complete all required training and safely operate all equipment for completion of job duties
• Participate in guest encounters in both formal and informal settings, and in education programming, as well as hosting job shadows.
• Represent the Zoo and/or Sedgwick County at various offsite events such as regional, national, and international conferences, meetings, community events, outreach programs, etc.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Coursework from an accredited college or university or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Must be 18 years of age.
• Valid US driver’s license without restrictions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• One to two years of coursework in Zoology or Biology from an accredited college or university.
• 6 months to 1 year of zoo practicum experience in an AZA Facility.
• Experience working in a formal or informal learning setting.

Working Environment/Conditions

The employee is subject to activities that occur in both inside and outside environmental conditions. The employee is subject to any potential hazards of working in a zoo. The employee is subject to potential hazards of working with and near dangerous animals. The employee may be exposed to zoonotic diseases. Employee must be able to work a schedule that may involve working weekends, holidays, or after regular work shifts.

Physical requirements

Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. May be required to walk or stand for extended periods of time and do repetitive tasks with few breaks within indoor and outdoor environments. The employee is required to have visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned or to make general observations of facilities or animals.

Direct reports

N/A