Animal Care Professional - Primates

Naples Zoo Inc • Naples, FL

8d

About The Position

The Primate Animal Care Professional position is a full-time position. This position will involve working with all animals in all areas of the primate department. This area currently includes the following: Bornean orangutan, cotton top tamarin, siamang, white-cheek gibbon, spider monkey, colobus, and ring tail lemur, mongoose lemur, red ruffed lemur and leopard tortoise. Under the general direction of the Primate Field Supervisor, this position will be responsible for the daily care, feeding, enrichment, and training of animals in the assigned areas. Duties will include but are not limited to maintaining cleanliness of animal habitats, assisting with veterinary procedures, developing and implementing training plans, and keeping daily records while following Naples Zoo policies and protocols. This position will also require guest interaction through scheduled keeper talks, Zoo Camp Wild, and possible media events. This position will regularly work with other department keepers in a team setting as well as independently and will require effective communication skills as well as the ability to understand primate specific behaviors. Keepers are required to work in extreme weather conditions typical to South Florida and have the physical ability to lift or move up to 50 pounds, operate landscaping equipment (mower, string trimmer, etc.), work on varied uneven terrain, climb ladders, operate a canoe/kayak as well as a single engine pontoon boat and ride a bicycle. Many of the primates at Naples Zoo live in a unique open-air environment on an island system within a lake. Keepers often spend long periods of time on a pontoon boat or in a canoe/kayak. Experience preferred with similar species as well as operant conditioning/positive reinforcement training in an AZA accredited zoological facility in addition to an associate degree in zoological science or a related bachelor’s degree. Candidates must be able to work weekends, weekdays and holidays.

Requirements

• Ability to work weekends, weekdays and holidays
• Ability to work in extreme weather conditions typical to South Florida
• Physical ability to lift or move up to 50 pounds
• Ability to operate landscaping equipment (mower, string trimmer, etc.)
• Ability to work on varied uneven terrain
• Ability to climb ladders
• Ability to operate a canoe/kayak as well as a single engine pontoon boat
• Ability to ride a bicycle
• Effective communication skills
• Ability to understand primate specific behaviors

Nice To Haves

• Experience with similar species
• Experience with operant conditioning/positive reinforcement training in an AZA accredited zoological facility
• Associate degree in zoological science or a related bachelor’s degree

Responsibilities

• Daily care of animals
• Feeding
• Enrichment
• Training of animals
• Maintaining cleanliness of animal habitats
• Assisting with veterinary procedures
• Developing and implementing training plans
• Keeping daily records
• Guest interaction through scheduled keeper talks, Zoo Camp Wild, and possible media events

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision Health Coverage
• Company paid Life Insurance policy of $25,000
• Supplemental insurance plans available (disability, GAP, accident, critical care)
• 403B Retirement and Investment Opportunities
• Accrued Paid Time Off
• Tuition Reimbursement Program available
• Holiday Premium Pay
• Employee Referral Bonuses
• Complimentary Zoo admission for employees and/or their families after 90 days of employment
• Complimentary and discounted admissions to 100+ Florida theme parks for employee and/or their families
• 30% Employee Discount at Naples Zoo Gift Shop & Zoo cafes

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree