Animal Keeper

Hogle Zoological Society•Salt Lake City, UT

22h•$20 - $25•Onsite

About The Position

Utah’s Hogle Zoo is hiring one Animal Keeper for the Ambassador team. Candidates may apply based on their experience level. The animal care department prioritizes the development and sustainability of a kind and well-balanced team culture to create environments where teams, individuals, and animals thrive. At the zoo we look for employees who are passionate about conservation, who approach their daily work with a can-do attitude, who are resourceful, who communicate respectfully with everyone, and are ready to work hard supporting the zoo’s mission of creating champions for wildlife by making connections between people and animals to inspire action.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Paid experience working with exotic animals is preferred.
Demonstrates commitment to the zoo’s mission.
Shows professionalism, teamwork, and mutual respect expected of an animal care professional.
Basic knowledge of operant conditioning principles.
Minimum of two years of full-time-equivalent professional animal care and management is required, preferably in an AZA-accredited facility, or an equivalent combination of education and applied zoo keeping experience.
Demonstrates knowledge of animal natural history and takes initiative to address knowledge gaps.
Has demonstrated the ability to work safely with animals.
Applies strong observational skills to recognize and interpret typical and atypical animal behavior.
Demonstrates competence in industry-specific animal care technical skills.
Applies operant conditioning techniques effectively.
Maintains working knowledge of AWA, AZA, OSHA, and other applicable standards.
Makes sound, safe decisions when detailed instructions are not available.
Has completed required internal animal training courses; external candidates must complete assigned coursework within six months of hire.
Provides accurate, informative animal interpretation to guests through formal and informal talks or tours.
Uses a mindful, curious, and logical approach to problem solving.
Demonstrates the ability to self-reflect and apply feedback.
GED or High School Diploma is required.
A minimum of 5 years of full-time paid experience in professional animal care and management is required (preferably in an AZA facility) and/or combination of education and experience in an applied zoo keeping-focused program.
Advanced knowledge of animal natural history.
Proficiency in advanced and current industry-specific animal care technical skills.
Self-awareness and manages personal impact on others.
Ability to self-reflect and apply feedback.
Ability to provide feedback appropriately.
Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and critical thinking skills.
Prioritizes effectively and adapts plans to complete routine and anticipated additional or unexpected work with confidence.
Proficiency with basic computer applications and standard industry workplace technology.
Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations and maintain accurate records.
Communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Ability to follow written and verbal instructions, prioritize work, meet deadlines, and remain effective during interruptions.
Interacting with courtesy, professionalism and respect to staff, volunteers, and guests.
Manage stress to perform the job effectively.
Stay focused despite interruptions.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
Attention and memory for detail.
Utah’s Hogle Zoo is a drug-free workplace. All employees are subject to random drug testing.
Provide a negative TB test prior to hire date and maintain TB testing through course of employment.
A current driver’s license is required.

Nice To Haves

associate or bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred.
SCUBA certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Performs all aspects of daily care, husbandry, and wellbeing of exotic and/or domestic animals.
Cleaning, maintaining guest areas, service areas, holding areas, and exhibit areas.
Maintains extensive animal records relating to health, diet, behavior, and overall wellbeing.
Supports Utah’s Hogle Zoo’s (UHZ) conservation efforts.
Perform all operations and procedures for assigned areas.
Effectively monitor the health, behavior, and overall condition of assigned animals and communicate to all stakeholders in a timely manner; and administer medications as prescribed or directed by veterinarians.
Demonstrate and maintain a current understanding of animal natural history, terminology, and individual and species-specific wellbeing indicators.
Demonstrate consistent effort toward completing assigned training goals.
Meet or exceed standards in animal husbandry, health, wellbeing activities, record keeping, task prioritization, and research in assigned areas.
Clean and maintain all assigned areas and surrounding spaces to the highest professional standards consistently.
Apply and model progressive animal training and enrichment techniques.
Responsible for reading, comprehending, and applying policies and procedures.
Reliably document and report all atypical events and incidents.
Collaborate with ACS to maintain familiarity and comply with all applicable laws, Animal Welfare Act standards, OSHA regulations, Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation standards and related policies, as well as occupational health and safety procedures and practices.
Perform responsibilities in a manner which demonstrates prioritization of safety.
Eligible to hold a key within the 2 key 2 lock areas and shift potentially dangerous animals.
Fully participates in 2 key 2 lock processes and protocols as assigned.
Eligible to work with venomous animals.
Responsible for reading, comprehension, and application of procedure and policy.
Collaborate with ACS to maintain familiarity with and comply with all applicable laws, Animal Welfare Act standards, OSHA regulations, Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation standards and related policies, and occupational health and safety procedures.
Respond to all received communication according to policies and practices.
Provide timely and constructive feedback.
Teach fellow keepers, volunteers, and interns.
Oversee daily activities of assigned area interns and volunteers.
Employ strong interpersonal skills.
Demonstrate good judgement.
Perform job assignments with a kind and well-balanced attitude that reflects UHZ’s mission.
Demonstrate awareness of the impact of actions and interactions on others.
Demonstrate fairness in all interactions.
Models a clear and consistent commitment to professional engagement.
Eligible for participation as an AZA IR, SSP, studbook management, and other external committees, with approval of UHZ and AZA.
Utilize critical thinking skills.
Collaboratively participate in improving processes, systems, and standards.
Inspecting habitats and exhibit features. Make minor repairs, upgrades, or changes as directed.
Identify potential risks and develop creative proactive solutions to mitigate them.
Plan, schedule, and direct work of self and others as appropriate.
Manage changing priorities.
Accounts for the guest experience.
Utilizes advanced technical skill and sound judgement.
Takes responsibility for how individual actions and attitudes can impact animal wellbeing, others, team culture, and processes.
Collaborates with ACS to teach Keeper Apprentices and Keeper I and II staff in their professional development and technical skills.
Collaborates with ACS to deliver teaching opportunities to the team, department, or zoo as assigned.
Teach fellow keepers, volunteers, and interns.
Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, and other supplemental insurance.
The Zoo is a part of the Utah Retirement System (URS) with a choice between pension and 401k.
$3000 relocation allowance for qualifying new employees.
Vacation days: New employees accrue up to 13 days annually of vacation time. Additional accruals begin after 5 years of employment.
Sick days: Accrue up to 10 days annually of sick time.
Nine paid holidays in the year.
Employee Assistance Program for employees and their families paid for by the Zoo.
Employee long-term disability insurance paid for by the Zoo.
Various employee reimbursements and contributions including wellness activities and professional development.
Every employee receives a free Zoo Card that allows admission to the employee and up to 5 guests. It also provides free carousel and train rides, as well as free admittance to ZooLights and BooLights.
50% discount on concessions and 33.3% discount on gift shops items.
Tickets at Work membership, which provides discounts and offers on theme parks, shows, sporting events, and travel.
Awesome coworkers who care about animals and each other!