Animal Keeper (Temporary)

Zoo Careers • Seattle, WA

14h • Onsite

About The Position

Woodland Park Zoo is hiring temporary, on-call Animal Keepers for current and future vacancies in its Animal Management department. Keepers may work in different animal areas and schedules depending on operational needs, staffing coverage, and experience. Temporary positions average 23 hours per week and may work up to 40 hours per week, with a limit of 1,200 hours in a 12-month period without health benefits. The starting rate is $33.49 per hour; temporary employees under the Joint Crafts Council wage scale are paid at Step 1 and are not eligible to earn more than that step rate, which may be adjusted annually per the contract.

The role contributes to the zoo’s mission through attentive animal care, collaboration, guest engagement, and conservation education. Keepers support animal welfare and operational continuity, maintain records, assist with veterinary and husbandry activities, and share animal and conservation information with guests. Applicants must live and work in Washington State.

Requirements

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in a life sciences field from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Two years of professional experience directly caring for animals in a zoo, aquarium, wildlife park, or managed zoological collection.
• Ability to perform physical work in indoor and outdoor environments and lift up to 50 pounds as needed.
• Ability to work varied shifts, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays, and accommodate schedule changes based on animal care and operational needs.
• Must live and work in Washington State to perform the role.
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must have a valid Washington driver’s license and a safe driving history.

Nice To Haves

• Two years of paid zoo animal keeping experience at an AZA facility.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily animal care, including cleaning, disinfecting, preparing diets, feeding, watering, observing animals, and maintaining habitats.
• Assess animal health, behavior, welfare, and safety daily, and promptly report abnormal conditions or behavior patterns to managers, curators, and veterinary staff.
• Maintain accurate animal records and logs covering observations, diets, medications, training progress, enrichment, and other required documentation.
• Support preventive health care and prescribed treatment plans, including medication administration, physical exams, quarantine procedures, and veterinary support activities.
• Participate in animal training, enrichment, behavioral husbandry, capture, restraint, transport, and emergency response activities using established safety protocols.
• Collaborate with animal care, veterinary, horticulture, maintenance, operations, education, conservation, and guest-facing teams to support safe, high-quality animal care and guest experiences.
• Provide animal information and conservation messages through public presentations, keeper talks, guest interactions, media opportunities, and behind-the-scenes experiences.
• Support exhibit repairs, modifications, animal moves, and exhibit design or implementation projects as assigned.
• Develop proficiency in multiple animal areas as needed to support coverage, animal welfare, and operational continuity.

Benefits

• Benefits and perks may vary by employment classification, schedule, and eligibility; temporary staff are not eligible for health benefits when working within the stated limit of 1,200 hours in a 12-month period.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level