Dome Mammals Intern

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium • Omaha, NE

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is seeking an intern in the Desert Dome/Kingdoms of the Night Mammal Department. The Desert Dome’s mammal and bird collection is comprised of approximately 40 species of desert and nocturnal mammals from a variety of taxa – including primates, carnivores, rodents, and bats, and approximately 30 species of birds. The collection is featured in the Desert Dome, the world’s largest glazed geodesic dome and indoor desert, and in the Kingdoms of the Night, the world’s largest nocturnal exhibit. The Desert Dome stands at 13 stories, covers one full acre, and features 3 major deserts: Namib of Southern Africa, the Red Center of Australia, and Sonora of the Southwestern United States into Mexico. The Kingdoms of the Night, located underneath the Desert Dome, is maintained on a reverse light cycle, and features the world’s largest indoor swamp.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must have effective time management skills for working in a fast-paced and flexible work environment.
• Must possess strong communication skills.
• Must have the ability to follow detailed instructions.
• Offered candidates are required to pass a pre-employment background check and drug screening.
• A negative TB test is also required.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience working with mammals at an AZA institution is preferred, but not required.
• A minimum of one year of coursework in a major field of study to be applied during the internship (e.g. biology, zoology, animal behavior, etc.) is preferred.
• Knowledge of mammal natural history, biology, captive husbandry, and conservation issues preferred.
• Must be motivated to continue expanding knowledge base as it applies to mammals.

Responsibilities

• Develop, work on, and present an internship project aligned with the research needs of animal care staff in the Desert Dome.
• Attend weekly professional development sessions.
• Complete learning goals on internship checklist.
• Participate in and complete a mid-point and final evaluation.
• Assist in and complete tasks as assigned, including but not limited to: Cleaning and general maintenance of the exhibits and building.
• Daily care of animal collection.
• Recordkeeping.
• Animal enrichment.
• Monitoring behavior and changes in animal health.
• Diet preparation and feeding.
• Interns will be provided opportunities to observe Desert Dome animal care staff demonstrate proper animal handling/restraint techniques and operant conditioning training techniques when applicable.
• Other duties may be assigned.
• Must follow safety guidelines and always demonstrate safe working practices.
• Communicate frequently and in a professional manner with supervisor and team members.
• Must work well with others and have the ability to work independently.
• Must be team-oriented and willing to work with other interns, volunteers, and staff members to further not only the goals of the Department but also of the Zoo’s mission statement.
• Must attend shifts on time and as scheduled.
• Interns will interact with the public frequently throughout their internship and are expected to always exhibit professionalism and exceptional customer service.
• Interns may be asked to engage in public speaking opportunities, including but not limited to informal educational presentations for the public.

Benefits

• This position offers very limited direct animal interactions and no participation in animal training.
• We will do everything possible to accommodate school requirements for those seeking to earn class credit.
• We do our best to accommodate the schedules of interns with full or part-time job requirements.
• Please note this position does not provide any medical coverage.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Associate degree