Senior Quarantine Specialist (Full-Time)

Fort Wayne Zoo•Fort Wayne, IN

6h•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Quarantine Specialist provides quality daily animal care for a wide variety of animal species newly arriving at the Zoo by adhering to quarantine protocols, monitoring health, ensuring appropriate animal wellbeing, and performing husbandry practices such as operant conditioning, enrichment strategy, and assisting with enclosure furnishing design. The Senior Quarantine Specialist focuses on either terrestrial or aquatic quarantine, while assisting with all quarantine residents, facilities, and operations. This position also provides care for animals receiving veterinary hospitalization, assists with medical treatment, and maintains hospital facilities. This position also strives to embody the Zoo’s values at all times, contributes to positive guest experiences, and performs other duties as required.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED is required.
Three years of experience with a variety of taxonomic groups in a zoological setting is required.
Valid driver’s license is required.
Knowledge of animal care, handling, and natural history for a wide variety of species under direct care.
Ability to endure high-stress situations when feeding, transferring, restraining, or treating animals.
Knowledge of animal welfare concepts and ability to apply that knowledge to assess the welfare of individuals or groups of animals.
Ability to identify native trees and shrubs when providing browse to animals.
Ability to utilize specialized tools (ladders, spin trimmers, mowers, hand drills, etc.).
Ability to adapt to a rapidly changing, dynamic work environment.
Ability to professionally and effectively communicate with others through written correspondence.
Ability to troubleshoot, analyze situations, and make sound business decisions.
Ability to make independent decisions and manage time effectively.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office software.
Strong organizational skills.
Ability to work a highly flexible schedule as required to successfully perform the requirements and functions of the position, including required weekend, evening, holiday, and irregular hours.
Ability to handle confidential information.
Ability to understand and follow all safety regulations.
Ability to track and manage multiple tasks and priorities.
Ability to arrive at work when scheduled and maintain a positive attendance record.
Ability to serve as a goodwill ambassador, in every respect and at all times, for the Fort Wayne Zoological Society and the Fort Wayne Zoo in contacts with guests, partners, and the community.
Ability to deal tactfully and politely with guest questions and misbehavior.
Excellent communication skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships with team members, volunteers, partners, and the community.
Ability to operate office equipment, including computers, copiers, fax machines, and phones.
Ability to professionally and appropriately interact and communicate with others, both in person and through phone, email, and written correspondence.
Ability to regularly travel assigned areas several times per day and efficiently enter all assigned areas.
Ability to negotiate a confined workspace while working with one or more coworkers.
Ability to properly lift and carry items up to 50 pounds.
Ability to stand and sit for periods of time and to move intermittently throughout the workday.
Ability to perform focused work with close attention to detail.
Ability to work both indoors and outdoors, with exposure to extreme temperatures and inclement weather conditions; the environment may include wet, icy, or muddy conditions.
This position may include exposure to hazardous materials, fumes/odors, dirt, and dust; potentially dangerous or venomous animals; zoonotic diseases; noxious native plants; and native biting insects and arthropods.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in an animal-related field is preferred.
Demonstrated ability maintaining aquatic habitats and systems is preferred.

Responsibilities

Collaborates with Animal Care Supervisors and Area Curators to design species appropriate enclosures, furnishings, and husbandry procedures.
Collaborates with Staff Veterinarian to establish and ensure proper quarantine procedures.
Prepares enclosures for animal arrival into quarantine or hospital care, including perching, substrate, supplies, cleaning tools, lighting, and climate systems.
Disinfects and disassembles enclosures at the conclusion of quarantine periods, following established protocols.
Maintains aquatic quarantine systems, including water quality and acclimation procedures.
Maintains clean and safe animal enclosures, including raking, sweeping, hosing, scrubbing, and disinfecting.
Provides food and water to animals following established protocols and species-appropriate methods.
Utilizes operant conditioning techniques to advance training, health, and wellbeing.
Monitors animals and appropriately reports observations to animal health staff as needed.
Assists Veterinary Technicians with daily treatment of hospitalized animals; provides treatment to animals as directed by Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians.
Assists Environmental Quality Technicians with water quality testing as needed.
Picks up medications, medical supplies, and other items from in-town vendors; delivers supplies and prescription refills to areas of the Zoo.
Maintains accurate written and digital documentation of animal weights, care, behavior, observations, and treatments as needed.
Provides opportunities for animals to exhibit species-appropriate behavior through approved enrichment techniques and habitat furnishings.
Regularly conducts and documents animal wellbeing assessments.
Provides care for injured or orphaned wildlife; coordinates transport to licensed rehabilitators.
Cleans and disinfects animal transport crates; returns to origin zoo as requested.
Assists with animal transport between zoos as needed.
Assists with hand rearing of animals as needed.
Prepares and delivers packages for air or ground delivery.
Maintains clean, efficient, organized, and well-kept department spaces, including conducting minor repairs and improvements and maintaining all equipment, tools, and supplies in good working order.
Engages with guests both informally and through formal presentations.
Operates vehicles to transport supplies, equipment, and animals within the Zoo and between facilities.
Participates in maintenance, operations, and education functions of the Zoo as necessary.
Supports the Zoo’s commitment to continued growth of diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging for team members, volunteers, guests, and supporters.
Assists with special projects and helps other team members as needed.
Actively contributes to positive guest experiences.

Benefits

Health Insurance
Life Insurance
Long-Term Disability Insurance
403b Plan
403b Matching
Employee Assistance Program
Paid Days Off
Paid Holidays
Paid Health & Wellness Days
Paid Parental Leave
optional Dental, Vision, Life, and Pet Insurance Programs
Team Member Perks such as a free Staff Membership, concessions and retail discounts, development opportunities, and appreciation programs.