Temporary Zookeeper

Zoo New England•Boston, MA

17d•Onsite

About The Position

Responsible for the daily care and continuous improvement of welfare of an assigned group of captive animals, while contributing to conservation, education, science, and customer service.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or 2+ years of experience working as an animal care professional.
Must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
If working regularly in primate areas, TB tested negative within the last 12 months before starting and tested every 3 years thereafter.
Must be able to lift at least 50 lbs.
Must have a valid driver's license in good standing and be able to drive a full-size vehicle on public roads.
Must have the ability and willingness to enhance the knowledge and skills needed to provide professional animal care.
Must have the ability and willingness to function independently and as a member of a team.
Must have the ability to work for extended periods in harsh climatic conditions.
Must have the ability to work safely around dangerous animals, chemicals, and around animals with contagious diseases.
Must have no allergies, diseases, or conditions that would prevent working in any area of the Zoos.
Must speak and read English and possess written and oral communication skills to understand instructions and information of a technical nature.
Must have the ability and willingness to utilize computer skills including Microsoft Office products and digital record keeping tools (ZIMS).
Must be able and willing to work weekends, holidays, and overtime.

Responsibilities

Participates in procedures designed to meet the nutritional needs of animals, including preparing diets, checking food for spoilage, and feeding animals according to procedures aligned with natural history.
Cleans exhibits and adjacent public areas to ensure sanitary and safe conditions by hosing, scrubbing, sweeping, raking, shoveling, and disinfecting to remove urine, feces, unconsumed food, litter, poisonous plants, and foreign objects.
Observes animals for unusual behaviors or appearance, signs of illness or injury, aggression, breeding, births, egg laying, hatching, deaths, and eating habits. Reports concerns to supervisor and records daily observations in the digital record system (ZIMS).
Continuously monitors, evaluates, and seeks to improve animal wellness by developing objectives, strategies, and tactics to satisfy and enrich the animals, and providing approved items and methods in accordance with zoo policy.
Cooperates with existing, operant conditioning sessions to continuously assess and improve animal wellness through husbandry and health of the animals.
Promotes animal health through assisting with medical husbandry training, participating in wellness exams and other veterinary procedures, administering medication in accordance with veterinary instructions, providing regular updates on animals under treatment or monitoring plans, and participating in integrated pest control management.
Assists in research projects designed to improve animal care as assigned by supervisor.
Contributes to the safety of animals, team members, and guests by maintaining habitat security through the use of locks, latches, hasps, etc.; shifting animals into adjacent spaces; following established husbandry procedures; and routinely checking for, mitigating, and reporting safety hazards.
Contributes to a positive guest experience through guest interactions, answering questions, conducting tours, animal experiences, and interviews as needed.
Maintains exhibits, off-exhibit holding areas, public areas, and grounds. Monitors heating systems, records temperatures; records operation of equipment, fabricates minor exhibit repairs and enhancements to provide attractive, safe, and comfortable spaces for animals and zoo guests. Removes snow to provide access for staff and animals. Identifies larger needs and submits requests for work orders to supervisor/lead keeper as needed.
Exhibits positive attitude, affect, attitude, articulation, and affability, sharing skills and knowledge with co-workers, positively contributing to departmental meetings, and making recommendations regarding husbandry, exhibition, and development of standards and procedures. Promotes good communication with team members, supervisors, and other departments.
Participates in team, department, and facility trainings.