Full- Time Zookeeper

Zoo New England•Boston, MA

18d•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. This role involves maintaining secure enclosures, participating in the care and feeding of a diverse animal collection, cleaning exhibits, observing animal behavior, and assisting with medical procedures. The zookeeper will also contribute to enrichment programs, research, public education, and maintaining zoo grounds and equipment. This is a full-time position requiring a commitment to animal welfare, conservation, and guest experience.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or 2+ years of experience working as an animal care professional.
Must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
TB tested negative within the last 12 months before starting if working regularly in primate areas and tested every 3 years thereafter.
Good work history.
Must speak and read English and possess written and oral communication skills to understand instructions and information of a technical nature.
Must have a valid driver's license in good standing and be able to drive a full-size vehicle on public roads.
If qualified, may be asked to train volunteers and others in safely working with zoo animals.
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 be capable of basic math.
Must be able to withstand physical hardships associated with duties, i.e. animal restraint.
Must be able to lift at least 50 lbs.
Ability to use hand and small power tools.
Must be able and willing to work weekends, holidays, and overtime.

Nice To Haves

May be assigned to work in any area of either zoo.
May mentor and assist in review of work performance and attendance of interns.
Completes, at minimum, 4 weeks rotation in each of the 5 Animal Care areas.

Responsibilities

Maintain secure enclosures at all times by using latches and locks, and checking those to ensure animals cannot escape or people enter.
Participate in the care and feeding of the animal collection, which may include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates.
Prepare diets according to specifications, check foodstuffs for spoilage, feed animals according to procedures, record food intake and make notes on changes, and make recommendations for diet changes based on food intake, behavior, and general appearance.
Clean exhibits and adjacent public areas to ensure sanitary and safe conditions by hosing, scrubbing, sweeping, raking, shoveling, and disinfecting to remove manure, unconsumed food, litter, poisonous plants, and foreign objects.
Train other staff, and shift animals in adjacent stalls, pens, or dens for feeding or cleaning purposes.
Observe animals for unusual behaviors or appearance, signs of illness or injury, aggression, breeding, births, egg laying, hatching, deaths, and eating habits.
Maintain daily records of observations and report problems to the supervisor.
Assist in the artificial incubation of eggs and hand-raising of young by maintaining equipment and applying appropriate techniques to ensure viability, health, and survival of eggs and hatchlings.
Continuously monitor, evaluate, and seek to improve animal wellness.
Develop objectives, strategies, and tactics to satisfy and enrich the animals by providing approved items and methods in accordance with zoo policy.
Serve on the enrichment committee to represent their area.
Conduct approved operant conditioning sessions to continuously assess and improve animal wellness through husbandry and health of the animals.
Attend veterinarian rounds through assigned area.
Assist Curators, zoo veterinarians and veterinary staff in capture and restraint of zoo specimens for medical procedures or animal transfers using appropriate techniques and equipment.
Medicate animals according to the veterinarian's instructions, including measuring out medication or putting medication in food or water.
Note levels of medication and inform supervisor of refill needs.
Acclimate animals to exhibits, stalls, chutes, crates, halters or perches for use in medical procedures, transfers, or educational demonstrations.
Participate in transfer of animals by capturing, restraining, crating, and transporting.
Adhere to ZNE Sustainability Policy and incorporate sustainability efforts into daily routines.
Support and promote ZNE conservation initiatives.
Maintain exhibits, public areas, off-exhibit holding areas and grounds.
Monitor heating systems, record temperatures; record operation of equipment, make minor repairs, use power tools once trained, use landscape equipment and machinery once trained, fabricate minor exhibits and enhancements to provide attractive, safe and comfortable exhibits for zoo specimens and public areas for zoo guests.
Remove snow to provide access for staff and animals.
Interact with and answer questions of zoo guests by providing information about zoo animals and policies, conduct tours and interviews as needed to meet the education and guest relations needs of the zoo.
Monitor working laborers and contractors for animal safety and watch animals for signs of stress.
Check exhibits upon completion of work for safety hazards.
Train and oversee new employees and volunteers assigned to exhibit areas and/or research projects.
Mentor interns.
Attend safety training.
Attend keeper training and other professional development programs when offered, with supervisor's approval.
Participate in formal and informal programs to educate the public.
Conduct and assist in research projects designed to improve animal care.
Participate in integrated pest control management as directed by the Pest Control Manager, which may include setting and clearing traps, reporting problem areas, and problem solving for exclusion.
Carry a two-way radio as assigned and handle it responsibly.
Assist in department record-keeping by maintaining and submitting daily keeper reports, individual care charts, census forms, enrichment calendars, ASRs/event reports, training logs to ensure consistent, and professional communications regarding all aspects of the collection's maintenance.
Use this information to compile reports as needed.
May be assigned to work in any area of either zoo.
Perform related work as and/or assigned.
Inventory and submit requests for zoo equipment, supplies (including uniforms), feeds, and repair and maintenance materials, to his/her supervisor as needed.
Ensure that supplies are properly rotated, labeled and stored.
Participate in departmental meetings and make recommendations regarding husbandry, exhibition, and development of standards and procedures.
Inform coworkers and supervisors of operational and/or procedural changes in order to maintain good communication.
Share skills, knowledge and exhibit positive attitude, affect, attitude, articulation and affability, which will serve to enhance the performance of co-workers.
Identify and submit requests for work orders to his/her supervisor as needed.
Annually submit ideas for evaluation goals, as well as complete set goals in a timely manner.
Mentor and assist in review of work performance and attendance of interns.
Complete, at minimum, 4 weeks rotation in each of the 5 Animal Care areas.