Zoological Specialist - Hospital Keeper

SeaWorld•Tampa, FL

11d•Onsite

About The Position

Busch Gardens is a place of thrills, fun and positive, lasting memories. As a key member of our team, you'll play a major role in bringing happiness and excitement to people from around the world. If you're dedicated, dependable and driven to deliver exceptional guest service, this is a place for you! This role involves learning and demonstrating required training and handling protocols for applicable animals, following all husbandry, training, and safety protocols, and ensuring an excellent guest experience through guest interaction programs. Public speaking is required. The position also requires a proactive approach to maintaining safe animal habitats and husbandry facilities, including daily cleaning, maintenance, and landscaping. Creating and administering animal enrichment, understanding positive reinforcement training, and assisting with animal training projects are key responsibilities. Enhancing animal wellbeing through attention to nutrition, reproduction, habitat, and behavior, and supporting conservation breeding programs are also part of the role. You will participate in husbandry training for animal management program procedures, working alongside the veterinary team as needed, and demonstrate knowledge of the natural history of assigned animals. Assessing and reporting animal health, behavior, and enrichment via the electronic record-keeping system TRACKS, and offering solution-minded communication are essential. You will also mentor and develop Husbandry Assistants and Zoological Specialists as assigned. Additional duties include providing husbandry for hospitalized and quarantined animals, assisting veterinarians and technicians, and supporting hospital operations.

Requirements

At least 18 years of age.
Valid driver’s license and ability to meet company driving guidelines.
A positive, team-minded attitude and desire to grow in your career.
Strong communication skills (written and verbal) allowing for efficient and professional communication with teammates and management.
Excellent observational skills.
A strong work ethic with an ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities appropriately and apply creative problem-solving skills as needed.
The flexibility required to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
The desire to promote conservation messages to various audiences.
Robust presentation and engagement skills to include public speaking and guest relations.
Hard-working, decisive, and capable of handling multiple responsibilities.
Self-disciplined, self-reliant, and able to follow all safety guidelines.
Able to operate light and possibly heavy equipment including tractors, skid-steers, mowers, weed-eaters, trailers, and other equipment as needed.
Ability to work in a physically demanding work environment in a variety of outdoor weather conditions (ex. dust, extreme heat, cold, rain).
Ability to lift, carry, push, and/or pull up to 50lbs as needed in the specified area.
Ability to stand, walk, lift, bend, climb, and squat as needed in the specified area.
Ability to follow all standard operating procedures for the specified area.
Ability to complete all provided SEA training as assigned.
Flexibility in work locations/animal areas, as placement will depend on business needs and career development opportunities.
Able to work 28 hours per week, with a flexible schedule to include mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and occasional overnights.
As a 365 day/year operation, candidates are expected to provide flexible availability to support year-round operating needs. This may include, but is not limited to, working opening, midday and closing shifts during peak and non-peak seasons, as well as weekends and holidays.

Nice To Haves

College degree in Zoology, Biology, Psychology, or related field.
Experience in animal care at an AZA or equivalent facility.
Experience and skill in operant conditioning using positive reinforcement techniques.
A fluent understanding and ability to apply fundamental & advanced concepts of positive reinforcement driven animal training principles.
Previous public speaking experience in demonstrations or presentations.
Experience with Class I animals.

Responsibilities

Learn and demonstrate required training and handling protocols for applicable animals in protected and/or free contact environments.
Follow all husbandry, training, and safety protocols for specified zoological area(s) including all necessary standard operating procedures and emergency response procedures.
Ensure excellent guest experience by engaging in all aspects of guest interaction programs both on and off property.
Ensure a proactive approach to maintaining safe animal habitats and husbandry facilities, including the daily cleaning, maintenance, and landscaping according to standard operating procedures.
Create and administer animal enrichment to enhance animal wellbeing and training goals.
Assist with the development and implementation of dynamic animal training projects and programs that serve to enhance animal care, animal management, & guest experience.
Enhance animal wellbeing with attention to nutrition, reproduction, habitat, and behavior.
Support conservation breeding programs as applicable.
Participate in husbandry training for animal management program procedures, working alongside the veterinary team as needed.
Demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to discuss the natural history of the animals in assigned area(s).
Assess and report animal health, behavior, and enrichment via the electronic record-keeping system TRACKS.
Offer solution-minded and professional discussion for effective communication with team members and management.
Mentor and develop Husbandry Assistants and Zoological Specialists as assigned.
Provide husbandry of hospitalized and quarantined animals.
Assist veterinarians and technicians as needed.
Support hospital operations including maintenance of buildings, vehicles, and landscaping.