Zoological Specialist

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 supports training sessions for a wide variety of zoological animal areas and programs. You will perform daily husbandry tasks, including administering vitamins and medications as directed, preparing food, and maintaining a safe and sanitary working area for all animal habitats. Cleaning, maintenance, and landscaping of animal habitats and husbandry facilities according to standard operating procedures. Ensuring park maintenance teams and vendors safely access animal habitats for repair and new construction. Providing mental and physical stimulation to animals through positive reinforcement training techniques. Participating in husbandry training for animal management program procedures, working alongside the veterinary team as needed. Providing for animals’ best wellbeing with attention to animal behavior and training, enrichment, nutrition, breeding, and habitat maintenance. Ensuring excellent guest experience and providing dynamic public presentations for educational programming, camps, special events, media, and in-park guest interpretations. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Support the full-time zoological specialist team with area tasks as needed. Support animal husbandry and wellbeing, conditioning, enrichment, and medical care for a variety of species including large and potentially dangerous animals. Assist the veterinary team during animal health diagnostics and care procedures as needed. Use strong observation skills to evaluate animal health and behavior, communicating concerns to appropriate team members and management for further evaluation. Provide physical stimulation and mental challenges for our animals by contributing to the development of animal enrichment devices or activities. Assess and report animal health, behavior, and enrichment via the electronic record-keeping system TRACKS. Communicate professionally and effectively with ambassadors and guests within a team environment. Perform other duties as assigned.

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.
A strong work ethic with the ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities appropriately.
The flexibility required to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
The desire to promote conservation messages to various audiences.
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 park safety guidelines and 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 at least 28 hours per week, with a flexible schedule to include mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and occasional overnights.
Must attach resume to be considered for this role.

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.
Previous public speaking experience in demonstrations or presentations.
SCUBA certification.

Responsibilities

Perform daily husbandry tasks, including administering vitamins and medications as directed, preparing food, and maintaining a safe and sanitary working area for all animal habitats.
Cleaning, maintenance, and landscaping of animal habitats and husbandry facilities according to standard operating procedures.
Ensuring park maintenance teams and vendors safely access animal habitats for repair and new construction.
Providing mental and physical stimulation to animals through positive reinforcement training techniques.
Participating in husbandry training for animal management program procedures, working alongside the veterinary team as needed.
Providing for animals’ best wellbeing with attention to animal behavior and training, enrichment, nutrition, breeding, and habitat maintenance.
Ensuring excellent guest experience and providing dynamic public presentations for educational programming, camps, special events, media, and in-park guest interpretations.
Support the full-time zoological specialist team with area tasks as needed.
Support animal husbandry and wellbeing, conditioning, enrichment, and medical care for a variety of species including large and potentially dangerous animals.
Assist the veterinary team during animal health diagnostics and care procedures as needed.
Use strong observation skills to evaluate animal health and behavior, communicating concerns to appropriate team members and management for further evaluation.
Provide physical stimulation and mental challenges for our animals by contributing to the development of animal enrichment devices or activities.
Assess and report animal health, behavior, and enrichment via the electronic record-keeping system TRACKS.
Communicate professionally and effectively with ambassadors and guests within a team environment.
Perform other duties as assigned.