Job Details

Overview

Oversees care of a variety of dangerous and non?dangerous animals and habitats. The Lead Keeper provides high?quality care for the animals in their area and assists with habitat and night house maintenance. Working with the Supervisor, the Lead Keeper leads the team, organizes daily tasks, communicates with leadership and other departments, and addresses personnel issues.

Animal care includes behavioral observations, positive reinforcement training, enrichment preparation and delivery, cleaning, coordination with the welfare committee, supervision of keepers, and collaboration with the veterinary team. The Lead Keeper is responsible for daily record?keeping (reports, medication logs, welfare tracking, enrichment records, training records, area notes) and must be knowledgeable enough to lead keepers in the absence of a supervisor.

General Responsibilities

• Demonstrate and model the core values of the Reid Park Zoological Society (RPZS or the Zoo)
• Perform duties in accordance with RPZS policies and procedures
• Provide excellent customer service internally and externally as part of all job duties
• Follow Zoo safety protocols and procedures
• Complete all required training
• Perform daily cleaning associated with the animal night house, habitat, and visitor viewing area
• Provide husbandry care for animals in the area (feeding, medicating, training, enriching, and species?specific care)
• Complete reports including daily animal reports, enrichment logs, water quality logs, training logs, medication logs, animal incident reports, etc.
• Assist other keepers on new activities (e.g., weigh an animal, design enrichment)
• Develop and implement enrichment activities following AZA guidelines and department protocols
• Train using positive reinforcement to aid animal management and promote visitor education
• Monitor animal welfare and report concerns to supervisor
• Follow all animal care protocols and policies
• Assist in training new staff and mentoring volunteers

Communication

• Communicate with supervisors on the progress of keepers being directly led in training or husbandry sessions
• Participate in formal presentations, e.g., Keeper talks, special events, behind?the?scenes tours, etc.
• Participate in AZA groups, including SSP and TAGs when appropriate

Health & Safety

• Assist in capture and/or physical/chemical restraint & transportation of animals
• Participate in emergency drills
• Willingness to serve on the safety team
• Willing to maintain proficiency with darting equipment & firearms if selected for the safety team
• Respond to animal emergencies following approved protocols

Administrative Functions

• Complete all animal records in a variety of software programs, including Animal Care Software, ZIMS, etc.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Abilities

• Associates degree in a biological science, animal, or zoology?related program plus three to five years experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience, with approval from the Animal Care Director
• Valid, unrestricted drivers license
• Current year COVID?19 booster
• Obtain and maintain a negative TB test or proof of negative TB result within the past 12 months; TB is renewed annually
• Successfully complete a pre?employment drug screen (THC not tested) and criminal history background check
• Ability to lead other keepers through animal training sessions and complex animal shifts
• Ability to give appropriate and honest feedback during coaching sessions
• Work assignments are subject to the hazards inherent in caring for exotic & dangerous animals in a zoological institution
• Demonstrate critical analysis, customer service, problem solving, conflict resolution, decision making, leadership, team building, time management, and motivational skills
• Demonstrate ability to tactfully handle stressful situations, negotiate and resolve conflicts, maintain confidentiality, and observe organizational protocol
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and ability to foster and maintain constructive working relationships at all levels, with a diverse population of staff, volunteers, guests, donors, vendors, and community partners
• Reliable, dependable and able to work assigned schedule regularly and consistently
• Able to work a flexible schedule and adjust as required
• Weekend, special events, and some holiday work are required

Physical Demands

• Able to lift to 50 pounds often
• Bend, stoop, kneel, and reach frequently
• Stand and walk for long periods of time
• Repetitious motions with hands
• Ability to use hands to control power and hand tools
• Must be able to work outside in cold or hot weather conditions the majority of the time

Preferred Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelors degree in a biological science, animal or zoology?related program with six to eight years of exotic animal care experience
• Additional years of experience
• Paid work experience in an AZA accredited facility
• Bilingual (any language, including ASL)
• Skilled with giraffe training for voluntary husbandry behaviors

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the policy of Reid Park Zoological Society is to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship.

All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities, are encouraged to apply, and please contact the Human Resources Department if reasonable accommodation is needed.