Maryland Zoo is an EEO employer - M / F / Vets / Disabled
General Summary - The Animal Keeper will provide care and maintenance of the animals and their associated exhibits and holding areas.
The Animal Keeper is responsible for working collaboratively with other keepers and coworkers to achieve departmental and Zoo-wide initiatives.
The Animal Keeper will report to their assigned Area Manager and General Curator.
Essential Functions :
Primary Function :
- Observe animals'appetite, disposition, habits, physical appearance and / or excreta to detect andassess indications of stress, illness, welfare, and medical and behavioraltrends;
- Inspectenclosures, tanks, fencing, pools, furniture and public areas for cleanlinessand / or structural defects and to perform minor repairs and maintenance asneeded;
- Prepare diets foranimals, clean and fill water containers, and place food in exhibits or holdingareas at specified times and in compliance with established practices for theassigned work area(s);
- Maintain facilities,public areas, exhibits, and associated animal areas according to the areaprotocols or as directed by management;
- Transfer animalsin accordance with departmental policy and standards from one enclosure toanother for animal management purposes;
- Provide speciesappropriate and approved enrichment to animals in accordance with departmentalpolicies and guidelines;
- Participate inplanning, execution and data collection for approved research projects;
- Workcollaboratively with other zoo staff and departments to support institutionaladvancement opportunities, marketing initiatives, conservation programs, publicrelations communications, and the development of educational materials;
- Provide routinemaintenance of facilities and minor repair of equipment, exhibits, and allassociated animal areas;
- Maintainfamiliarity with all animal recapture and restraint equipment and all animalrecapture policies;
- Capture andrestrain animals for required veterinary and management procedures;
- Assist withmedical care procedures and administer medical treatments as directed andprescribed;
- Implement pestmanagement strategies;
- Assist in thecoordination ofbuilding maintenanceand other projects. Escort and carefullymonitor facilities and contractor activities in animal areas;
- Act as a memberof the Animal Recapture Team as needed and directed;
- Travelperiodically to attend professional development opportunities;
- Perform otherduties as assigned; and,
- Adhereto all policies and procedures of the Zoo.
Communication (Internal and External) :
- Maintain reportson all animal conditions in daily reports, diaries, electronic records, etc.;
- Review allavailable animal management records, reports and diaries as directed in orderto plan and execute daily operations in assigned area(s);
- Provide regularupdates to the Area Manager on the condition and status of the animalcollection;
- Attend all staffand departmental meetings, and attend all staff training sessions as directed;
- Interpret the Zooto guests, donors, and zoo associates; and,
- Promote themission of the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.
- Unload and storecommissary items;
- Maintainequipment and tools in a good state of repair; and,
- Inspect andmaintain safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, first aid kits, eyewashstations, and PPE.
Minimum Qualifications :
Education :
Bachelor's degreein zoology, biology, or a related field of study strongly preferred.
Experience / Training :
- Three years ofpaid or unpaid professional animal experience preferred; Experience may NOTinclude pets;
- Experience in azoological or related institution strongly preferred;
- Must possess avalid driver's license; and,
- Must be familiarwith computer operations including email, Microsoft Office programs and dataentry.
Traits Desirable :
- Ability to workwith a wide variety of individuals from ethnic, cultural and economicbackgrounds;
- Ability tooperate both independently and as part of a team in a productive, respectful,and efficient manner with proper time management skills;
- Extremely wellorganized, self-directed, collaborative, and detail oriented; and,
- Possess apositive attitude and a general philosophy / outlook in line with the Zoo'smission.
Equipment :
Must be able tooperate a variety of machines and equipment including computer, telephone,radio, and vehicles, hand tools, animal restraint and capture devices,incubators, gardening / carpentry tools and machinery, scales, etc.
Working Conditions :
- Must be able tolift 75 pounds with assistance and 50 pounds unassisted as needed;
- Must be able toclimb a ladder carrying up to 15 pounds;
- Must be able toexert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, 25 pounds frequently and / or anegligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pullor otherwise move objects.
- Physical demandsare in excess of those for sedentary work; Must be able to stand and remainactive for an eight hour shift;
- must be able to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl,push, pull, climb, balance;
- Must be able totravel large areas of the Zoo on foot as needed;
- Ability to work aflexible schedule to include weekends, holidays, and special events;
- Must be able towork in an outdoor weather environment in all seasons and weather, includingheat / humidity, cold temperatures, and / or wet conditions;
- Exposure tozoonotic diseases and risk of animal attack;
- Exposure topotential environmental hazards such as poison oak / ivy, uneven terrain, and insectbites / stings; and,
- Initialtuberculosis (TB) test and physical required;
Disclaimer :
Thestatements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of workbeing performed by employees assigned to this classification.
They arenot intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities,duties and / or skills required of all personnel so classified.
Therefore,management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other ordifferent tasks be performed when circumstances change.
Please visit our careers page to see more job opportunities.
Last updated : 2024-05-02