Animal Care Support Technician - Elephants & Rhinos

The Oklahoma City Zoo Park & Botanical Garden is seeking an enthusiastic and passionate Animal Care Support Technician to join the Elephant/Rhino team. Currently consisting of 3.5 Asian elephants and 0.3 Indian rhinoceros, the Elephant/Rhino program at the Oklahoma City Zoo is a dynamic and progressive breeding program with a strong focus on behavioral husbandry training. With two elephant calves due in 2025, our elephant herd continues to grow. After a recent expansion in 2018, the Oklahoma City Zoo boasts a total of approximately nine acres of outdoor habitat that is inhabited by both elephants and rhinos, in addition to two state-of-the-art holding barns.

The Animal Care Support Technician primarily supports the welfare of the Zoo’s elephant and rhinoceros (may include other taxa) collection and their environments through habitat maintenance, area projects, and assisting Animal Caretakers in animal husbandry practices. This position interacts with the public, enhances visitor experiences, and performs a variety of skilled/semi-skilled work required for the care and safety of animals, staff, and the public.

Employment Status: Part-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Pay: $14.00 Hourly

Experience Required: 3 months of animal care (includes qualifying unpaid AZA internships).

Minimum Education Requirements: High school diploma or G.E.D.

Department: Animal Management.

Direct Supervisor: Curator of Elephants & Rhinos.

Supervisory Responsibility: Direct (0); Indirect (0) 

Primary Work Location: Zoo Setting both indoors and outdoors.

Certification: Valid Oklahoma driver’s license within thirty (30) days of hire and pass driver’s history check. Completion of OKC Zoo Global Academy training in the first six (6) months of employment

Other: This position is safety sensitive. It is subject to pre-employment and/or periodic background checks and drug testing.  This position works around animals susceptible to specific respiratory diseases, thus is subject to annual tuberculosis testing.

Essential Job Functions

An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the following essential duties:

• Maintain a high level of safety when working with and around the assigned animal collection through the implementation of safety protocols and procedures.
• Actively participate in daily animal husbandry techniques and assessments related to food, water, cleanliness, health, and behavior. 
• Observe, monitor, and report animal behavior changes and medical problems; keep detailed records of animal weight, health, enrichment, training, and behavior.
• Maintain and renovate exhibits, service areas, and equipment.
• Support daily purposeful enrichment and documentation to promote, encourage, and evaluate natural and guest engaging behaviors. 
• Serve as a safety back-up for elephant husbandry procedures.
• Develop a basic understanding of and the ability to perform limited basic operant conditioning training.
• Assist in veterinary medical procedures; provide medication and treatment as directed by veterinary staff.
• Educate and interact with guests in both formal and informal settings; provide positive guest experiences. 
• Participate in and respond to safety-related issues and drills.
• Work effectively in a team environment, including volunteers.
• Support work projects for the areas assigned; acquire supplies and materials.
• Participate in conservation activities that support the zoo’s mission.
• Support OKC Zoo’s strategic management plans and institutional goals.
• Work in a manner that supports and protects the health of the assigned collection, including wearing assigned PPE and limiting exposure to known contagions.