Animal Care Assistant - Wild Kingdom Pavilion

Job Title: Animal Care Assistant - Wild Kingdom Pavilion

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Rate of Pay: $14.00 per hour

Reports To: Supervisor Wild Kingdom Pavilion

Date: May 9, 2024

Hours: Seasonal Part-time: 32 hours/week (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 7:30am-4:30pm) for a total of 960 hours (April-October).

Job Description

Summary: The Animal Care Assistant in the Wild Kingdom Pavilion provides daily husbandry and behavioral management for all animals with a strong emphasis on species that participate in interactive animal programming for zoo guests, as well as performs daily exhibit and building maintenance in Wild Kingdom Pavilion. Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to, daily husbandry and care associated with feeding and cleaning animal enclosures. The Animal Care Assistant will observe and participate in animal behavior training. The Animal Care Assistant is expected to be capable of the presentation of a variety of animal species to Zoo guests as needed for daily animal encounters, demonstrations, and stage shows. This position has a high level of guest and animal interaction.

Duties and Responsibilities/Essential Functions (include but not limited to):

• Execute all aspects of the daily care of assigned animals including cleaning, feeding, exhibit maintenance, and general upkeep of support facilities.
• Observe behavior of animals on both a day-to-day and long-term basis; note any unusual behavior, signs of illness or injury, change in appetite, start of breeding cycle, or lack of compatibility with group members and reports same to the Supervisor.
• Answer questions or give information regarding animals, Zoo operations, and Zoo exhibits to zoo guests; maintains crowd control when animals are loose or being moved; observes Zoo guests to prevent malicious acts which could result in harm to Zoo guests or animals or loss of Zoo property.
• Assist in the crating and uncrating of animals; catches and restrains as necessary; may assist in transfer between locations.
• Maintains clean and organized exhibits, holding areas, service areas and equipment.
• Prepare, store, and distribute food according to established feeding practices and diet sheets amounts; monitor feeding habits and report any changes or abnormalities; monitor food levels to assure sufficient quantities.
• Administer prescribed medications, supplements, or treatments under the guidance of the veterinary and supervisory staff.
• Maintain daily reports, logs, training and enrichment records, research, or veterinary records, as appropriate and according to established guidelines; requires basic skills with Microsoft Office software.
• Understand and apply a practical understanding of operant conditioning as it relates to the daily management of species under their care.
• Understand and apply the basic principles of animal enrichment as part of the daily management of species under their care.
• As appropriate, maintain live exhibit plantings to enhance exhibit aesthetics; eliminates weeds and toxic plants from animal enclosures.
• In conjunction with the Zoo’s IPM Specialist, may assist in pest management through the use of exclusion or traps.
• Identify potential maintenance or safety issues and reports them to the Supervisor.
• Participate in presentations of animals to Zoo guests in formal and informal settings. This includes animal encounters and stage shows. 
• Maintain a safe environment for all employees, animals, and guests. This includes following Zoo two keeper policies, personal protective equipment, and equipment operation. Also follow OSHA standards regarding workplace safety.
• Exhibit good teamwork and communication skills both verbal and written within the home team and when working with other teams or departments.
• Perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision.
• Interact professionally with other employees, Zoo guests, and external contractors.
• Work effectively as a team contributor on all assignments.
• Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other employees and organizations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Basic knowledge of animal husbandry, operant conditioning, enrichment, welfare, and animal handling techniques for mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates, with a strong emphasis on species that participate in interactive animal programming for zoo guests.
• Knowledge of a safe working environment for animals, employees, and guests.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to speak publicly to large and small groups.
• Creative, positive, and self-motivated.
• Must possess a valid state driver’s license.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

• May be asked to work hours including weekends, holidays, and night programs.
• Must be able to walk long distances across the Zoo.
• Must be able to stand, sit, kneel, bend, twist, reach above head, and climb.
• Will lift, push, pull, and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 75 pounds using safe and proper lifting methods.

Education and Experience

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Animal Science, Behavior, or related field preferred.
• Experience in an AZA accredited institution or related organization preferred.
• Exotic/zoo animal husbandry experience preferred.
• Operant conditioning and enrichment experience preferred.

DISCLAIMER

The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, nor is it to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees assigned to this job.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer as defined by the EEOC.

Qualifications