Duties & Responsibilities

• Works safely in proximity to all taxa, which includes being near mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates, without touching, feeding, engaging, or entering enclosures.
• Participates in procedures designed to meet the nutritional needs of exotic animals. This includes: preparing diets according to specifications, checking foodstuffs for spoilage; Assists in efficient operation of commissary department.
• Sanitizes and disinfects food preparation equipment and supplies in accordance with food industry standards; Sanitizes and disinfects commissary and adjacent areas in accordance with established protocols.
• Accepts deliveries and inspects deliveries of diet items for freshness, quality, and contamination; rejects when inaccurate or quality falls below specifications. Maintains inventory records on this information and reports problems to their supervisor.
• Provides novel foods to keepers when requested. Reports requests for non-stocked food stuffs to ACC for special ordering. Occasionally makes special preparations (boiling, peeling, shredding, etc.) upon request.
• Makes food deliveries to animal areas, and prepares diet items for pick-up; Transports Animal Care department's mail and packages; Loads and transports heavy objects (including, but not limited to crates, bags of grain and bales of hay); collects and makes deliveries of food stuffs and packages within or between the zoos, or from vendors.
• Adheres to ZNE Sustainability Policy and incorporates sustainability efforts into daily routines. Supports and promotes ZNE conservation initiatives.
• Maintains commissary area. Monitors refrigeration systems, recording temperatures; records operation of equipment, making minor repairs; performs routine maintenance tasks in the commissary as needed.
• Interacts with and answers questions of zoo visitors by providing information about zoo animals and policies, conducts tours and interviews as needed to meet the public relations needs of the zoo.
• Monitors laborers and contractors while they work in the commissary; checks completed work for safety hazards.
• Trains and oversees new employees and volunteers assigned to the commissary.
• Attends safety training as required. Encouraged to attend keeper training and other professional development programs when offered.
• Participates in formal and informal programs to educate the public.
• As assigned by their supervisor, conducts and assists in research projects designed to improve animal nutrition
• Participates in integrated pest control management as directed by the Pest Control Manager. May include setting and clearing traps, reporting problem areas, and problem solving for exclusion.
• Carries a two way radio as assigned and handles it responsibly.

• Participates in department record-keeping by maintaining daily product logs. Updates diet book and eliminates temporary diet change sheets weekly.

Physical Demands

• Constantly moves about on foot from one area to another.
• Frequently raises/lowers, transports, and positions objects (including, but not limited to crates, bags of grain and bales of hay) weighing up to 50 pounds from truck to ground, from ground to barrels or pallets grasping with hands and arms, to maintain food stock and supplies.
• Frequently reaches, pushes, pulls and throws objects with hands such as to open and close doors/gates, and deliver parcels
• Frequently uses good balance to climb, ascend/descend stairs and ladders, traverse uneven or slippery terrain to make deliveries.
• Frequently stoops, kneels, or crouches to work such as to clean, or access food products
• Occasionally converses with guests, co-workers and contractors to exchange accurate information for animal welfare, education and safety purposes. Must be able to inspect, detect and identify animal health and welfare concerns and safety issues using hearing (radio).
• Frequently inspects, detects and identifies product freshness and safety issues using sight (including color identification food stuffs, and smell (to detect moldy food stuffs, etc.).

Work Conditions

• Occasionally working in climatic conditions including rain, extreme cold or heat, and humidity.

• Occasionally working around moving mechanical parts such as hydraulic doors, fans, pumps, heaters, etc.
• Frequently handling a variety of feed animals (including rodents, chicks, fish and insects); occasionally working near animals, animal waste, dander, feathers, hay, dust, allergens and contagious diseases.
• Occasionally working around electric fencing.
• Occasionally handling toxic and/or hazardous materials for cleaning facilities.
• Occasionally working in confined or cramped spaces.
• Occasionally assist in emergencies and cope with high stress situations, e.g., Fire, hazmat, animal incident (Commissary Unit to retrieve bait foods), human health or injury, natural disaster, criminal incident, resource loss or compromise, or emergency assistance to guests as directed.

Minimum Job Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED
• Food handling and preparation preferred
• TB tested negative within the last 6 months before starting; fully vaccinated for COVID-19
• Good work history
• Must speak and read English, and possess written and oral communication skills to understand instructions and information of a technical nature
• Must have a valid drivers' license in good standing and be able to drive a full-size vehicle on public roads
• If qualified, may be asked to train volunteers and others in safely preparing animal diets
• Must have the ability and willingness to enhance the knowledge and skills needed to provide food services to animal areas
• Must have the ability and willingness to function independently and as a member of a team
• Must have the ability to work for extended periods in harsh climatic conditions.
• Must have the ability to work safely in proximity to dangerous animals, chemicals, and animals with contagious diseases
• Must have no allergies, diseases, or conditions that would prevent working in any area of the Zoos
• Proficient in basic math skills

• Ideal candidate should be able to measure ingredients and calculate recipe quantities. In addition, budgeting and estimation skills are also important for ordering produce and prepping diets.
• Must be able to withstand physical hardships associated with duties, i.e. loading and unloading trucks
• Must be able to lift at least 50 lbs.
• Ability to use hand and small power tools
• Must be able and willing to work weekends, holidays, and overtime.

Zoo New England is an Equal Opportunity Employer by Choice

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE