Animal Keeper

Position Title: Animal Keeper 

Employment Classification: Non-Exempt, 8-40 hrs per week 

Reports to: Animal Care Specialist 

Department: Animal Care 

Salary: $17 per hour 

JOB SUMMARY 

The Animal Care Keeper is responsible for all aspects of the daily care and husbandry of the animal collection in the Animal Care Department, including preparing diets, cleaning, training, record keeping, exhibit upkeep and enrichment.  The Animal Care Keeper will work alongside the Animal Care Specialist and Animal Care Manager to ensure the highest quality of care and presentation of the animal collection, along with providing exceptional customer service to visiting guests.  This position will require availability on at least one weekend day. This position may require availability on holidays or for evening shifts. 

DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Animal Care & Husbandry 
• Provide the highest quality daily care and husbandry to the animal collection while adhering to approved protocols and animal care standards. 
• Keep detailed and organized daily records and observations. 
• Assist in the setup of new exhibits and the upkeep of existing exhibits and holdings.   
• Ensure that a clean and safe environment is maintained for the animal collection, personnel and guests while adhering to safety protocols. 
• Maintain high and consistent quality standards for animal exhibits, animal care and interpretive animal programming. 
• Assist in teaching volunteers and interns collaboratively with the Animal Care Specialists. 
• Handling ambassador animals for educational presentations with the public. 

• Other Duties 
• Keep track and communicate food inventory and needed supplies to Animal Care Manager. 
• Occasionally assist in other departments as needed and have other duties assigned (special events, etc.) 
• Communicate urgent matters directly to the Animal Care Specialists or Manager. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

• A Bachelor’s degree in biology, zoology, life sciences, or equivalent experience. 
• Current First Aid & CPR Certification or must be willing to obtain certification upon employment. 
• A minimum one year of experience in animal husbandry working with non-domesticated animals in a professional setting or the use of animals in conservation education either as a volunteer or paid staff. 
• A proven ability to work cooperatively and enthusiastically with team members, respecting differences. 
• A proven ability to promote a quality guest experience. 

Preferred Knowledge 

• Endemic and exotic wildlife and coastal and wetland environmental issues. 
• Animal husbandry, enrichment, training and behavior standards and techniques. 
• Experience using ZIMS and Google Suite 
• Current trends and techniques in animal care, exhibitory and training. 
• Interpretive techniques and public speaking experience. 
• Animal restraint and delivery of medications. 
• Familiarity with water quality testing and life support systems. 
• Familiarity with diagnosis and treatment of fish disease. 
• Familiarity with avian behavior and illnesses. 
• Previous experience with the maintenance and operation of life support systems including filters, UV sterilizers, protein skimmers, and pumps. 

General Skills 

Ability to: 

• Interpret and follow rules and regulations. 
• Perform emergency first aid and CPR as needed. 
• Communicate clearly verbally and in writing. 
• Assess and evaluate situations effectively. 
• Respond to high stress scenarios safely and efficiently. 
• Exert optimal effort in successfully completing tasks and manage time efficiently. 
• Take initiative with minimal supervision. 
• Extract and record data and carry out calculations accurately. 
• Set up and operate equipment that can require selection from options or different settings. 
• Perform physical labor. 

WORKING ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

This position is primarily an outdoor job with exposure to a variety of weather conditions, physical hazards, noise, and odors. A lesser portion the job requires office work, research, and recordkeeping.  Occasional driving to move equipment or pick up supplies may be required.  Physical requirements include walking or standing for long periods of time, performing physical activities on a continual basis, seeing in the normal vision range with or without correction, hearing in the normal range with or without correction, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, climbing, balancing, stretching, reaching and lifting up to approximately 50 lbs.  

This job description is intended as a guide to the general job responsibilities and is not inclusive of every duty the employee is expected to perform. 

The Living Coast Discovery Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

 If interested in being considered for this opportunity, please submit a cover letter and resume in electronic format to Katharine Leon, Director of Operations, at katharine@thelivingcoast.org by Saturday, May 9th, 2026