Lead Zookeeper (reptile/amphibian department)

Lead Zookeeper in our reptile exhibit Position:

In this role, you will be responsible for maintaining and enhancing the reptile exhibit in the facility, also known as the ‘Critter Center.’ This role will work under the supervision of the Facility Exhibit Director and is designed to create structure and support for daily responsibilities and occurrences inside the display exhibit.

Responsibilities

· Perform daily feeding of exotic reptiles and amphibians (no snakes or spiders)

· Perform daily cleaning of tanks

· Educate guests on specific species housed in the critter center

· Handle reptiles to Perform critter encounters to enhance guest’s experience

· In addition to encounters, handling reptiles will be necessary for health checks and terrarium resets

· Assist the Exhibit Director in dealing with potential health issues that may arise

· Process incoming feeder orders (Crickets, Dubia roaches, Fruit Flies, Hornworms, Super worms, Black soldier fly larvae)

· Upkeeping plant life in tanks and maintaining bioactive enclosures

· Perform daily cleaning of feeder insect enclosures

· Daily cleaning of work room area, as well as Display Floor

· Attention to detail and problem-solving skills for occurrences that may arise within the exhibit (Ex: Heating supply not working, filter pump clogged, humidity ranges exceeding desired range, etc.)

· Daily communication log for other personnel and Exhibit Director to be informed of important situations that may arise

Expectations:

· Greet every guest who enters the science center and showcase a passion for enhancing their experience through friendly and helpful customer service, as well as providing an educational encounter for them.

· Inform every guest entering the science center of what they are seeing –

“Welcome to the science center, these are reptiles and amphibians from

the rainforest and there is something in every tank. Let me know if you

have any questions”

· Do all additional duties or cleaning before 10AM, after 3PM, to ensure that feeding encounters are ongoing through our busiest customer time frame.

· Use feeding as an educational opportunity for any guests nearby

· Get critters out for guests to touch or learn about throughout the day. Use a rotation of animals so one does not get overstimulated and follow a schedule of 4 set time encounters per day.

· Know every critter’s pet name and common name, know where each critter is native to, Know at least 1 fun fact about each critter

· Complete reset of all tanks on a scheduled basis to ensure sanitation and substrate changes regularly

· Taking pride in the exhibits display by keeping it clean and presentable for guests. Will included everything from sweeping and dusting to organization and decluttering.

· Send Daily Notes through Group-Me to ensure the Exhibit Director is kept up to date with daily information and important messages.

· Providing a foundation of respect and teamwork with other employees that work within the critter center exhibit and ensuring effective communication within the working parameters of job responsibilities.

Enhancement Preferred Experience or Learning Adaptability

· Knowledge of healthy reptile diets and necessary vitamin and calcium intake to ensure avoidance of health issues and metabolic bone disease.

· Knowledge of how to keep a healthy bioactive tank

· Experience in custom building of tank backgrounds to provide a more naturalistic rainforest environment within enclosures. This may include plumbing of water features and misting systems, UVB light necessities of reptiles and amphibians being housed, and methods to upkeep humidity ranges necessary for tank inhabitants.

· Tank design knowledge that both provides our reptiles with a feeling of safety but also provides our guests with viewing visibility.

· Providing reptiles with safe enrichment options and striving to keep reptiles hunting prey within their enclosure.

· Knowledge of reptile health and common issues: such as shedding, tail-drop, mouth rot, MBD, egg laying/bound, prolapses, etc.,

· Create or research a way to log health checks of reptiles to have a health profile from the day of arrival till day of decease

· Knowledge of safe terrarium plants for reptile enclosures and bring more variety of plant life into exhibit display

· Knowledge of insect colonies and reproduction cycles to one day try producing our own feeder insects vs. purchasing

Pay: $17.00 - $18.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Employee discount
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement

Work Location: In person

Salary : $17 - $18