Houston Zoo · Texas · posted 4 days ago
Under the direction of a Zoo Supervisor, the Zookeeper II is responsible for supporting the day-to-day operations associated with the husbandry of the animals and the maintenance of animal enclosures within a specified Houston Zoo animal program. This position will coordinate all program objectives in addition to day-to-day husbandry and enclosure maintenance. Our Mission: • Houston Zoo connects communities with animals, inspiring action to save wildlife. Our Vision: • Houston Zoo will be a leader in the global movement to save wildlife. Job Duties and Responsibilities • Carries out all aspects of the daily care of assigned animals including cleaning, feeding, exhibit maintenance, general upkeep of support facilities. • Maintains clean and organized exhibits, holding areas, service areas and equipment. • Prepares and feeds appropriate diets as per established feeding practices and diet sheets. • Administers prescribed medications, supplements, or treatments under the guidance of the veterinary and supervisory staff. • Records and reports any abnormal animal health or behavioral issues to the Zoo Supervisor. • Maintains daily reports, logs, training and enrichment records, research, or veterinary records, as appropriate and according to established guidelines; requires basic skills with TRACKS and Microsoft Office software applications. • Understands and applies a practical understanding of operant conditioning as it relates to the daily management of species under his/her care. • Understands and applies the basic principles of animal enrichment as part of the daily management of species under his/her care. • Maintains clean and organized exhibits, equipment, and keeper areas. • As appropriate, maintains water quality through filtration, balance of chemical elements, and sanitation methods for aquatic or semi-aquatic animal species. • As appropriate, maintains live exhibit plantings to enhance exhibit aesthetics; eliminates weeds and toxic plants from animal enclosures. • In conjunction with the zoo’s pest control officer, may assist in pest control through the use of exclusion or traps. • Identifies potential maintenance or safety issues and reports them to the Zoo Supervisor. • Participates in keeper chats, tours, animal presentations or demonstrations, and/or other public interactions as requested by the Zoo Supervisor. • May assist with departmental research projects, conservation, AZA, or other industry activities as directed/approve by the Zoo Supervisor or Curator; provides support for zoo projects. • Exhibits good teamwork and communication skills both within the home team and when working with other teams or departments. • May be required to safely operate a motor vehicle. • Demonstrates proficiency in all duties and all assigned work areas within a specified timeframe. • Assists with training, mentoring, and may oversee and direct activities of teenage volunteers, Zoo Crew. • May assist Zoo Supervisors in the oversight of team projects. • Demonstrates a clear understanding of the roles AZA zoos play in conservation and saving animals in the wild. • Actively pursues feedback and other resources to develop leadership skills. Contributes to saving animals in the wild through: • reduction of waste, water and energy use and inspiring guests and staff to take wildlife protecting actions • Performs other duties as assigned. Education and Experience • Bachelor's degree (BA or BS) from four-year college or university in zoology, biology, animal husbandry or a related field. • Experience and education may be considered equivalent at the rate of six months of experience per 15 hours of college level credit, up to 60 hours. • A certificate of completion from an acceptable animal care program may be substituted for a Bachelor’s degree. • Three years of experience in animal care at an AZA or equivalent facility, gained through employment or internships. • Experience with basic carpentry and mechanical skills. • Must have or be able to obtain a valid Texas driver’s license. ABOUT HOUSTON ZOO • The Houston Zoo is made up of many moving parts with over 6,000 permanent residents (our animals) for whom we provide housing, meals, medical care and, yes, even education! • There are over 2 million guests each year who come to experience our incredible variety of animals and ecosystems, as well as attend special private and public events and entertainment. • Our dedicated staff works around the clock to ensure that the Zoo is always running smoothly for the safety and well-being of our residents and guests. • We strive to ensure the protection of all the counterparts of the animals we have at the Zoo and in the wild. • Houston Zoo is an Equal Opportunity Employer
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