Memphis Zoological Society and Aquarium · Tennessee · posted today
Zookeeper – Zambezi River Hippo camp (Full Time) This position offers a qualified keeper the opportunity to care for Nile hippopotamuses, flamingos, okapi, Nile crocodiles, cranes, storks, and small hoofstock. Zambezi River Hippo Camp keepers provide excellent animal care and create engaging guest experiences through close encounters, tours, and keeper chats. Essential Duties • Provide daily animal care, including preparing diets, administering medications and supplements, and maintaining accurate records. • Clean, disinfect, and maintain assigned enclosures, habitats, and barns according to established protocols. • Monitor animal behavior and health, report concerns, and assist veterinary staff with treatment. • Apply behavioral husbandry practices, including operant conditioning and environmental enrichment. • Under supervision, capture, restrain, and transport animals as needed. • Lead formal and informal presentations that engage guests and support a positive experience. • Support research projects involving animals in the collection. • Guide volunteers and interns and help ensure their safety, as needed. • Maintain organized work areas. • Follow safety protocols when working with animals, equipment, and vehicles, including participating in animal escape drills. • Attend department meetings, seminars, and required workshops. Salary: $16-17.50/hour (commensurate with experience). Minimum Qualifications: • Must be at least 18 years of age. • High School diploma or equivalent. • Successful candidates must complete pre-employment drug screening, background check and TB test. Preferred Qualifications: • Previous experience with animal care and operant conditioning in a zoological setting. • Bachelor’s degree in Zoology, Biology, or a related field • SCUBA Certification or the willingness to be SCUBA certified. • Previous experience working around Class 1 animals. Competencies: • Written and oral communication Proficiency. Effective listening skills. • Proficient in MS Office, current technology and applications for communication, research and record keeping. • Records and reports creation and management, such as daily reports, weight graphs etc. • Problem Solving/Analysis. • Stress Management/Composure. • Flexibility. • Teamwork Orientation. • Ability to represent the Zoo in a professional manner Supervisory Responsibility: None Reporting Structure: Reports to Team Lead. Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: This is a full-time position that works a minimum of 40 hrs per week and regularly requires weekend and holiday work. Work Environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, chemicals and vibration. The employee may be exposed to loud noises. Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk and hear. The employee is constantly required to use hands and fingers to feel, handle or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Benefits: Memphis Zoo offers a comprehensive benefits package to full-time employees, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, Employee Assistance Programs, a 401(k) plan with company match, paid time off, sick leave, long-term disability coverage, park discounts, and membership benefits.
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