Assistant Keeper / Educator

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION:

Will work directly under the supervision of lead keepers and supervisors.

Working knowledge and ability to prepare diets and amounts of specific food for each individual species housed and extensive knowledge of nutritional requirements and toxic foods for each individual species.

Working knowledge and ability to discern appropriate safe behavioral enrichment for each individual species and implement as well as oversee volunteers in regards to creating safe behavioral environment.

Ability to think on your feet, problem-solve and autonomously work with potentially dangerous animals in a full contact environment.  This requires quick decision-making and the ability to implement such decisions. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are mandatory for the safety of animal, keeper and volunteers or visitors.

Cleaning and maintaining all enclosures with autonomy under supervision of leads.  This includes problem solving for the every day issues that arise (kinkajou is on the door and won’t lock out, etc, porcupine following and being aggressive, binturong highly aggressive and won’t switch over,etc.).

Develop and create crafts, curriculum and activities for up to 15 minors onsite for 4 hours for zoo camp or larger school groups for engaging tours.  This requires judgment in maintaining safety and security of the minors around the animals.  This also requires constant vigilance to that none of the minors wander off into prohibited areas or become exposed to danger in any fashion.

Driving to offsite programs in various conditions with animals.  This requires acute awareness of the needs of the specific animals and an understanding of the environment where the program will occur.

Presenting engaging programs while handling live animal ambassadors and while keeping safety of children, the public and the animals at the forefront.

Skills and knowledge of how to repair hoses, enclosures, cages, and other items at the facility.

Working knowledge of positive reinforcement conditioning when working with animals for crate training, leash training, stationing,etc.   This requires creative problem-solving skills as well as flexible thinking to develop the appropriate strategy for sometimes-uncooperative animals

Ability to correctly and safely train interns, volunteers  within our protocols.

Ability to recognize medical issues and react immediately to mitigate or assist the animals as necessary.

The ability to react immediately to emergencies such as dangerous situations, escapes, medical emergencies, and other unpredictable occurrences.

To control in a safe manner various groups of all ages and group numbers.

 

TYPES OF SPECIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

North American porcupines

Great horned owl

Alligators

Kinkajous

Arctic, grey, bat eared and fennec foxes

Owl monkeys

Binturongs

Wallabies

Cavies

Bushbaby

Marmoset

Serval cats

Siberian lynx

Cheetahs

Hyrax

Large snakes

Tarantulas

Various lizards including iguana

Snapping turtle

Macaws

Kookaburras

 

IMPORTANT:  Violations of our SOPs as stated in our manual or any protocols and insubordination will be subject to immediate termination

 

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply for the position of Assistant Keeper / Educator, please email a resume, cover letter, and one reference letter to wildwonders@att.net.

Thank you for your interest!