Animal Care: Relief Keeper
Date: January 1st, 2025
Department: Animal Adventure Park & Preserve Relief Keeper
Start Date: TBD
Animal Adventure Park & Preserve is a ZAA accredited interactive educational facility, utilizing responsible welfare-based immersive, and hands-on exhibition, to engage guests in a manner to promote understanding and appreciation of the living world.
Through appreciation, we achieve education. Through education, we achieve conservation.
Summary:
Animal Adventure Park & Preserve is seeking candidates to join our Animal Care Team. This position would include working with a variety of species within both of our facilities, Animal Adventure Park and The Preserve.
Under direct supervision of the curator, the individual in this position is responsible for a wide variety of tasks involving the husbandry of the park area’s species, the daily upkeep of keeper and public areas, and interactions with park guests. The individual must be able to carry out the position's duties as described below, with reasonable accommodations, and comply with park policies and procedures as they appear in the Team Handbook and animal care protocols and standards. The individual must also be of the ability to carry out the expressed duties on a daily basis without presenting a danger to themselves, team members, animals, and guests.
Skills & Duties: required of this position include, but are not limited to, the following
- Provide quality guest experience, and maintain professional working relations with park guests, team members, volunteers, and interns.
- Provide for the care and welfare (husbandry) of assigned animals in the department; following prescribed diets, cleaning procedures, and facility protocols and standards.
- Cleaning/disinfecting of animal enclosures, holding areas, keeper spaces, common use spaces, and public areas, at and above facility, USDA, NYS, and ZAA guidelines and standards.
- Includes upkeep of plant collection, as well as minor repairs to exhibits/holdings.
- Observe animals in the department daily for reproductive behavior, abnormal behavior, and/or potential health problems, and report findings to supervisor(s).
- Prepare, distribute, and keep records of animal enrichment.
- Train animals using positive reinforcement.
- Maintain daily reports: i.e. medical, reproductive, dietary, and work orders.
- Provide assistance to the veterinary staff when necessary.
- Make public presentations, and/or host animal encounters for park guests.
- Observe and promptly report all facility issues or safety concerns to the supervisor(s).
- Various other duties within the scope of the job description as requested by the curator or team lead to facilitated operations.
Qualifications:
- High school diploma or equivalent required, college degree in a related field preferred.
- At least 6 months to 1-year prior experience within a zoological setting
- Communicate effectively in English (oral and written), follow oral and written instructions, and use a two-way radio.
- Has a valid driver's license and is physically able to operate vehicles such as pickup trucks, John Deere Gator, and ATV.
- Physically able to:
Work in extreme temperatures and inclement weather conditions.
Walking and standing for prolonged periods.
Lifting, pulling, dragging and carrying a minimum of fifty (50) pounds.
Performing tasks in an environment that requires repeatedly stooping, bending, and climbing.
- Physically able and willing to safely work around large, unpredictable and dangerous animals, having sufficient knowledge, strength, agility and coordination to provide proper care and handling of these species.
- Use common hand, power, and yard tools while working from the ground or on a ladder in a safe manner.
- Accept regular weekend, holiday, occasional after hour assignments.
- Negative Tuberculosis test results required.
- Adhere to park/departmental policies and safety procedures & standards.
Experience:
- Prior experience is required, only candidates with at least 6 months experience within a zoological setting providing daily husbandry to exotic species will be given consideration.
- Qualified candidates with a degree in an animal related field will be given preference.
Salary:
- Beginning wage is based upon experience.
- Entry level positions begin at NYS minimum wage ($15.50/hr)
- Animal Adventure Animal Care full time employees will be eligible for raises after 1 year of employment and are performance based.
- All individuals are eligible for performance-based bonuses at any time.
- After 30 days of employment, full time team members may choose to take part in the park's individual medical & dental insurance plan.
- After 1 year of service, full time team members will be enrolled in the park's employer paid 401K plan. (100% of the annual contribution is covered by the organization)
Submit resumes to:
Curator of Parks, Erin Sarandis - Curator@theanimaladventurepark.com