Assistant Animal Communicator Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $27.75 - $37.23 Hourly
Location : Oregon Zoo, OR
Job Type: Variable Hour
Job Number: 2026-2040-Zoo
Department: Oregon Zoo
Division: Living Collections Division
Opening Date: 08/24/2026
Closing Date: 8/31/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Position Summary
Hello, we're Metro! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow.
The Oregon Zoo's Animal Welfare and Research Department is looking for an Animal Welfare Monitoring Program Assistant to help with various day-to-day activities of the Zoo's animal welfare monitoring program. The focus of this position is to support our endocrine lab and welfare monitoring staff by providing timely data and reports for ongoing welfare assessments and research. You will have the opportunity to learn a variety of techniques and tools, such as behavior and endocrine monitoring, in addition to monitoring environmental factors such as sound and light and how to integrate all these data for analysis and reports that help inform animal care, management and conservation.
The role will provide support for the completion of a variety of day-to-day activities needed for the welfare monitoring of our species. The role will work with the Animal Welfare Monitoring Specialist and the Endocrine Lab Manager and will report to the Director of Animal Welfare and Research.
This role will also interact with our behavior volunteers who collect data for our welfare monitoring program and help with some aspects of volunteer training and support.
As the Animal Welfare Monitoring Program Assistant, you will:

• Help with the analysis and organization of several large data sets with ongoing data collection (behavior, endocrine, environmental).
• Use existing reporting tools to help communicate data findings to Animal Care Staff in a timely manner.
• Assist with organization, processing, and general maintenance of the Oregon Zoo's Endocrinology Lab.
• Assist Animal Care Staff and/or Guest Services with environmental testing (sound, light, and visitor presence) during day-to-day activities and special events.
• Be a resource for the Animal Behavior Monitoring Volunteer group, alongside the Volunteer Coordinator and Animal Welfare Monitoring Specialist, and assist them with technological questions and animal behavior data collection.

Attributes for success

• Strong communication skills, both verbally and in writing
• Enjoys working with complex data sets and performing data analyses, including robust statistical analyses
• Comfortable working in a biological lab including interaction with biological samples
• Ability to consistently follow lab protocols/directions
• Comfortable interacting with guests and patrons of the Oregon Zoo
• Has report writing experience
• Passionate about animals and conservation

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
At Metro, we strive to cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro's goal is to hire, develop and retain highly skilled and talented individuals across all departments and programs who best reflect the diversity of our community.
Learn more about Metro's Diversity Action Plan
TO QUALIFY
We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant.
Minimum qualifications

• High school Diploma or GED; AND
• One year of experience working with animals in a professional care setting (e.g., vet hospital, rescue center) and/or studying/observing animals as part of a formal research program or job function; OR
• Any combination of education, professional, volunteer and lived experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the classification duties and responsibilities.

Working Conditions
Work is performed in various types of environments: office, endocrine lab, behavior lab and outdoors observing animals and collecting various data. Work in the endocrine lab includes handling of animal serum and scat samples. There are frequent interruptions and irregularities in the work schedule. Walking, standing, lifting, may occur. Needs to work collaboratively with other staff and communicate frequently.
Shift and schedule
These are variable-hour positions with no guaranteed hours and no fixed schedule. Work opportunities are based on business needs, event schedules, and weather conditions. Scheduling opportunities are generally greater for employees who can provide broader availability, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply
If you were terminated for cause during any employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, you may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.
Like to have qualifications
You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider them when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.

• Proven experience in advanced statistical analyses and data integration
• Lab experience with pipetting, weighing and calculating dilutions
• Experience with Microsoft Apps (i.e., Power BI, Excel) and R Statistical Package
• BS degree or working towards a BS degree in the Biological Sciences
• Previous experience working in a research lab setting
• Documented experience with data entry and with Microsoft Word/Excel
• Documented experience with data analyses and report writing

SCREENING AND EVALUATION
The application packet: The application packet consists of the following required documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.

• A completed Resume that includes the details for each employer
  1. Name of employer, working title
  2. Dates of employment; including if the work was full-time or part-time your title,
  3. Summary of your responsibilities
• A cover letter answering the following prompt:
  1. Please explain why you would like this job, how it fits into your career plans, and how your past work/study experiences have prepared you for this position.

The selection process: We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• In-depth evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
• Consideration of top candidates/interviews
• Reference check

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND REPRESENTATON
The hourly rate for this position is $23.97.
This position is eligible for overtime and is non-represented. It is classified as a Program Assistant I (VHE).
Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of the positions. View the classification description.
Questions?
Recruiter: Christina Rentas
Email: christina.rentas@oregonmetro.gov
Additional Information
Equal employment opportunity
All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made, or any other status protected by law.
Accommodation
Metro will gladly provide a reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.
Veterans' preference
Under Oregon Law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Metro positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veterans' preference for this job, please provide qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.
Hybrid Telework
Positions designated as "hybrid telework," meaning you will have the option to work away from the office, although there may be times that coming into the office will be required. The designation of Hybrid Telework may be subject to change at a future time. All employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; Metro cannot support ongoing telework from other locations.
Pay equity at Metro
No matter who you are or where you work at Metro, you deserve to be paid fairly for the work you do.Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of your gender, race, age, or other protected characteristics. Metro has established processes and conducts routine pay equity reviews as part of the hiring process to ensure compliance with the 2017 Oregon Pay Equity Act.
Online applications
Metro accepts job applications online. If you need assistance or accommodation with your application, or access to a computer, please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.
How to Apply
For tips on how to apply and more information on what the application process looks like, visit Metro's page.
Government Jobs
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Metro
Led by an elected council, this unique government gives all residents of greater Portland a voice in shaping the future and provides parks, venues, services, and tools at a regional scale. We find solutions for our area's garbage and recycling that protect clean air and water; help plan land use and development to provide jobs and safe transportation; manage local venues that provide a connection to arts and culture and help keep the economy growing; protect 17,000 acres of parks and natural areas, and run the Oregon Zoo, to keep nature close to home.
As part of the Metro family, the Oregon Zoo helps make greater Portland a great place to call home. Metro brings people together to shape the future of our area and provides parks, venues, services, and tools at a regional scale.
The Oregon Zoo and MetroThe Oregon Zoo inspires visitors to learn about protecting endangered species and restoring native habitats and is the state's most popular paid attraction. The zoo's roughly 320 employees welcome more than 1.5 million visitors each year.
As part of the Metro family, you play a vital role in serving the people of the greater Portland region.
This is a variable hour position with no guarantee of hours. The position is eligible for these benefits:

• Paid sick leave
• Paid parental leave
• Full contribution to Oregon PERS retirement if eligible and qualified.
• No-cost TriMet Hop Pass
• Employee Assistance Program

Metro also offers a variety of perks for all employees, including free admission to the Oregon Zoo (including ZooLights!), Oxbow and Blue Lake Regional Parks, membership discount at Lloyd Athletic Club, credit union eligibility and more. Employees also receive access to financial wellness and legal consultation services, as well as first-time home buying and ownership counseling.
Some variable hour positions are represented by a union and have additional benefits.
01
What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• High school diploma or GED
• Associate degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree or higher
• None of the above

02
How many years of professional experience do you have working with animals in a professional care setting (e.g., vet hospital, rescue center) and/or studying/observing animals as part of a formal research program or job function;

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year but less than 2 years
• 2 years but less than 3 years
• 3 years but less than 4 years
• 4 years but less than 5 years
• 5 years but less than 6 years
• 6 years but less than 7 years
• 7 years but less than 8 years
• More than 8 years

Required Question