Penguin Keeper Jobs (NOW HIRING)

General Summary: Provides day-to-dayleadership and management of specific animal areas which supports the missionand core values of the Zoo to the staff engaged in the care and exhibition ofthe collection. The Area Manager will be responsible for the daily operationsof the area and oversight of the keeper team. They will need to work closelywith the taxon curators, behavior team, and medical staff, and will report tothe General Curator. Additionally, the Area Manager will support the Zoo's mission to save wildlife and protect wild places and contribute to its environmental, social, governance sustainability, conservation, education, and DEAI (Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion) goals.

EssentialFunctions:

PrimaryFunction:

• Fostera success-oriented, accountable environment within the Zoo;
• Supportthe guest experiences;
• Serveas the liaison for the Collection Managers and Curators as to daily concerns ofthe department;
• Observeanimals to detect signs of illness, and report the same to the Collection Managerand Medical Staff to determine type of medication/treatment required and helpin the treatment;
• Developand maintain SOPs for assigned area(s);
• Coordinatepest control needs/activities with the Senior Animal Care Technician;
• Ensurethat adequate and appropriate pest control practices are carried out and thatall pest control records are maintained;
• Coordinatewater quality testing and Life Support Systems equipment preventativemaintenance with the Water Quality Specialist and ensure that adequate andappropriate water quality records are maintained;
• Inspectall exhibits and related facilities regularly for cleanliness and structuralintegrity;
• Director perform all keeper activities necessary to the direct maintenance of theanimal collection;
• Inspectthe care and well-being of the animals in their area;
• Superviseand coordinate all activities of the keeper staff;
• Superviseand participate in moving of animals to new quarters or in crating or uncratinganimals for shipment or display;
• Overseeand/or assist with medical treatments, preparation of food, feeding of animalsand maintenance and repair of animal quarters/exhibit;
• Ensurethat area activities are recorded in the daily diary and other permanentrecords;
• Collaboratewith Animal Department Curators, Managers and medical staff in development ofdiets, husbandry techniques, and area protocols;
• Developaction plans for projects and present them to the Collection Managers;
• Assistin AZA-sanctioned programs as requested;
• Available24 hours/day, if necessary;
• Attendweekly medical meetings;
• Serveand support assigned area(s);
• Coordinatethe training opportunities for volunteers, Junior keepers, and interns;
• Participateon the animal recapture team and maintains qualifications to use firearms onzoo grounds;
• Trainand educate Animal Keepers;
• Coordinateconstruction projects and outside vendors and contractors while maintainingsafety for animals and staff;
• Workwith the Animal Training and Enrichment Coordinator to develop and maintainanimal training and enrichment programs;
• Managethe particular aspects of scheduling and payroll essential to supervisingstaff;
• Responsible for acting asmember of Zoo's emergency response firearms shoot team;
• Perform otherduties as assigned; and,
• Adhere to allpolicies and procedures of the Zoo.

Communication(Internal and External):

• Activelycollaborate with divisions to ensure that husbandry and behavioral managementpractices are to the highest standards;
• Representthe zoo to guests, donors, zoo community associates, and the general public;
• Answerthe public's questions concerning animals' habits or zoo operations;
• Activelycollaborate with the Marketing, Development, Education and Guest Servicesdepartments to design and implement programs and presentations directly relatedto the animal collection;
• Activelycollaborate with the Marketing, Development, Education and Guest Services departmentsto produce and participate in non-routine special events;
• Organizebehind the scenes tours as requested; and,
• Conductand/or contribute to Area, Department and All-Staff meetings.

Managementof Resources (Financial, Human Resources, Facilities):

• Makerecommendations to the General Curator and Collection Managers on the hiringand firing and personnel actions such as promotions, transfers and disciplinaryactions;
• Readkeepers' daily reports and ensure appropriate corrective action;
• Determinewhich information/data from daily reports should be included in the Zoo'spermanent animal records;
• Prepareand communicate performance evaluations of keeper staff;
• Recommendimprovements and repairs to animal exhibits and facilities;
• Recommendupdates, clarifications and additions to Animal Department policies andprocedures and area SOPs;
• Coordinatewith the Maintenance department for repairs, non-capital renovations andimprovements;
• Schedulestaff to various tasks as needed;
• Supportinventory control/ensure the proper working condition of all departmentequipment; and,
• Providesupervisory back up for the other area managers.

MinimumQualifications:

Education: 

• Bachelor'sDegree preferably in Biological Sciences, Zoology, Wildlife Management, AnimalScience or related science; and, 
• Experiencemay be substituted for a degree.

Experience/Training:      

• Threeyears paid experience with an AZA accredited zoological institution(preferred);
• Atleast one year of supervisory experience or equivalent experience working withanimals in a supervisory capacity;
• Validdriver's license; and,
• Demonstratedsupervisory ability as well as ability to lead and mentor professional staff;

TraitsDesirable:

• Abilityto work with a wide variety of individuals from ethnic, cultural and economicbackgrounds;
• Extremelywell-organized;
• Strongleadership, communication, mentoring, time management, interpersonal andfollow-up skills;
• Self-directed,collaborative and detail-oriented; and,
• Strongbackground in animal husbandry, training, or enrichment.

Equipment:

• Mustbe able to operate a variety of machines and equipment including telephone,two-way radio, motor vehicles, electric golf carts, hand tools, animalrestraint and capture equipment, gardening/carpentry tools, power equipment,e.g. leaf blower, weed eater, lawn mower, or power washer and computerequipment, scales, transponder reader, digital thermometers and water chemistryequipment.  Must be proficient with aword processing and spread sheet program (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel).

WorkingConditions:

• Mustbe able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, 25 pounds frequentlyand/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry,push, pull or otherwise move objects. Physical demands are in excess of those for sedentary work; must be ableto remain on feet for periods of time, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, push, pull,climb, balance;
• Mustbe able to travel large areas of the Zoo as needed;
• Must be able to work in anoutdoor weather environment in all seasons and weather, includingheat/humidity, cold temperatures, and/or wet conditions;
• Mustbe able to lift and/or carry weights of up to 75 pounds and climb a ladder;
• Exposure to potential environmental hazards such as poison oak/ivy, uneven terrain, insect bites/stings, and Hepatitis B depending on the position.
• Exposure to zoonotic diseases and risk of animal attack; and,
• TBtest, physical, and rabies vaccine required.

Benefits:

• We offer an excellentbenefits package including 24 days of Paid Time Off (PTO), Sick and Safe Leave,and 2 paid holidays.
• Eligible for medical, dental,vision, short- and long-term disability and life insurance.
• 401(k) with employer match.

Disclaimer:

The statements above are intended to describe the generalnature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to thisclassification.  They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustivelist of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of all personnel soclassified.  Therefore, management reserves the right to revise the job orto require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstanceschange.