Relief Keeper

General Summary

The Relief Keeper is responsible for providing careand maintenance to collection animals and their associated exhibits and holdingareas. Relief Keepers may be assigned to work in any of the animal areas tomeet business needs. Therefore, this person must be knowledgeable and comfortable working with a variety of specieson a regular basis. Relief Keepers are expected to support Animal Keeper staffand Management in the observation of collection animals, by paying specialattention to health, safety, dietary consumption, and behavioral abnormalities.

This position will directly report to the Area Manager, and may take direction from other Animal Department staff as scheduled. Additionally, the Relief Keeper 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.

• Staff contact yard areas and animal guest interactiveareas as scheduled;
• Assist Animal Keeper staff in animal areas as scheduled;
• Report changes in animals’ appetite, disposition, habits, and in physical appearance and/or excreta to Animal Keeper staff;
• Inspectenclosures, fencing, pools, and furniture for cleanliness and/or structuraldefects and to perform minor repairs as needed;
• Preparediets for animals, clean and fill water containers, and place food in exhibitsat specified times per daily protocol;
• Cleanfacilities, exhibits, and associated animal areas according to the areaprotocols or as directed;
• Providespecies appropriate and approved enrichment and training to animals according to area protocols;
• Assistin data collection for approved research projects;
• Provide routine maintenance of facilities and minor repair of equipment, exhibits, andall associated animal areas;
• Maintain familiarity with all animal recapture and restraint equipment;
• Assist with routine veterinary, emergency, training or husbandry, and management procedures;
• Assist with medical care procedures and administer medication as directed;
• Provide general maintenance of grounds in and around exhibits and associated facilities;
• Actas a member of the Animal Recapture Team as needed and directed;
• Driveto specified locations as needed;
• Interact in a consistently pleasant and helpful manner to fellow employees, guests, vendors, and other visitors of the Zoo and demonstrate the highest standards of internal and external customer service;
• Perform other duties as assigned; and,
• Adhere to all policies and procedures of the Zoo.

• Maintain reports on all animal conditions in daily reports, diary, records, etc. per departmental protocol;
• Provide regular updates to the Animal Keeper staff on the condition and status of theanimal collection;
• Attend Zoo general staff meetings and departmental meetings;
• Interpretthe Zoo to guests, donors, and zoo associates;
• Attendall staff training sessions as directed; and,
• Promote the mission of The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.

• Unloadand store commissary items; and,
• Maintain equipment and tools in a good state of repair.

• Associates degree in zoology, biology, or related field preferred. Or, two years of continuing education towards a bachelor’s degree in zoology, biology, orrelated field preferred.

• Oneyear of paid or unpaid animal experience, excluding pets;
• Must possess a valid driver’s license; and,
• Mustbe familiar with computer operations including Microsoft Office programs anddata entry.

• Abilityto work with a wide variety of individuals from ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds;
• Abilityto operate…