Animal Keeper Assistant

This recruitment will close at 11:59 PM on October 6th, 2026, or once 100 applications have been received, whichever occurs first. Qualified applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible to ensure consideration.

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 Africa Area is seeking a Variable Hour Animal Keeper Assistant to support the daily operations of the Africa animal collection, which includes rhinos, giraffes, bongos, gazelles, Southern ground hornbills, bats, lions, and African painted dogs. The Oregon Zoo is committed to providing exceptional animal care, advancing animal welfare, and supporting conservation initiatives both on-site and at partner institutions.

This position works alongside a highly experienced animal care team, providing valuable operational support that allows staff to focus on key animal management, training, enrichment, conservation, and program objectives. The role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the care and well-being of a diverse collection of species while gaining experience in a professional zoological setting.

• Acquire and maintain understanding and practice of all area safety protocols and policies.
• Work effectively and contribute in a close, team-oriented environment.
• Provide labor support to maintain Exhibits, holdings, and barns. This includes raking, shoveling, and heavy lifting in a variety of potentially adverse environmental conditions.
• Prepare diets as directed by staff.
• Prepare enrichment as directed by staff.
• Set up feeders in yards/barns.
• Operate all equipment associated with assigned tasks.

• Ability to maintain a positive and supportive team environment.
• Attention to detail especially when it comes to safety.
• Flexibility as assignments may change dependent on need of the day.
• Exhibit strong communication skills.
• Ability to understand and follow guidance provided by staff.
• Strong work ethic.

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 how Metro is advancing diversity

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.

• High school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.), and
• Six (6) months of related experience with domestic animal care, pet sitting, animal shelter, or animal retail, or
• Any combination of experience, education and training which provides the equivalent scope of knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the essential job duties.

• Possession of a valid Driver’s License

Additional medical testing and/or immunizations (not already stated in this announcement) may be required as the duties of this position may require close contact with animal areas and enclosures where animals may be present.

Duties may require prolonged strenuous efforts in inclement weather…