Senior Wild Animal Keeper, Queens Zoo

Job Description

Title:

Provisional Senior Wild Animal Keeper

Reports To:

Supervisor of Animals/Animal Dept. Curator

Position Managed: N/A

Department:
Animal Programs

Location:

Queens Zoo

Employment Type:

Union, Full-Time

Pay Range: $54,473.00 per year

WCS stands for wildlife and wild places. As the world’s premier wildlife conservation organization, WCS has a long track record of achieving innovative, impactful results  run field programs spanning 60 countries and the entire ocean. We build on a unique foundation:
Our reach is global; we discover through best-in-class science; we protect through work on the ground with local and indigenous people; we inspire through our world-class zoos, aquarium, and education programs; and we leverage our resources through partnerships and powerful policy influence. Our more than 4,000 diverse, passionately committed team members in New York City and around the world work collectively to achieve our conservation mission.

To perform any authorized activity necessary for the safe proper and humane management and maintenance of the animal collection, exhibits, holding facilities and associated service.

• Supervise and provide leadership in assigned section of zoo, taking responsibility for daily animal care activities of keepers, trainees or interns as assigned. Responsible for exhibit appearance in section
• Perform and supervise safe, proper and humane care of assigned animals according to established protocols or under the direction of the supervisory/curatorial staff.
• Prepare and supervise animal diets according to established protocols or under the direction of the supervisory/curatorial staff.
• Perform and supervise safe and proper maintenance of assigned animal exhibits, holding facilities and associated service areas according to established protocols or under the direction of the appropriate senior wild animal keeper and/or the supervisory/curatorial staff.
• Routine maintenance can include but is not limited to watering plants, clearing and cleaning drains/catches, changing light bulbs, cleaning exhibit glass.
• Assist curatorial/supervisory staff in developing safe, proper and humane protocols for the management and maintenance of the animal collection, exhibits, holding facilities and associated service areas.
• May provide guidance and on the job training to other employees.
• Participate in the modification and enhancement of animal exhibits under the direction of supervisory/curatorial staff to include, but not limited to the installation of plant material, perches and exhibit props such as rocks and logs, monitoring water quality, addition of substrates, cleaning of exhibit glass where maintenance staff does not have access.
• Inspect animal exhibits, holding facilities and associated service areas to ensure that they are clean, well lit, properly ventilated, properly heated or cooled, and that all mechanical systems are operating properly.
• Report any deficiencies and/or required maintenance – whether Animal Department or Maintenance responsibility - to the supervisory/curatorial staff.
• Make any minor repairs necessary to assure safe, proper and human animal management.
• Observe assigned animals for any changes in activity pattern, social behavior, feeding behavior and food preference, any abnormal behavior or evidence of injury and illness, any indications of sexual behavior or sexual cycle.
• Summarize these and any other observations relevant to safe, proper and humane management in a daily report submitted to the appropriate senior wild animal keeper and the supervisory/curatorial staff.
• Maintain life history cards and other assigned records keeping.
• Promptly report anything that might require…