Zookeeper

Job Description

The Zookeeper performs duties to maintain the animals and facilities of the City Zoo, ensuring animal health and welfare and public safety in the Zoo operations. The job includes preparing and delivering food, cleaning and maintaining animal enclosures, observing animal behaviors, assisting in rendering medical care and attention, providing habitat and behavior enrichment, actively participating in the zoo's training program, and ensuring animal safety and security.

The job also includes maintenance of zoo facilities, animal enclosures and exhibits including construction repairs, landscaping, weed control and snow removal as needed. Most work is performed in public view so public relations and customer service is a significant part of the job. The job may direct part-time/seasonal employees and volunteers. The job is supervised by the Zoo Superintendent. The job requires knowledge of animal care, building maintenance, and customer service.

The job requires the ability to maintain a collaborative and cooperative working relationship with elected and appointed officials, other City employees, other organizations, and the general public. The work environment includes animal care and control and a building and grounds maintenance environment that includes the use of power equipment and outdoor weather conditions including extreme temperatures. The job is exposed to wild and/or exotic animals and requires occasionally handling or restraining them for medical attention.

The noise level is generally moderate but can occasionally be high. Weekend and holiday work is often required.

• Maintains the animals and facilities of the City Zoo, ensuring animal health and welfare and public safety in the Zoo operations. Maintains and cares for Zoo animals including, but not limited to, preparing and delivering food, cleaning and maintaining cages and enclosures, observing behaviors, assisting in rendering medical care and attention, providing habitat and behavior enrichment, participating in the training program, and ensuring their safety and security.
• Maintains Zoo facilities, animal enclosures and exhibits, and grounds to ensure cleanliness and public safety. Performs seasonal grounds keeping and landscaping work including, but not limited to, trimming, weed control, and snow removal. Performs minor maintenance and repair work on exhibits; provides suggestions and input for exhibit improvements.
• Provides customer service to the public. Provides information, answers questions and inquiries, and gives tours, presentations, and demonstrations at the facility and off-site.
• Assists veterinarians in providing medical attention and care to animals, including capturing, sedating, and medicating, as directed.
• Maintains records, documents, and logs of animals for Zoo database. Prepares reports, as directed.
• Maintains inventory of food, supplies, medications, and equipment, including ordering and reconciling orders on delivery.
• Directs and trains part-time/seasonal employees, volunteers, and work-study students.
• Performs cashiering and cash handling duties, including reconciling receipts daily.
• Performs other duties as assigned. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.

• High school diploma or GED; and
• Associates degree in biology, animal sciences, or a related field is preferred;
• Idaho driver’s license required;
• Certifications by federal or state agencies may be required, depending on assignment;
• Two (2) years zoo or animal husbandry experience is preferred.

• Methods, techniques, and objectives of care to ensure animal health, welfare, and safety in a zoo environment;
• Zoo operation and animal care policies, procedures and protocols;
• Federal, state, and all other applicable statutes and laws governing wild and/or exotic animal keeping;
• Methods and techniques of assisting in the provision of medical evaluation and treatment to animals including, but not limited to, capture, sedation,…