Parks Animal Keeper Jobs

OC ZOO
The County of Orange, OC Zoo is located within OC Community Resources (OCCR) OC Parks division. The OC Zoo is located inside Irvine Regional Park in the city of Orange. The Zoo's focus is on animals and plants native to the southwestern United States. Animals on exhibit include black bears, mountain lions, a bald eagle, jaguars, foxes, a red-tailed hawk, great horned owls, porcupines, coyotes, turkey vultures, and more. There is also a reptile collection that includes venomous rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, and beaded lizards. The Zoo also features a barnyard area with domestic goats, sheep, guinea fowl, and maras.
THE OPPORTUNITY
OC Zoo has a current vacancy for a Parks Animal Keeper. The Parks Animal Keeper will work under general direction of the Zoo Director, Zoo Curator and Senior Parks Animal Keepers. This is a professional position, requiring experience and working knowledge of exotic animals and how to take care of them. The Parks Animal Keeper must complete the daily tasks in a timely fashion with minimal supervision, keep detailed daily records, and be proficient in observing animals and their behaviors. The OC Zoo staff members are committed to providing a high-quality operation of animal care and a pleasant visitor experience. The Parks Animal Keeper duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Inspecting, cleaning, and maintaining public walks, paths, zoo grounds, plants and animal enclosures.
• Reporting any observed health or behavioral abnormalities to Zoo Curator and Veterinarian.
• Maintaining behavioral enrichment programs for assigned animals.
• Maintaining manuals regarding duties/care of assigned animals.
• Utilizing hand tools, rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows, and minor power tools to fix, enhance, clean, and maintain animal habitats and enclosures.
• Observing and carrying out all basic aspects of the daily care of animals.
• Giving presentations to the general public and engaging with park visitors by discussing animal natural history, natural habitats, the status of animals in the wild, care and feeding of animals, and other topics of interest.
• Training employees and/or volunteers on proper care of animals, as well as, delegating task as needed.
• Participating and developing programs focused on enhancing the guest experience.
• Preparing accurate and detailed records and logs and maintaining monthly reports.
• Assisting veterinarian during visits and administering medications, monitoring injuries and healing when needed.
• Following all approved operation procedures listed in string duty assignments.
• Cleaning, maintaining, and conducting repairs to assigned animal habitats.

OC Zoo is open 365 days per year. Incumbents should be prepared to work rotating shifts, including days, nights, weekends, and holidays.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES
The ideal candidate will possess at least three (3)+ years of experience working with animals, providing animal enrichment, record keeping and maintaining best practices concerning animal husbandry in a zoological setting, specifically working at a public/private zoo, wildlife sanctuary, or animal breeding facility. Experience with birds, mammals, and reptiles, including venomous is highly desirable for this current vacancy. A Bachelor's degree in Zoology, Biology, Natural Sciences, or a related field is highly desirable. In addition to this knowledge and experience, the ideal candidate will also be in possession of the desired core competencies listed below.
Technical | Animal Keeper

• Working as a team to ensure proper coverage in areas and assisting when needed for training and engagement activities.
• Utilizing operations manuals for details regarding proper care and updating feeding and medication instructions.
• Understanding of accreditation standards, USDA and California Fish and Wildlife regulations as they pertain to caring for animals and ensuring they are healthy, and their habitats are in compliance.
• Daily cleaning, feeding, medicating, training, and conducting enrichment activities for assigned animals.
• Practical experience with maintaining habitats to ensure they are clean and free of dangerous items that may cause harm to the animals. This would include but is limited to removing old debris and animal stool, replacing bedding, inspecting enclosures, adding dirt, raking, mowing lawns, changing perching, seeding lawns, maintaining pump systems, cleaning and disinfecting enrichment toys.

Judgment and Critical Thinking

• Practical knowledge of safety protocols and procedures to ensure own personal safety, other workers, the public and the animals.
• Understanding daily procedures and protocols and exercising judgment with adaptability.
• Identifying when a situation requires de-escalation or the involvement of a supervisor.

Effective Written & Verbal Communication Skills

• Presenting information and educating the public on animal species, behaviors, habitats, and care.
• Maintaining detailed logs and accurate reports on animal care, protocols, feedings, medication administering, and medical/behavioral observations in a zoological animal record database.

Interpersonal Skills

• Collaborating with teammates and supervisors if questioning behavior of animals or are unsure if something does not seem right.
• Answering questions from the public (adults and children) pertaining to the zoo and it's animals.
• Working as a team to ensure proper coverage in areas and assisting when needed for training and engagement activities.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Strength to pull, drag, lift and carry up to 50 pounds for 50 feet. Strength to handle, restrain and maneuver large animals, including livestock, from one area to another or into a trailer for transport. Strength to capture, secure, handle and restrain a variety of animals, which may be physically uncooperative and aggressive. Agility to walk, run, physically maneuver oneself to capture and avoid injury by various animals. Ability to stand for extended periods. Body mobility to walk and run on uneven ground, climb stairs, bend, twist, reach kneel, squat and crawl to catch animals. Manual dexterity to hand write paperwork and use a computer. Vision sufficient to read standard text and fine print, a computer screen, see animals at a distance, determine depth and to distinguish colors and body language. Hear well enough to hear the approach of an animal or sounds emitted by animals.
Mental stamina for problem solving and dealing with stressful situations. Mental fortitude to focus and perform job duties in the presence of stressors such as upset citizens, aggressive animals, injured animals or deceased animals.
ENVIROMENTAL & WORKING CONDITIONS
Will be required to work with an around animals in all aspect of their husbandry care. Animals may be large, small, aggressive, friendly, dangerous and/or venomous. Will be required to work in a standard office environment around office equipment. Will be required to work outside in all weather conditions. Will be require to work in dusty, loud, and/or malodorous environments. May be exposed to various zoonotic diseases, noxious odors, animal blood, animal dander, blood borne pathogens, feces and urine, fleas, ticks, mites, as well as, injured, sick, dead and/or diseased animals. Will be required to work around commonly used animal chemicals such as flea medications and/or various types of soaps, cleansers and disinfectant agents. Will be required to interact with various members of the public.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Please click here for information regarding the complete classification description, including the minimum qualifications for Parks Animal Keeper.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all application materials for minimum and/or desirable qualifications. After screening, applicants who meet the minimum and/or desirable qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the recruitment process.
Recorded Structured Oral Interview (rSOI) | Weighted 100%
The rSOI is a timed oral interview conducted virtually through an online vendor. Applicants will be asked a series of structured questions designed to elicit the applicant's qualifications for the job. All applicant responses will be video recorded so that they can be evaluated against pre-determined criteria by a panel of job knowledge experts. Only the most successful candidate will be placed on the eligible list.
Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures above may be modified. Candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.
Eligible List
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.
Veterans Employment Preference
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader) to review the policy.

Non-Management Benefits
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits, such as a variety of health plan options, annual leave and paid holidays-we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as a Health Care Reimbursement Account, 457 Defined Contribution Plan and Annual Education and Professional Reimbursement. Employees are provided a Retirement Plan through the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS).

Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.