Senior Animal Keeper - Animal Room

Application Process:

Applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, and 3 professional references

Candidates not meeting minimum requirements may not receive a response

Applicants selected for candidacy are required to attend an on-site working interview

Compensation: Starting at $26.29/hour (depending on experience)

Position Summary

The Supervising Primary Animal Keeper – Animal Room is responsible for the daily management of our Education Animal Room which houses a variety of birds, reptiles, and small mammals in our ambassador animal program, as well as supervising the String staff that includes relief, floating, and apprentice Animal Keepers, plus interns, volunteers, and behavioral observers. Work ranges from the physical tasks associated with feeding, enrichment, and maintenance of the animals’ living areas to more analytical tasks of planning, record keeping and communication. The Senior Animal Keeper takes direction from the Zoological Manager and Department Vice President regarding daily operations as appropriate.

Essential Job Duties

• Train, inspire, coach, set expectations, and provide feedback with a wide variety of people including docents, teen volunteers, and Education staff
• Implement Department/Zoo priorities as well as demonstrate the initiative and expertise to regularly find ways to make improvements, which may include Departmental administrative tasks
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned
• Guide and support junior staff and volunteers as appropriate
• Act as a department leader and can be expected to cover department function and emergency response coordination in the absence of Zoological Manager or Department Vice President

Who You Are

• Able to represent the Zoo in a variety of public settings including press interviews, instructional classes, and casual communication with Zoo guests
• Able to use the tools of animal observation, enrichment, training, and other behavioral husbandry methods to ensure the best possible psychological well-being of the animals in their care
• The Oakland Zoo requires COVID vaccination*
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
• Have or develop significant level of knowledge of the natural history and captive wildlife management for the animals under their care to insure their best possible physical and psychological well-being
• Experience with supervision of paid staff and unpaid volunteers/interns, including leadership training/conflict management
• Good physical condition: able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs. (i.e., feed sack) and move a minimum of 120lbs. (i.e. hay bale)
• Knowledge of the habits and hazards of working with wild animals; willingness to work with some physical risk while observing proper safety precautions
• Willingness to work outside normal business hours including weekends and holidays
• Experience in the areas of animal care/management
• At least five years full time professional experience in the care of wildlife at an AZA zoo or comparable facility

Bonus if you have...

• Knowledge and experience with small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, raptors, parrots, and invertebrates, particularly in education programming
• Bachelor’s degree in zoology, biology or a related field
• Significant knowledge in the natural history and captive management of wild animals
• Significant behavior-based husbandry (enrichment and training) and welfare assessments

Knowledge, Skills, and Qualities– May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills and abilities commonly associated with this position.

• Inclusive Culture - fosters a culture of mutual respect, transparency, collaboration and belonging which allows all employees to feel appreciated, included, and valued
• Organization – strong attention to details and able to build and/or maintain efficient systems
• Passion – wholeheartedly believes in, represents, and models Oakland Zoo’s mission and PRIDE values at all times
• Time management – strong capabilities with a demonstrated ability to effectively prioritize multiple commitments
• Sustainability – oriented toward the mission and values of the Oakland Zoo and able to put those into practice by finding creative and resourceful ways to develop sustainable practices within your role and department
• Collaboration – builds trusting relationships with both internal and external stakeholders across our organization and community-wide and approaches differences of opinion with curiosity and humility
• Wildlife Aware - understands mission to support the conservation and welfare of animals at the Zoo, locally and globally. This is demonstrated by a willingness/passion to reflect this mission in all actions and to continue to learn how to take action for wildlife.
• Communication – communicates respectfully and effectively with stakeholders across identities, both verbally and in writing

Benefits:

Comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, life insurance, PTO (Paid Time Off) and 403B retirement benefits.