Facility
Chehaw Park & Zoo, Flint RiveQuarium
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
Chehaw Park & Zoo and Flint RiverQuarium are looking for a motivated professional to lead our animal husbandry team and ensure high standards of animal care, health and safety, quality control, and respectful workplace behavior. The ideal candidate will have a solid working knowledge of zoo and aquarium safety, animal husbandry best practices, and AZA and government regulations.
This leadership role requires a dedicated team player who is willing to make a significant commitment to the animals and staff to improve and maintain husbandry practices and mentor staff in the performances of these practices. This position will be responsible for ensuring staff comply with standards for daily husbandry tasks. This is a working supervisory role that will require some direct, hands-on animal care work.
JOB DUTIES– TO BE PERFORMED AT BOTH FLINT RIVERQUARIUM AND CHEHAW PARK & ZOO
•Responsible for coordination and quality control of daily husbandry routines, team dynamics, animal well-being, public engagement, and tidiness of work and viewing areas
•Oversee husbandry of all animals, which include fish, coral, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals; ensure that all husbandry routines meet or exceed industry and government standards and that all guidelines and protocols are followed
•Coordinate the tidiness, hygiene, and maintenance of animal enclosures, service areas, and viewing areas
•Encourage thoughtful and thorough oral and written communication among all staff; ensure that relevant observations and events are promptly entered into ZIMS by husbandry staff
•Oversee department projects and monitor work
•Develop and write departmental policies and procedures, as recommended by AZA or as needed, to improve efficiency; counsel and recommend corrective actions for employees
•Assist in the training of husbandry staff on all husbandry related topics
•Possess the ability to perform all essential duties within the animal care departments; perform the duties of other animal care staff in the event of low staff levels, including daily husbandry for a collection of animals
•Coordinate with facility support staff for the maintenance and operation of life support systems
•Responsible for ordering and coordinating delivery of feed and other supplies related to the daily management of the animal collection; manage the Zootrition database
•Supervise all animal capture and restraint events to optimize staff and animal safety
•Responsible for coordinating veterinary rounds; prepare and record behavioral and medical documents; ensure staff are reporting animal medical issues in a timely manner and following all prescribed treatment plans
•Manage animal care volunteers with input from the Education Curator; coordinate the activities of community service workers, students, or volunteers
•Maintain familiarity with and awareness of applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures; maintain an awareness of new trends and advances in the profession; read professional literature; maintain professional affiliations; attend workshops and training sessions when feasible
•Assist Leads with behavioral management, safety, and browse programs to ensure adherence to protocols and encourage advancement; may serve as institutional Enrichment Coordinator, Animal Training Coordinator, Safety Officer, or Browse Technician in the absence of appropriate staff
•With assistance from Safety officer, oversee and train staff on emergency protocols; schedule safety drills and maintain inventory of emergency and personal protective equipment; ensure that live action and tabletop emergency drills are conducted routinely
•Process employee concerns and problems; provide functional assistance and guidance for staff in the care, maintenance, and display of collection animals
•Support other departments in achieving their goals; work with internal and external departments and groups to coordinate team participation in operational assistance, presentations, tours, and animal experiences for a wide variety of events, media opportunities, and VIP groups
•Actively support the department’s conservation goals and related activities
•Assist with the design and renovation of exhibits
•Supports institution’s Vision, Mission, and Values statement
•Set an example for the husbandry staff by reporting to work in a timely manner and maintaining a clean, professional appearance; work to ensure staff “ownership” of their exhibits and the facility
•Be involved with AZA, AAZK, IAATE, and ABMA programs; may present papers/projects at professional conferences, board meetings, etc.; may be required to serve on other groups and committees both on and off the park.
•Assist Director with coordination of animal transfers and adherence to the Responsible Population Management and Collection Planning policies; assist with overseeing the animal welfare program and responding to welfare concerns and follow-ups
Education and Pre-requisites
•Bachelor’s degree in related field
•2+ years of previous supervisory or leadership experience
•5+ years of previous experience and/or training involving animal care, wildlife biology, or related field
•Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license
•Advanced knowledge about exotic animal husbandry and captive management
•Basic knowledge of aquatic life support system design and exhibit design
•Basic understanding of biological, mechanical, and chemical filtration systems, including: ozone mechanics, ORP, chlorine injection, ultraviolet, biological filters, and sand filters
•Basic computer skills; knowledge of Zoological Information Management Systems (ZIMS) preferred
•Must be able to lift 60 pounds and work outdoors in all weather conditions on a daily basis; must be able to tolerate strong odors, dust, hay, dander, and dampness; may be required to stand or sit for extended periods of time and/or to twist, bend, crouch, squat, climb, crawl, kneel, jump, swim, or carry objects for short distances; may be exposed to chemicals, fumes, odors, dust, moving mechanical parts, vehicles, and potentially dangerous animals
•SCUBA certification or willingness to obtain certification within 30 days of employment
Flint RiverQuarium and Chehaw Park & Zoo are Equal Opportunity Employers and provide a Smoke-Free and Drug-Free Work Environment.
Compensation and benefits
•Full-time, hourly position.
•$28,000 – 32,000 per year, based on experience.
•Health, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance packages offered to eligible employees
•457(b) package offered to eligible employees
•9 paid holidays and 10 days paid vacation
Application instructions
Email cover letter, resume, and references to SSassone@chehaw.org on or before the closing date of March 11, 2021. Subject line should include: Animal Husbandry Manager.