Facility
Chehaw Park & Zoo
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
The Artesian Alliance is embarking on a period of improvement and growth as we implement a newly-imagined Vision and Master Plan for Chehaw Park & Zoo and Flint RiverQuarium. We have enrolled in AZA’s Pathway Toward Membership Program to confirm our commitment to achieving AZA accreditation.
We are looking for a motivated professional to lead our terrestrial 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 safety standards, 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 is a working supervisory role that will require some direct, hands-on animal care work.
Managers will share knowledge and skills across all Artesian Alliance animal facilities and will have opportunities to participate in programs at both Chehaw Park & Zoo and Flint RiverQuarium.
Basic Job Duties:
• Responsible for coordination and quality control of daily husbandry routines, team dynamics, animal well-being, public engagement, and tidiness of work and viewing areas
• Coordinate the tidiness, hygiene, and maintenance of animal enclosures, service areas, and viewing areas; oversee department projects and monitor work
• Lead in the training of husbandry staff on all husbandry related topics
• Process employee concerns and problems; provide functional assistance and guidance for staff in the care, maintenance, and display of collection animals
• Develop and write departmental policies and procedures, as recommended by AZA or as needed, to improve efficiency
• Responsible for ordering and coordinating delivery of feed and other supplies related to the daily management of the animal collection
• Supervise all animal capture and restraint events to optimize staff and animal safety
• Responsible for coordinating veterinary rounds
• Maintain familiarity with and awareness of applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures
• Actively renovate and improve exhibits by creating and implementing new design features; encourage staff to routinely renovate and improve exhibits
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 life support systems and exhibit design
• 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
• Willingness to participate in staff vaccination program to prevent zoonotic disease transfer, scheduled as recommended by CDC; may include tetanus, TB skin test, rabies, Hepatitis A & B, Covid-19, Influenza; vaccinations may be provided to successful candidates
• All job offers are contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation and drug test results
Compensation and benefits
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $37000.00 – $40000.00 per year, based on experience
Benefits:
• Paid-time-off (vacation, holiday, sick)
• Vision, dental, and health insurance
• Retirement plan
• Participation in staff vaccination program
• Relocation package available to eligible new hires
The Albany Metropolitan area includes welcoming cities such as Leesburg, Putney, Sylvester, and Sasser. These cities boast cost-of-living numbers much lower than the national average and are all within easy commute of Flint RiverQuarium and Chehaw Park & Zoo.
• Leesburg: 13% lower COL, 18 minute commute
• Putney: 28% lower COL, 15 minute commute
• Sylvester: 26% lower COL, 28 minute commute
• Sasser: 24% lower COL, 22 minute commute
https://visitalbanyga.com/
Application instructions
Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected] prior to May 31, 2023.