Facility

Houston Zoo

Closing Date

[jobclosingdate]

Description

The sea lion keeper position is a full time, year-round position and includes responsibility for the care, husbandry, and training of the zoo’s 2.2 California sea lions. Applicants must have excellent communication skills and a willingness to interact positively with the zoo staff and guests. Applicants must also work effectively in a team environment and possess good organizational skills. The applicant needs a thorough understanding of operant conditioning training techniques & appropriate application methods. Applicants are required to participate in daily presentations, evening special events and guest interactions. Duties include providing the best quality of life for the animal collection by maintaining all aspects of daily animal husbandry, maintain filtration system, conditioning and maintaining husbandry and presentation behaviors, and the encouragement of public interest in the animals through educational presentations, public relations and media events.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
 Carries out all aspects of the daily care of assigned animals including cleaning, feeding, exhibit maintenance, general upkeep of support facilities.
 Maintains clean and organized exhibits, holding areas, service areas and equipment.
 Prepares and feeds appropriate diets as per established feeding practices and diet sheets.
 Administers prescribed medications, supplements, or treatments under the guidance of the veterinary and supervisory staff.
 Records and reports any abnormal animal health or behavioral issues to the Zoo Supervisor.
 Maintains daily reports, logs, training and enrichment records, research or veterinary records, as appropriate and according to established guidelines; requires basic skills with TRACKS and Microsoft Office software applications.
 Understands and applies a practical understanding of operant conditioning as it relates to the daily management of species under his/her care.
 Understands and applies the basic principles of animal enrichment as part of the daily management of species under his/her care.
 Maintains clean and organized exhibits, equipment, and keeper areas.
 As appropriate, maintains water quality through filtration, balance of chemical elements, and sanitation methods for aquatic or semi-aquatic animal species.
 As appropriate, maintains live exhibit plantings to enhance exhibit aesthetics; eliminates weeds and toxic plants from animal enclosures.
 In conjunction with the Zoo’s pest control officer, may assist in pest control through the use of exclusion or traps.
 Identifies potential maintenance or safety issues and reports them to the Zoo Supervisor.
 Participates in keeper chats, tours, animal presentations or demonstrations, and/or other public interactions as requested by the Zoo Supervisor.
 May assist with departmental research projects, conservation, AZA, or other industry activities as directed/approved by the Zoo Supervisor or Curator; provides support for other Zoo projects as needed.
 May oversee work activities and/or provide training for interns, seasonal workers, or volunteers.
 Exhibits good teamwork and communication skills both within the home team and when working with other teams or departments.
 May be required to safely operate a motor vehicle.
 Other duties as assigned.

Education and Pre-requisites

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE:
• Two-year or four-year degree in one of the natural sciences or a closely related discipline or a certificate of completion from an acceptable exotic animal care program of not less than 30 semester hours is preferred.
• One year of experience in animal care at an AZA or equivalent facility, gained through employment, internships, or volunteer experience. Sea lion experience is preferred.
• Specific training and work experience in other settings, such as aquaculture, schools, nature centers, agricultural operations, or conservation centers may be considered on a case-by-case basis as fulfillment for the experience requirements.
• Strong interpersonal, team-building, and communication skills.
• Valid Texas driver’s license or ability to obtain one within 60 days of employment.

Compensation and benefits

Not specified.

Application instructions

Applicants can visit http://www.houstonzoo.org/careers to download an application
E-mail resume and completed application to careers@houstonzoo.org
Houston Zoo is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer