Facility
Oakland Zoo
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
The Senior or Lead Animal Keeper responsible for the daily management of the Children’s Zoo String animals and facilities. This position is responsible for the daily management of the mammals in the Children’s Zoo including fruit bats, otters, rabbits, lemurs, pigs, and the goats and sheep in the petting yard. They are also responsible for supervising the String staff that includes two keepers, float keepers, apprentices, keeper aides, as well as interns, volunteers, and petting yard attendants. 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 or Lead Animal Keeper takes direction from the Zoological Manager and Department Vice President regarding daily operations as appropriate.
• 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
• 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
• Train, inspire, coach, set expectations, and provide feedback with a wide variety of people including docents, teen volunteers, and Education staff
• Guide and support junior staff and volunteers as appropriate
• represent the Zoo in a variety of public settings including press interviews, instructional classes, and casual communication with Zoo guests
• 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
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned
Education and Pre-requisites
• At least five years full time professional experience in the care of wildlife at an AZA zoo or comparable facility
• Ability to train, inspire, coach, set expectations, and provide feedback with a wide variety of people
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
• Willingness to work outside normal business hours including weekends and holidays
• Knowledge of the habits and hazards of working with wild animals; willingness to work with some physical risk while observing proper safety precautions
Bonus if you have…
• 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 and experience with the taxa listed above
• Managing staff and animals in a petting yard
• Hoof trimming experience
Compensation and benefits
Salary Range: $26.29/hour (senior) $29.15/hour (lead)
Comprehensive benefits package including 403b
Application instructions
Applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, and 3 professional references to the link below
Candidates not meeting minimum requirements may not receive a response.
Applicants selected for candidacy are required to attend an on-site working interview.
https://recruiting2.ultipro.com/OAK1008OZOO/JobBoard/754619c4-d7c6-489f-83fa-37cd81c2513d/Opportunity/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=6f61a4cf-c1e6-450c-8316-ff27704e3606