Zookeeper - Birds - ZOO

Department: Zoo

Job ID: 13270

Pay: $20.72 per hour

Work Schedule:

Sedgwick County offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees that includes health coverages, paid leave, regular compensation reviews, retirement plans, and professional development opportunities. For more detailed information, please visit our benefits page at SCBenefits .

In a team setting provides daily care for avian collection including: feeding, cleaning, monitoring artificial egg incubation, hand-rearing neonates; observing, recording, and reporting behavior. Participates in animal well-being assessment practices. Produces and provides goal-based animal training and enrichment. Inspects facilities for security, safety, repair and maintenance. Interacts and provides customer service to all Zoo-defined customers. Job duties may extend to other animal taxa. This position participates in a mandatory on-call rotation.

Animal Care and Management

- Ensure animals are housed and cared for in ways that meet all Zoo-defined goals.

- Observe and understand the complexities of animal behavior, including individual animals and larger social context, animal general health, and behavior.

- Recognize abnormalities and potential medical conditions, and communicate observations of animal behavior and health condition to veterinary staff, supervisor, curator, and other pertinent staff members.

- Handle animals for husbandry needs, medical purposes, and in preparation for transport.

- Monitor incubation process of eggs; record weights and size. Set eggs in incubators, monitor temperature and humidity, candle eggs to determine fertility, and assist in egg hatching, under the direction of supervisor and curator.

- Enter and swim in aquatic habitats, on occasion, but never fully submerges (head stays above water).

- Follow all safety protocols and area SOP’s while working with and around delicate, wild and potentially dangerous animals. Complete required training and safely operate all zoo-required equipment for completion of job duties.

- Drive Zoological Society-owned vehicles, as needed, to care for or transfer animals to other zoological facilities. Animal transfer trips may occasionally require overnight travel.

Animal Well-being

- Through consultation with supervisors and other resources, develop and maintain a skillset of positive animal well-being and animal training.

- Use positive reinforcement training to assist with husbandry tasks and to maintain a safe working environment.

- Maintain thorough and accurate record keeping: animal training, enrichment, behavioral observations and health conditions.

Area Maintenance

- Clean and maintain service areas, animal habitats and public areas so they are clean, organized and aesthetically pleasing.

- Complete daily inspections of animal habitats and associated facilities for security and safety concerns.

- Conduct minor repairs to facilities or promptly submits concerns to supervisor.

- Ensure that habitats are ready for public display in a timely manner.

- Communicate any pest control concerns to supervisors or veterinary team.

Minimum Qualifications: Three years of experience in Biology, Zoology, Animal Care, or a related field. Up to three years of experience (all) may be substituted with education that provides applicable knowledge and skills. Per Sedgwick County policy, this is a driving level position that requires a valid US driver’s license without restrictions and current proof of automobile insurance.

Preferred Qualifications: Two years of animal care experience. Experience with operant conditioning and enrichment techniques, experience with power tools, experience using a skid steer and bobcat. Degree in Zoology, Biology, or a related field from an accredited college or university.

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