JOB DESCRIPTION
Under the supervision of the Zoo Curator, the Swing Zookeeper performs the full range of activities required for the care and management of animals in a municipal zoo collection including maintaining a safe, healthy, clean, and attractive living environment and provides courteous assistance to the public. This employee should possess excellent public relation, organizational, and communication skills.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Some adverse working conditions exist within this position. Exposure to blood borne pathogens, hazardous chemicals, work in confined spaces, and all types of weather conditions is expected. This employee handles potentially dangerous animals.
Some manual labor including lifting and carrying heavy objects, extensive walking, and the ability to operate departmental equipment is required daily in this position.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provides care for a variety of animals in the zoo in a support role for area keepers on their days off.
- Observes, interprets, and documents animal behaviors, health status, and food consumption; Advises supervisory staff of problems or concerns; Provides animals with adequate diets, fresh water and activities to maintain animal physical and psychological well-being; Provides care for animals such as vaccinations and medical treatments; Provides proper habitats for the collection of animals.
- Maintains indoor and outdoor cages, enclosures, exhibits, holding cages and service areas by cleaning, disinfecting and performing general maintenance to these areas as needed; Conducts inspections of their areas and grounds to ensure animal well-being and the security of City property.
- Assists with injury rehabilitation, behavior modification and enrichment programs for animals; Provides animal with interactive items and activities to relieve stress and boredom; Provides exercise for animals as needed; Assists the veterinarian in the evaluation, diagnosis, medication, medication dosage calculation, and treatment of diseased animals; administers first aid to injured or sick animals.
- Performs preventative or routine maintenance of animal environments including collection, installation, and/or maintenance of furnishings and substrates; Assists with planting of landscape materials; Opens and closes zoo buildings and grounds and assists in providing security during public hours; Assists in providing zoo visitors informational, promotional, and educational opportunities.
- Understands principals of operant conditioning methods for use in husbandry and animal welfare application.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Education: A high school diploma or GED is required. Some college credit or a degree in biology, zoology, or a related field is preferred.
- Experience: Two or more years of work experience in a zoological, wildlife park, or a closely related environment is required. Employee is expected to have acquired the necessary information and skills to perform the job reasonably well within six months of employment.
- Experience with a variety of species, is preferable for this position.
- Licenses: A valid driver's license is required.
BENEFITS
- Group Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- KPERS Defined Benefit Retirement
- Insured Disability
- Death Benefit
- Life Insurance
- Service Connected Death
- Optional Voluntary Life Insurance
- 457 Retirement Savings Plan
- Medical Spending Account
- Dependent Care Spending Account
- Vacation Leave
- Sick Leave
- Employee Assistance Program
Posted
August 17, 2021*
*
Employment Type
Full-time, Non-exempt*
*
Compensation
$13.99 - $20.98 Hourly*
*
Company
City of Hutchinson
Location
Hutchinson Zoo, 6 Emerson Loop East
Hutchinson, KS 67501
US
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $13.99 - $20.98 per hour