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Title

Animal Care Manager 

Description

This is your opportunity to join the Woodland Park Zoo as an Animal Care Manager with the newly formed Amabassador Animal and Behavorial Husbandry Team! There is one, full-time, regular, benefitted position open at this time. Experience with Ambassador Animals in a show or outreach setting, public speaking, operant conditioning in a zoological setting with a variety of species, and coaching others to succeed in these areas are preferred.

SUMMARY

Under direction of an Animal Curator, this position oversees a part of the Animal Management department. The position contributes as a whole to the operation of the Animal Care Division.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Ensure that the highest animal care and welfare standards are upheld and continuously improved upon according to established zoo policies and procedures, and standards set by regulatory agencies.
  • Take a lead role during drills and emergencies such as animal escapes or natural disasters, and coordinate Firearms Team operations.
  • Identify and report potential safety problems, finding ways to reduce risks and injuries.
  • Represent the veterinary needs and interests of the animals to the Animal Health Department and maintain effective and timely communication between Animal Management and Animal Health.
  • Responsible for oversight, performance appraisals, and resolving personnel issues for direct reports.
  • Ensure that Animal Keeper staff is allocated appropriately for optimal animal care, including arranging coverage for vacation, illnesses and other absences; maintain a detailed scheduling database for the animal management department.
  • Facilitate, oversee and evaluate the behavioral husbandry program for assigned area.
  • Track pending maintenance and improvement work requests for animal exhibits and holding areas, authorizing and prioritizing those requests.
  • Coordinate and communicate effectively with other departments regarding shared concerns.
  • Make recommendations to Animal Curator regarding purchases.
  • Support and encourage professional development opportunities for staff.
  • Provide assistance in the planning and development of new animal exhibits, including concepts, designs, and monitoring the impact to Animal Management operations.
  • Assist Animal Curators with animal collection planning, acquisition and transfer, establishing and communicating care parameters for newly acquired species, ensuring regulatory compliance, and acting as spokesperson for the zoo in order to respond to questions from the media, Board members, the AZA, other professional organizations and the public.
  • Represent Woodland Park Zoo to the AZA and other professional organizations, as well as to the media as required
  • Support fundraising/development efforts of Woodland Park Zoo.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This job supervises Animal Keepers. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • Expertise with a broad range of species.
  • Successfully demonstrated leadership and management skills with a minimum of one to two years’ supervisory experience.
  • Capacity to achieve superior results working both independently and as a member of a team.
  • Excellent interpersonal and organizational communication skills.
  • Effective experience mentoring, coaching and training others.
  • Outstanding organizational skills with the ability to balance and prioritize multiple tasks and requests, and meet deadlines in a professional manner.
  • This position may require that the individual be available or on-call 24 hours a day; weekend, evening, and holiday work may be required.
  • Possess personal transportation and be willing to travel as necessary.
  • Commitment to the mission of the zoo and the institution’s Core Values.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree in a life sciences field from an accredited four-year college or university; and five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience required.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

  • TB test done annually.
  • Professional membership of AZA.
  • Valid US driver’s license required.

COMPUTER SKILLS

Solid computer skills, including proficiency working with databases and Microsoft Office suite, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquires or complaints from visitors, regulatory agencies, or members of professional organizations. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to leadership, public groups, professional groups, and/or board of directors.

MATHEMATICAL ABILITY

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The position requires an ability to walk or transit across the 92-acre facility in variable weather conditions and enter non-public behind the scenes staff areas.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds when cleaning and maintaining exhibitry and moving animals. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Evaluating animal health, diet, or environment requires hearing, smell, and a variety of vision capabilities. Interaction with visitors and animals requires talking and hearing.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet or humid conditions (non-weather) and variable weather conditions. The employee is occasionally in direct contact with exotic animals. The employee is occasionally exposed to work near moving mechanical parts; work in high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; risk of electrical shock and vibration.

The noise level in the work environment varies. Occasional loud noises from visitors, animals or equipment are experienced.

APPLICATION DIRECTIONS: Applications are accepted online through our Jobs Page (zoo.org/jobs) or this posting. No other forms of application will be accepted. Cover letter and resume are required.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Woodland Park Zoo is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression.

 
Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time  
Exempt/Non-Exempt Non-Exempt  
Req Number ANI-19-00017  
EOE Statement Woodland Park Zoo is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in application and employment for any reason, including race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, age, disability or medical status including genetic information, and/or veteran’s status.
 

This position is currently not accepting applications.

To search for an open position, please go to http://WoodlandParkZoo.appone.com



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