PT Zookeeper - Birds

Department:  Zoo 

Job ID: 12947

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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