EPART

MENT Animal Care  R

EPORT

S TO Animal Care Manager and Lead Keeper  P

AY RA

TE Starting at $16.00-$21.00/hr based on experience  E

XEMPT

/NON-EXEMPT Non-exempt  F

ULL-T

IME/PART-TIME Full-time ABOU

THE ORGANIZATION The

etro Richmond Zoo’s mission is to promote animal conservation and inspire guests by providing up-close, educational encounters with the wild. The zoo is situated on 150 acres of land and is home to over 2,000 animals representing 190 species from around the world. The zoo is accredited by the Zoological Association of America and is well-known for its conservation programs for cheetahs, African penguins, and Diana monkeys POSI

ON SUMMARY Unde

the guidance of the lead keepers, zookeepers are responsible for providing high quality care to all animals at the Metro Richmond Zoo including all species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. Zookeepers prepare and distribute diets, clean exhibits, provide enrichment, and more. The zoo can assist zookeepers with housing if needed. ESSE

IAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Overs

e daily husbandry for a wide variety of animals in zookeeper’s area Prepar
e and distribute regular and special animal diets Proper
ly clean, disinfect, and maintain animal exhibits Spray,
scrub, sweep, rake, shovel animal feces Prepar
e and distribute animal enrichment items Unders
tand and maintain safety standards for animals, guests, and team members Observ
e animals daily to monitor health and well-being Observ
e animals daily to monitor for illness or injury and report appropriately to vet team and lead keepers Assist
vet team as needed with administering medications, providing treatment, and handling animals Identi
fy maintenance issues and resolve or report as necessary Docume
nt animal records with accuracy Assist
in animal emergencies Daily
interaction with public through the use of ambassador animals, keeper talks, and up-close experiences Lead e
ducation programs (zoo to you, behind-the-scenes tours, school presentations, animal encounters) Assist
the zoo in any other duties PHYSIC

AL REQUIREMENTS Zook

epers must have the ability to: Walk

a
nd stand and bend over for long periods of time Naviga
te zoo grounds with or without a vehicle Traver
se animal exhibits by climbing, bending, kneeling, twisting, reaching, and crawling Regula
rly move 50 lb objects Perfor
m duties for 8 hours a day Have a
full range of motion in the back and all extremities Work i
n a non-smoking environment QUALIF

ICATIONS Zook

epers must: Be a

least 18 years old Have a
Bachelor’s degree or higher or have a high school degree with at least 2 years of paid animal experience Have a
valid driver’s license Be sel
f-motivated in work ethic and be willing to learn and integrate information, knowledge, and direction quickly Be rel
iable and show initiative Be abl
e to work outdoors in all weather from 0°F to over 100°F Be abl
e to communicate clearly in written and verbal forms Have g
ood interpersonal skills Be abl
e to interact with guests in a courteous and professional manner Be abl
e to handle stressful situations calmly and effectively Be abl
e to maintain focus and mental stability at all times Be abl
e to handle multiple tasks Be abl
e to work independently and as part of a team Have g
reat attention to detail Have a
deep love for animals and their wellbeing Have i
ntermediate computer skills (proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Drive) HOURS

Full-

ime employment 40 hou
rs a week (Zoo does not offer overtime hours) 5 days
a week Must h
ave ability to work flexible hours, including weekdays, weekends, holidays, and some early evenings PERKS

AND BENEFITS Free

oo and zipline tickets Food a
nd merchandise discounts Work w
ith a variety of exotic animals Day-ti
me hours (no nights) Variab
le work tasks Fast-p
aced: no dull moments Work o
utdoors and indoors Career
advancement opportunities Medica
l Retire
ment with company match PTO So
me p
aid holidays ALCOHO

L AND DRUG TESTING Team

members and interns may not arrive on duty under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Since this position is a safety-sensitive position, team members may be subject to random alcohol and drug testing. DISC

IMER This

job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties performed by the team member or intern. All team members and interns are required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by their supervisors. HOW

APPLY 1 Co

plete employment application 2 Pr

pare resume and optional cover letter 3 Dr

p o

Metro Richmond Zoo

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ZOOKEEPER, Animal Care Department