Animal Care Assistant at Old World Wisconsin - LTE

State of Wisconsin; Eagle (NJ); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Animal Care Assistant for a unique opportunity at an outdoor living history museum. This role involves caring for farm animals during educational programs, ensuring their health and well-being. The position requires hands-on work in a beautiful outdoor environment, allowing you to connect with history while making a positive impact on visitors' experiences. If you have a passion for animal care and enjoy working in a collaborative team, this role offers a chance to thrive in a dynamic and engaging setting. Join us in bringing history to life!

Qualifications

• Experience with animal care in farm, zoo, or park settings.
• Ability to complete humane animal care training and drive vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily care, feeding, and cleaning of farm animals.
• Monitor animal health and maintain detailed records.

Skills

Animal Care Experience

Communication Skills

Team Collaboration

Problem Solving

Manual Dexterity

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

Pickup Truck

Tractor

Computer

Job description

Press Control+M to start dragging object

Job Title: Animal Care Assistant at Old World Wisconsin - LTE

The Wisconsin Historical Society, considered one of the nation's finest historical institutions, is a State of Wisconsin government agency as well as a mission-driven entrepreneurial organization. The Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS), founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. At its core, WHS believes that increasing the public's knowledge of history has profound societal, cultural, and economic benefit. Its library, archives and collections, historic sites and museums, historic preservation office, and extensive educational programs and community outreach are focused on our vision to enrich and transform lives through unparalleled access to history.

WHS is committed to being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization because we truly believe this is the most effective way to attract, engage, and retain the best talent and the most meaningful way to support our mission.

Position Summary

Old World Wisconsin is a 600-acre outdoor living history museum located in Eagle, Wisconsin. Guests explore homes, farms, and businesses that come from across Wisconsin, exploring stories of place and perseverance from the 1840s to the 1930s. With a focus on hands-on exploration and immersive spaces, OWW is a celebrated destination for families and friends making new memories, sharing stories, and connecting to Wisconsin's past as they get inspired for their own futures. Staff work in historic indoor and outdoor spaces in the beauty of the Kettle Moraine State Forest to bring history to life for tens of thousands of guests each summer.

The Animal Care Assistants support the care of farm animals located at Old World Wisconsin during the six-month period (March-August) when these animals are on-site, being used for educational programs. Under the direction of the Animal Programs Coordinator and Site Director, they apply WHS approved animal care policies and guidance from OWW veterinarians to provide daily care of animals through feeding, watering, cleaning animal enclosures and shelters, monitoring health, and recording daily care and observations. This position assists with the relocation of animals from behind-the-scenes winter facilities to historic farms on site in early spring. Work is performed behind the scenes in a modern Animal Care Facility as well as outdoors in historical farm settings.

Duties:

• Provide daily feeding and watering of animals
• Provide daily cleaning and disinfecting of animal habitats, related structures, and surrounding non-public areas
• Provide daily observations of animals to identify normal and abnormal behaviors related to husbandry/ health issues; coordinate with staff on animal training programs to facilitate husbandry behaviors
• Administer prescribed dosages of vitamins and medications, when necessary, perform minor first aid, assist with basic healthcare procedures (hoof care, neonatal care)
• Move, load, and unload animals as instructed; drive vehicles to pick-up and deliver supplies and animals
• Interact with, handle and move animals in a humane and safe manner
• Communicate questions and concerns regarding medical/ health issues of animals in collection to the supervisor. Assist with treatments as directed
• Implement daily purposeful enrichment and documentation to promote, encourage, and evaluate goal-based behavioral enrichment
• Work with Animal Program Coordinator on animal training programs to facilitate husbandry behaviors
• Keep detailed digital and written records of animal weights, health, enrichment, training, and behaviors, and ensure records are up to date and accurate
• Other duties as assigned

Salary Information

Pay is $19.00 per hour with a weekend differential of 80 cents per hour. This classification is in schedule and class 03-11.

Please note this is a Limited Term Employment position so it does not include paid time off or benefits upon hire.

A criminal background check will be conducted by WHS prior to an offer of employment to determine if the circumstances of any conviction may be related to the job.

This is a Limited Term Employment (LTE) position and limited to 1,039 hours. This is a year-round position and will average 40 hours per week.

Wisconsin residency is required for Limited Term Employment positions.

Limited Term Employment (LTE) positions are not civil service classified positions, do not give any rights to permanent civil service classified positions and do not lead to permanent status.

WHS does not sponsor work visas. Any appointment made will be contingent on the applicant being able to prove valid status to work in the United States.

Qualifications

• Experience with animal care on a farm, zoo, or park
• Ability to complete mandatory humane animal care training
• Possess a valid driver’s license and able to drive a pickup truck and tractor
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to use a computer for email, time reporting, and animal records
• Ability to function and cooperate in a team environment
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Ability to problem solve and handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment
• Maintains a hardworking, positive attitude
• Ability to stand for long periods of time
• Ability to work in all-weather without access to heated or air-conditioned spaces
• Sufficient hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity to perform tasks in a safe manner
• Ability to safely move in a farm environment, including tasks such as baling hay, boarding and alighting from a truck, and entering animal enclosures
• Ability to safely move between outdoor locations, up to .5 miles, several times per day
• Work is performed in and around historic and modern farm structures lacking climate control and with direct exposure to the outdoors in farm and wooded environments, including allergens and insects
• Work will be performed in all weather
• Days and hours may vary, ability to work weekends and holidays

How To Apply

Apply online! To apply, click “Apply for Job” to start the application process. Then, you will access your existing account or create a new account if you don’t have one. Once you are logged in, click “Apply for Job.” Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application.

Your letter of qualifications and resume are very important parts of your application and are used during our evaluation process to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. For instructions on developing your resume and letter of qualifications for your application and what should be included in these materials, click here.

Submitted materials will be evaluated and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the hiring process.

We are an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.