Animal Care Specialist

Virginia Recreation and Park Society; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Recreation and Park Society seeks a dedicated animal caretaker for Meadow Farm Museum, focusing on daily care and feeding of farm animals and reptiles in a living history setting. The role includes maintaining habitats and assisting with educational programming for visitors.

Responsibilities also include data collection, inventory management, and collaboration with staff to ensure safety and welfare of animals and guests. Flexible schedule and potential holiday work may be required.

Qualifications

• Completion of relevant college coursework in animal science, biology, zoology or related field; four-year degree preferred.
• Four (4) years of relevant hands-on work experience or equivalent combination.

Responsibilities

• Care for a wide variety of farm animals, reptiles, amphibians and fish; feed and monitor health.
• Maintain animal habitats and related structures and systems.
• Assist with or develop educational programming for visitors.
• Represent the County positively in public interactions.
• Record-keeping and inventory management for animals and supplies.

Skills

Animal care

Habitat maintenance

Animal husbandry

Communication skills

Data management

Education

Bachelor's in animal science/biology/zoology

Tools

Computer skills

Job description

Serves as primary caretaker providing daily care and feedings for a wide variety of farm animals on an interpretative living history farm museum complex, or to reptiles, amphibians and fish in a nature center setting with a 50,000-gallon outdoor aquarium; provides routine care and maintenance to the animals' habitats and related structures and systems; develops and facilitates or assists with educational and informational programming; does related work as required.

• This position will be primarily stationed at Meadow Farm Museum
• Sound current working knowledge of the keeping, care, feeding, dietary and environmental needs, and display of a wide variety of farm animals
• Sound current working knowledge of animal habitat maintenance
• Sound current working knowledge of animal husbandry and wellbeing practices
• Sound current working knowledge and understanding of health maintenance, health issues, relevant appropriate treatments for common health issues, medicines and medical techniques, related healthcare supplies and rehabilitative care for animals at assigned location
• Familiarity of basic principles of positive reinforcement training
• Familiarity of basic principles of behavioral enrichment practices
• Sound working knowledge of data collection and management to create and maintain a wide variety of records and inventories
• Excellent organization skills with the demonstrated ability to plan and execute, work effectively to successfully complete assigned tasks accurately and in a timely manner within established deadlines
• Ability to multi-task effectively
• Sound critical thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to appropriately resolve a variety of questions and issues within established policies, guidelines, requirements, and procedures
• May require the ability to research issues and identify solutions
• Sound judgment with demonstrated ability to consider and weigh a variety of relevant factors and make accurate decisions or recommendations
• Visual and hearing acuity sufficient to support the safe handling and care of animals and ensure safety of self and others onsite
• Sound computer skills with ability to use computer and typical business software, proprietary software and applications to complete assigned tasks
• Excellent interpersonal and communication (verbal and written) skills to communicate information to diverse audiences in user friendly language
• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing; ability to plan, design and create live animal/reptile exhibit set-ups with a variety of methods and materials appropriate for diverse target audiences
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to collaborate effectively to establish and maintain a good working relationship with all levels of Division staff, contractors, and other relevant stakeholders
• Personal accountability including teamwork and establishing and maintaining positive working relationships
• Excellent customer service skills with the demonstrated ability to interact patiently, respectfully and with tact and courtesy with all site visitors and other stakeholders with varying levels of understanding and needs to appropriately address requests, needs and issues
• Must be able to represent the County positively and appropriately in interactions with the public and other site-specific stakeholders
• May be required to work holidays as assigned
• Requires the ability to work a flexible schedule, including days, evenings, weekends, and on-call as needed

A criminal history record check and fingerprinting is conducted on all persons conditionally offered employment, including a conditional offer of initial employment, or a conditional offer to promote, demote, or laterally transfer an employee.

Completion of relevant college-level coursework in animal science, biology, zoology, or a related field; relevant four (4) year degree preferred, and four (4) years of relevant hands-on work experience; OR, any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Applicants considered for employment must successfully complete the following background investigations/tests:

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal History Investigation
• State Police Criminal History Investigation
• Child Protective Services (CPS) Investigation (Dept. of Social Services, JRJDC, Juvenile Detention Home)

EEO Statement

The County seeks to hire the best-qualified applicants available for each position vacancy, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including lactation), age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or military status, status as an organ donor, or any other characteristic protected by law (except where such is a bona fide occupational qualification).