Animal Care Specialist - Primates (Temporary)

Philadelphia Zoo; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 22,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Philadelphia Zoo is seeking an Animal Care Specialist - Primates (Temporary) to join a dedicated team responsible for daily husbandry, welfare, exhibit maintenance, and guest engagement. Under supervision, you will ensure high-quality care for primates, follow SOPs, administer meds, and document observations.

You will collaborate with veterinary staff and nutrition teams, support enrichment initiatives, and assist in training new staff or interns.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in animal science or related field with 2 years of full-time exotic animal care experience.
• Additional 1 year of education/training/experience may substitute for a bachelor’s degree for a total of 3 years.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Responsibilities

• Perform daily husbandry for assigned primates, including cleaning and disinfection per SOP.
• Administer medications and supplements under veterinary guidance.
• Record daily activity, diet, behavior and enrichment data; communicate findings to managers.
• Prepare animal areas for safety, welfare, and guest engagement.
• Apply proper restraint techniques for transfers and procedures.
• Support training and enrichment initiatives to promote natural behaviors.
• Communicate hazards and follow emergency protocols with the team.
• Assist with intern supervision and cross-building coverage as needed.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Observation skills

Safety awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in animal science or related field

2 years full-time exotic animal care experience in AZA park or equivalent

3 years total experience with substitute option

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Animal Care Specialist - Primates (Temporary)

Animal Services Union FT Full-Time

DESCRIPTION

Basic Function: Under the supervision of the Directors, this role contributes to the success of the Philadelphia Zoo by providing high quality animal care, positive animal wellbeing, exhibit maintenance, and guest interactions within a team setting. This role possesses proven working knowledge of animal husbandry, a strong conservation ethic and exceptional interpersonal skills to provide high quality care for assigned areas. This role must be able to perform the essential functions and any assignments within the area of responsibility.

Essential Functions

• Responsible for daily husbandry for scheduled area, including cleaning and disinfection, in accordance with Zoo, AZA, and other applicable standards.
• Administers medication and supplements as directed by veterinarians and nutrition.
• Follows standard operating procedures and policies per assigned area.
• Completes and reviews daily activity reports, diet consumption reports, behavior and/or training records, enrichment records or any other written documentation on assigned animals/run. Collaborates with managers and other ACS staff on husbandry and welfare improvements based on this data.
• Observes individual animals’ daily welfare and reports and records animal behavior, food consumption, appearance etc. Reports problems or abnormalities to managers and/or the Department of Nutrition or Animal Health as appropriate.
• Prepares animal areas for aesthetics, animal safety, animal wellbeing and guest engagement (including removal of toxic plants from exhibits).
• Performs proper restraint techniques for crating, transferring or veterinary procedures.
• Participates in veterinary immobilization procedures and proper handling of capture darts.
• Provides continual environmental enrichment by approved methods/SOPs; may research and provide new enrichment initiatives.
• Following zoo procedures, works with the higher-level ACS staff to maintain existing behaviors and as assigned may need to train new behaviors. Works with managers on training projects.
• Responds to hazardous or potentially unsafe situations by following Zoo emergency protocols, and promptly notifying managers.
• Maintains knowledge about the animal residents; researches scientific journals.
• Creates opportunities for improved animal welfare, maintains environments that are species appropriate and that encourage natural behaviors / achieve welfare goals.
• Assist with creating environments that induce breeding. Shares ideas for habitat design options.
• Adheres to directives in the Zoo employee handbook, the area SOP manual, and any other supplied directives.
• Ability to be trained in multiple areas and buildings while maintaining a high animal care standard.
• Participates in assigned meetings, one on ones with supervisor and can serve on internal zoo committees.
• Provides regular feedback on day to day activities to managers.
• Completes required trainings as assigned.
• Carries out duties and responsibilities in a safe and efficient manner to maintain a safe work environment and surrounding area for oneself, animals, co-workers and public.
• May work with interns in a non-supervisory role according to the established intern program.
• ACS coordinates with ASC II, Senior ACS and managers on daily and monthly activities.
• Communicates verbally and/or in writing (i.e. email, ZIMS) information that affects the collection, facilities, or guest engagement to other specialists and managers in a timely manner.
• May be required to perform related duties as required by management.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Conservation and Science

• May participate in ex situ and/or in situ conservation initiatives. Examples include but are not limited to working with public education, marketing, research projects, SSPs, SAFE, TAGs, etc.
• May support, accommodate and/or participate in research initiatives. Examples include but are not limited to areas of animal behavior, reproduction, nutrition or health.

Public Interactions

• Represents the Philadelphia Zoo in a professional manner.
• Adheres to Zoo dress code and presents in clean and unmarred uniforms when in public view.
• Participates in scheduled talks and tours. As assigned, may participate in presentations for VIPs, guests and zoo program participants periodically.

Interpersonal Skills

• Communicates regularly with peers and managers concerning matters of animal care, safety and work schedules.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with co-workers across the organization, including volunteers and the public.
• Understands and follows verbal and written instructions.
• Demonstrates dependability, teamwork, positive attitude, resourcefulness, good judgement and uses common sense.
• Participates in assigned meetings, one on ones with supervisor, and task forces.
• Supports a cohesive and collaborative team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in animal science or other related field with a minimum of two (2) years full-time experience with exotic animals in human care in an AZA-accredited zoological park or equivalent.
• One (1) year of additional demonstrated education, training or experience supporting the Essential Functions listed above may be considered as a substitute for a bachelor’s degree for a total of three (3) years.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Physical and Medical Standards

1. 1. Successful completion of a medical screening, drug test and Mantoux tuberculin test prior to beginning work.
2. 2. Capable of performing strenuous and/or heavy physical labor.
3. 3. Able to safely move and transport up to 50 pounds.
4. 4. Able to work from heights or in confined spaces.
5. 5. Ability to work outside in all weather conditions.
6. 6. Ability to work around plants and animals.
7. 7. Must obtain proof of required vaccinations prior to employment start date and demonstrate awareness of possible exposure to other infectious and parasitic diseases which may be present in the animal collection.
8. 8. Remain in a stationary position for long periods of time.
9. 9. Ability to ascend, descend and work from stairs and ladders, move under low objects.
10. 10. Ability to use and handle hooks, tongs, catch poles, nets and other animal handling equipment.
11. 11. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
12. 12. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate in person as well as through radios, phones and computers.
13. 13. Ability to drive Zoo vehicles.
14. 14. Able to deal with possible exposure to dust, potentially dangerous and unpredictable animal species, and potentially dangerous machinery, restraint devices and hazardous chemicals and/or drugs. Use of protective clothing or equipment may be required for some tasks, including but not limited to, goggles, masks, gloves, braces, hats, gowns, boots, etc. Work in specific areas may require ability to use other protective gear (e.g. respirators).