Animal Keeper Assistant

Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation; Valdosta (GA); Hybrid; USD 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free season admission

Complimentary tickets

Team member events

Park discounts

Promotions opportunities

Recognition & prizes

Family-oriented environment

Job summary

Wild Adventures Theme Park is seeking an Assistant Animal Care teammate to support basic daily animal husbandry under supervision. Responsibilities include feeding, cleaning, guest interactions, and delivering educational presentations.

With training from senior staff, you will help manage education animals, maintain daily records, and participate in public programs. Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds and read/write English; weekends and holidays may be required.

Qualifications

• Experience in animal husbandry basics preferred.
• Willing to read, write, and follow instructions.
• Able to lift up to 50 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Feed animals according to set diet guidelines.
• Clean assigned animal holding to standards.
• Public speaking and educational presentations.
• Assist with education animals under supervision.

Skills

Accuracy

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Customer Oriented

Detail-Oriented

Self-motivated

Initiative

Time Management

Relationship Building

Applied Learning

Education

High School / GED preferred

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Under direction by Senior Biologist, Zoological Supervisor, or Zoological Curator the assistant responsibilities will include basic animal husbandry on a daily basis. This will include feeding and cleaning of exhibits and holding to established standards. Assistants will also be responsible for public interactions and educational presentations:

• ability to feed animals following set diet guidelines
• clean assigned animal holding to established standards
• public speaking
• with direction and training from Senior Biologist, Zoological Supervisor or Zoological Curator, the ability to handle education animals
• ability to lift 50 pounds
• ability to follow and understand instructions
• be able to keep a daily written record of animals and events

BEYOND PAYDAY PERKS:

• FREE Season Admission to Wild Adventures For You and One Guest
• Complimentary Tickets To Give To Others
• Exclusive Team Member Events
• Park Wide Discounts
• Internal Promotions / Career Development Opportunities
• Team Member Recognition and Prizes
• Wholesome, family-oriented work environment

BENEFITS:

Health Benefits and 401K offered after the waiting period

Required Skills

Competency Statements

• Accuracy - Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly.
• Analytical Skills - The Ability to be given direction, understand the direction, and achieve positive results by analyzing the situation, the materials given, and the tasks to be done.
• Communication Skills - Ability to communicate effectively with others using spoken or written words.
• Customer Oriented - Ability to take care of the guests'' needs while following company procedures.
• Detail-Oriented - Ability to pay attention to the small things. Like wiping down the stainless steel trash cans in the restrooms or removing spots from the mirrors.
• Self-motivated - Ability to be internally inspired to perform a task to the best of one's ability using his or her own drive or initiative and not requiring constant supervision to achieve positive results.
• Applied Learning - Ability to participate in needed learning activities in a way that makes the most of the learning experience.
• Initiative - Ability to make decisions or take actions to solve a problem or reach a goal.
• Time Management - Ability to utilize the available time to organize and complete work within given deadlines.
• Responsible - Ability to be held accountable or answerable for one's conduct.
• Self-motivated - Ability to be internally inspired to perform a task to the best of one's ability using his or her own drive or initiative.
• Relationship Building - Ability to effectively build relationships with customers and co-workers.

EXPERIENCE:

Related experience includes experience either as an intern or paid employee of a pet store, animal breeding facility (horse, dogs, etc), zoo, or aquarium resulting in direct knowledge of Animal Husbandry basics and guidelines.

EDUCATION:

Currently enrolled in High School, High School Graduate, or GED preferred

COMPUTER SKILLS:

Competency in basic computer applications, including Microsoft Office Word and Excel

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Mustbe at least 18 years of age
• Must be able to read, write, and speak English
• Must be available to work days, evenings, weekdays, weekends, and holidays as needed
• Must have reliable transportation

Wild Adventures Theme Park is an equal-opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status. Wild Adventures Theme Park drives a welcoming culture where ideas and decisions from all people support our efforts to be relevant in an ever-changing world.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

N (Not Applicable) Activity is not applicable to this position.

O (Occasionally) Position requires this activity up to 33% of the time (0 - 2.5+ hrs/day)

F (Frequently) Position requires this activity from 33% - 66% of the time (2.5 - 5.5+ hrs/day)

C (Constantly) Position requires this activity more than 66% of the time (5.5+ hrs/day)

Stand C Lift/Carry

Walk C 10 lbs or less C

Sit O 11-20 lbs C

Manually Manipulate C 21-50 lbs F

Grasp C 51-100 lbs O

Reach Outward F Over 100 lbs O

Reach Above Shoulder F

Speak O Push/Pull

Climb O 12 lbs or less C

Crawl O 13-25 lbs C

Squat or Kneel F 26-40 lbs F

Bend F 41-100 lbs O

Other Physical Requirements

Vision (Near, Distance, Color, Peripheral, Depth)

Sense of Sound - ability to hear with both ears

Sense of Smell

Sense of Taste

Sense of Touch

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.