Animal Technician

Baton Rouge Zoo Foundation; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

The Baton Rouge Zoo Foundation is seeking an Animal Technician to perform daily animal husbandry, including feeding animals, cleaning exhibits, maintaining enrichment, and ensuring safety for animals and guests.

Requires a High School Diploma or equivalent and at least 1 year of experience; a valid Louisiana driver's license is required or obtainable within 60 days. This full-time, on-site position may include holidays and weekends.

Qualifications

• Education required: High School Diploma or equivalent.
• 1 year of experience in animal care or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must be able to obtain LA driver's license within 60 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Feeds and handles animals and cleans the exhibits.
• Provides enrichment and maintains exhibit furniture.
• Unloads feed trucks and keeps grounds free of litter.
• Recognizes and reports abnormal behavior or physical condition of animals.
• Interacts with zoo guests and provides information as needed.
• Performs oral and written reports.
• Assists veterinarians.

Skills

Animal husbandry

Dangerous animal handling

Follow instructions

Observation of animal health

Work with minimal supervision

Outdoor work

Emergency judgment

Guest interaction

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

General Summary

The Animal Technician performs animal husbandry which includes feeding animals and cleaning animal facilities.

Requirements and Job Specifications

Education Required: High School Diploma or equivalent

License(s) Required: Valid LA driver's license in good standing. Must be able to obtain a LA driver's license within 60 days of hire.

Years of Relevant Work Experience: 1 year experience in animal care. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Knowledge of animal care and basic husbandry skills
• Knowledge of techniques to work with dangerous wild and exotic animals in a controlled environment
• Ability to explicitly follow instructions.
• Ability to recognize abnormal behavior / physical condition of animals.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision
• Ability to work in close proximity to dangerous animals.
• Ability to work outdoors in hot or inclement weather
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in emergency situations
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with management, other employees, volunteers, and zoo guests.

Functions and Duties

Essential Functions And Duties

• Feeds and handles animals and cleans the exhibits.
• Assures security.
• Recognizes and reports abnormal behavior or physical condition of animals.
• Unloads feed trucks.
• Keeps grounds free of litter.
• Interacts with public.
• Performs oral and written reports.
• Provides enrichment and maintains exhibit furniture.

Secondary Job Duties

• Assists veterinarians.
• Performs public relation duties.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. He or she will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties as requested by his or her supervisor.

Supplemental Information

Full-time position; schedules vary, within the framework of 8 hours/5 days per week, lunch break daily; Overtime as required. Must be able to work holidays and weekends, irregular hours and weekends as required.