Keeper A, B or C, Vet Hospital

Oakland Zoo; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

403b retirement plan

Paid Time Off

Zoo Membership

Job summary

Oakland Zoo is seeking an Animal Keeper for the Vet Hospital to maintain health and well-being of animals. You will engage in daily care, feeding, enrichment, and record-keeping, while supporting volunteers and interns and representing the Zoo publicly when needed.

The role requires working with potentially dangerous wildlife, lifting up to 50 lbs, and possibly working evenings, weekends, and holidays. A valid driver's license and TB/tetanus compliance are expected.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year full-time experience in the care of captive wildlife, preferably AZA/GFAS facility.
• Willingness to work outside normal business hours including weekends, evenings, and holidays.
• Valid driver's license with a clean driving record.
• Medical requirements: TB test in past year and tetanus vaccine in past 10 years.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs and move 120 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily care of animals in the Veterinary Hospital, including feeding and sanitation.
• Assess physical and psycho-social health; implement enrichment as needed.
• Lead enrichment programs and regular training sessions for operant conditioning.
• Support veterinary team with non-husbandry tasks and data entry.
• Represent the Zoo in public settings and media when appropriate.

Skills

Animal care

Vet hospital exp

Enrichment program

Operant conditioning

Communication

Education

Experience with captive wildlife

Job description

Full-time

Description

Pay range: To maintain internal equity, we have identified the starting range for this position at the Oakland Zoo as $28.54- $29.85 per hour. An offer within this range will be determined by the experience and qualifications of a candidate and will be our best and final compensation offer, in alignment with Oakland Zoo's compensation philosophy.

This position is subject to a collective bargaining agreement.The application deadline is November 13, 2026.

Position Summary

The Animal Keeper, Vet Hospital plays an integral role in maintaining the physical health and psychological well-being of the animals at Oakland Zoo’s Veterinary Hospital. Daily work includes the physical tasks associated with feeding, enrichment, and maintenance of the animals’ living areas, as well as the analytical tasks of planning, record-keeping, and communication with team members. The Animal Keeper, Vet Hospital assists in training and mentoring volunteers and interns and may be expected to represent the Zoo in a variety of public settings including press interviews, instructional classes, and casual communication with Zoo guests.

Essential Job Duties

• Provide daily care of animals in Oakland Zoo’s Veterinary Hospital, including feeding and maintenance of safe and sanitary conditions for animals and facilities.
• Provide physical and psycho-social health evaluation of animals; assist in design and implement steps to address these needs.
• Provide an ongoing program of appropriate enrichment for each species and individual animal.
• Provide an ongoing program of operant conditioning through regularly scheduled training sessions to meet established goals.
• Perform necessary animal handling, including properly utilizing appropriate manual and physical restraint techniques
• Participate as a fully trained member of the CA Condor Handling Team
• Develop and maintain appropriate records.
• Participate in animal medical procedures including postmortem exams.
• Support the veterinary team with non-husbandry tasks including laundry, package pickup, prescription delivery, select veterinary assistant tasks, data entry, and medication administration.
• Implement department and Zoo priorities through leading short-term projects as part of paraclinical duties.
• Represent the Zoo in a variety of public settings including press interviews, instructional classes and casual communication with Zoo guests
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility

• None.

Who You Are

• Minimum of 1 years full-time experience in the care of captive wildlife in the zoo field, preferably at an AZA or GFAS facility. 2 years is the minimum for Keeper B, and 5 years is the minimum for Keeper C.
• Valid driver's license with a clean driving record that meets our insurance carrier requirements.
• Willingness to work outside normal business hours including weekends, evenings, and holidays.
• Knowledge of the habits and hazards of working with wild, dangerous animals; willingness to work with some physical risk while observing proper safety precautions.
• Medical requirements: negative TB test within the last year, tetanus vaccine within the last 10 years.

Bonus if you have

• Code red or dangerous animal experience.
• Knowledge and experience in behavioral training theory and practical application.
• Bachelor’s degree in zoology, biology, or a related field, or a specialized Associate’s degree (e.g., Moorpark).

Work Environment

- Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job.

• Work in indoor and outdoor environments in various weather conditions, sometimes in or around significant dirt and dust.

Physical Considerations

- The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs. (i.e., feed sack) and move a minimum of 120 lbs. (i.e., hay bale).
• Able to walk long distances on uneven terrain in variable environmental conditions (e.g., steep, muddy, etc.).

Knowledge/Skills/Qualities

- May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills and abilities commonly associated with this position.

• Communication – communicates respectfully and effectively with stakeholders across identities, both verbally and in writing.
• Dependability – demonstrates trustworthiness and reliability, including while working with little or no direct supervision.
• Inclusive Culture – fosters a culture of mutual respect, transparency, collaboration and belonging which allows all employees to feel appreciated, included, and valued.
• Organization – strong attention to details and able to build and/or maintain efficient systems.
• Passion – wholeheartedly believes in, represents, and models Oakland Zoo’s mission and PRIDE values at all times.
• Sustainability – oriented toward the mission and values of Oakland Zoo and able to put those into practice by finding creative and resourceful ways to develop sustainable practices within your role and department.
• Time Management – strong capabilities with a demonstrated ability to effectively prioritize multiple commitments.
• Wildlife Aware – understands mission to support the conservation and welfare of animals at the Zoo, locally and globally. This is demonstrated by a willingness/passion to reflect this mission in all actions and to continue to learn how to take action for wildlife.

Benefits

Oakland Zoo offers a comprehensive benefits package which begins on 1st of the month following the date of hire. The package includes health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, Flexible Spending Account, optional 403b retirement plan, Paid Time Off, Employee Assistance Program, and Zoo Membership options.

Salary Description

$28.54 - $29.85/hour