Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium; Omaha (NE); On-site; USD 17,000 - 25,000; Part time

Job summary

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska is seeking a Jungle Intern to support the Lied Jungle's care and public programs. The internship is seasonal, up to 24 hours per week, for about six months, with orientation and weekly development sessions.

Interns will assist with exhibits, recordkeeping, diet preparation, enrichment, and daily animal care under supervision; most positions offer limited direct animal interaction and require safety compliance and background checks.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Pre-employment background check and drug screening required.
• TB test required.
• One year of college coursework preferred (biology, zoology, animal behavior, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Develop and present an internship project aligned with Jungle care needs.
• Attend weekly professional development sessions.
• Complete learning goals on internship checklist.
• Participate in mid-point and final evaluations.
• Assist with daily care of the animal collection and exhibit maintenance.
• Recordkeeping and data entry for program tasks.
• Diet preparation and feeding; monitor animal health and behavior.
• Observe animal care staff demonstrations when applicable.

Skills

Time management

Communication skills

Teamwork

Mammal handling

Education

Currently enrolled in college/university

Job description

Job Title: Jungle Intern

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Classification: Seasonal

Hours: Up to 24 hours per week for 12 weeks

Pay Rate: $15.26/hour

This is a seasonal position with a maximum duration of six months, based on individual performance and business operations. The exact end date will bedeterminedby the official start date.

SCHEDULE:

Each internship session (spring, summer, and fall) is 12 weeks long. The spring internship session runs January 19, 2027 – April 12, 2027. All interns must be available during this time.

• Orientation: First day of each semester from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. All interns must be available to attend orientation in-person.
• Weekly Schedule: Must be available to workup to 24 hours per week and attend one weekly afternoon professional development session starting the second week of their internship. Must be willing to work weekends and holidays. Schedules will be determined before internships begin by working with the Intern Coordinator and animal area supervisors.

DESCRIPTION:

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is seeking an intern in the Lied Jungle.The Lied Jungle, America’s largest indoor rainforests, at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, is an 80-foot-tall, 1.5-acre immersive exhibit and was named the 2019 winner of USA Today’s 10 Best Zoo Exhibits. It has an elevated canopy walkway and a forest floor trail taking visitors through three geographic ranges highlighting species of fauna and flora found in Asian, African, and South American rainforests. The animal collection includes new and old-world primates, tapirs, otters, pygmy hippos, birds, bats, rodents, reptiles, amphibians and fish.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop, work on, and present an internship project aligned with the research needs of animal care staff in the Jungle.
• Attend weekly professional development sessions.
• Complete learning goals on internship checklist.
• Participate in and complete a mid-point and final evaluation.
• Assist in and complete tasks as assigned, including but not limited to:
  • Cleaning and general maintenance of the exhibits and building.
  • Daily care of animal collection.
  • Recordkeeping.
  • Animal enrichment.
  • Monitoring behavior and changes in animal health.
  • Diet preparation and feeding.
  • Help perform building upkeep, cleaning, and maintenance to ensure USDA and AZA Standards are always being met.
  • Complete a life history report on an assigned species from the Jungle collection.
  • Design an enrichment device and address construction needs, safety concerns, and implementation strategy for the assigned species.
  • This position offers very limited direct animal interactions and no participation in animal training. Interns will be provided opportunities to observe Jungle animal care staff demonstrate proper animal handling/restraint techniques and operant conditioning training techniques when applicable.
  • Interns may not be permitted to work within 6 feet of all primates, otters, pygmy hippo, and bats, or while prepping their food, without wearing a KN95 mask in compliance with disease mitigation protocols.
  • Other duties may be assigned.
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must follow safety guidelines and always demonstrate safe working practices.
• Must have effective time management skills for working in a fast-paced and flexible work environment.
• Must possess strong communication skills; Clearly and effectively communicating with keeper staff about all aspects of the job including daily husbandry, safety questions or concerns, building operation, etc.
• Must work well with others and have the ability to work independently.
• Must be team-oriented and willing to work with other interns, volunteers, and staff members to further not only the goals of the Department but also of the Zoo’s mission statement.
• Must attend shifts on time and as scheduled.
• Must have the ability to follow detailed instructions.

Offered candidates are required to pass a pre-employment background check and drug screening. A negative TB test is also required.

EXPERIENCE:

Previous experience working with mammals at an AZA institution is preferred, but not required.

EDUCATION:

Interns must be currently enrolled in, or have recently graduated from, a college or university. A minimum of one year of coursework in a major field of study to be applied during the internship (e.g. biology, zoology, animal behavior, etc.) is preferred. Knowledge of mammal natural history, biology, captive husbandry, and conservation issues preferred. Must be motivated to continue expanding knowledge base as it applies to mammals.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

This position requires considerable physical exertion – such as regularly climbing stairs and ladders, climbing over barriers (up to 4’ high) to access exhibits, lifting heavy objects (up to 50 pounds), and/or assuming awkward positions. This position also requires working in hot and humid conditions. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider these physical requirements before applying for an internship in this area.

Interns that are not able to meet the physical requirements for the position may be reassigned to another department.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Routine exposure to hot and humid conditions.

PUBLIC CONTACT:

Interns will interact with the public frequently throughout their internship and are expected to always exhibit professionalism and exceptional customer service. Interns may be asked to engage in public speaking opportunities, including but not limited to informal educational presentations for the public.

DISCLAIMER

We will do everything possible to accommodate school requirements for those seeking to earn class credit. We do our best to accommodate the schedules of interns with full or part-time job requirements.

Please note this position does not provide any medical coverage.

The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, nor is it to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees assigned to this job.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer as defined by the EEOC.