Quarantine Keeper/Veterinary Assistant

Natural and Cultural Resources; Asheboro (NC); On-site; USD 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

The North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, NC is expanding its Veterinary Care Center and seeks a detail-oriented Quarantine Keeper/Veterinary Assistant to provide daily husbandry for quarantined, ill or injured animals.

You will maintain biosecurity, support veterinarians, and assist with lab work, feeding, cleaning and observation across species, with a rotating 7-day schedule.

Qualifications

• Completion of post-high school coursework in animal care or a veterinary degree.
• Registered with the Board as a veterinary technician.
• One year animal care experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily care to quarantined or ill animals as housed in the veterinary center.
• Maintain proper biosecurity and sanitation protocols.
• Communicate vital information to veterinarians and animal care staff.
• Assist during medical procedures and ship lab samples or process fecal samples.

Skills

Animal care

Husbandry

Biosecurity

Communication

Education

Post-high school coursework in animal care

Degree in veterinary medicine

Registered veterinary technician

Job description

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) enriches people’s lives through education and stewardship of North Carolina’s natural and cultural resources. DNCR manages over 100 locations across the state, including historic sites, museums, state parks, trails, aquariums, the North Carolina Zoo, the Library of North Carolina, the State Archives, the North Carolina Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the North Carolina Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. These programs and places unite North Carolinians, create a shared identity, and provide common ground. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov. We encourage you to apply to become a part of our team.

Division Description

The North Carolina Zoo exists for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of all our citizens and guests. The North Carolina Zoo mission is to protect wildlife and wild places and inspire people to join in conserving the natural world. This mission encompasses both domestic and international efforts, focusing on wildlife conservation, habitat preservation and promoting environmental stewardship. Learn more about the North Carolina Zoo: https://nczoo.org

Description of Work

The North Carolina Zoo is expanding, making this an exciting opportunity to join our team. We are seeking an enthusiastic and detail oriented individual to assist in our veterinary care center. The Quarantine Keeper/Veterinary Assistant provides daily husbandry care to quarantined, ill or injured animals temporarily housed at the veterinary medical center which may include all species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and fish housed at the North Carolina Zoo. This position is responsible for daily cleaning, feeding and observation of all animals housed at the veterinary medical center. This position is also responsible for maintaining proper biosecurity and disinfection schedules. Working with animal care staff to provide species appropriate husbandry and enrichment. Veterinary assistant duties may include aiding during medical procedures, shipping laboratory samples and processing fecal samples.

Key Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Possess knowledge of animal care and husbandry techniques related to all animal species in residence at the NC Zoo, and utilize outside or internal resources to determine appropriate housing, feeding, etc. care of each new arrival.
• Provide daily care to quarantined or sick animals being housed at the veterinary hospital.
• Maintain proper biosecurity and sanitation protocols.
• Ability to effectively communicate vital information to veterinarians, technicians, animal care staff, etc.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Management Preferences

Recruitment Range: $15.00 - $18.00 per hour

Management Prefers: One year experience with exotic animal care.

Position & Physical Requirements

Work Schedule: rotating 7 days, 8am - 5pm

One year animal care experience. Must have good physical agility, strength, good hearing and vision, and perform physically demanding labor in extremes of weather and challenging physical environments e.g. animal enclosures. Specifically, the ability to lift up to 50 pounds, walk, stand, see animals & exhibits for observation and safety as well as hear animal sounds, radio communication and emergency situations.

This position is located at: 4401 Zoo Parkway Asheboro, NC 27205

Minimum Education and Experience

Completion of post-high school coursework in the care and treatment of animals that conforms to the standards required for accreditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association OR holds a degree in veterinary medicine from a college of veterinary medicine recognized by the Board for licensure of veterinarians.

Necessary Special Requirements Registered with the Board as a veterinary technician.

If there are no qualified candidates remaining in the applicant pool who meet the minimum Education and Experience or Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position, the agency may consider for this position a trainee who does not meet the minimum requirements. Salary for a trainee may be set at a lower level than the classification salary range and recruitment range that is listed in the posting with the salary being adjusted up accordingly as the trainee has obtained the necessary additional education and experience to fully meet the minimum qualifications as outlined in the classification specification.

Company Culture & Values

DNCR supports pay equity for women, establish paid parental leave for birth, adoption, and foster care, and implement fair chance policies.

Join a team that welcomes, values, respects and supports all members of our work community.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Additional Information

All job postings close at 11:59pm the night before the End Date on the posting.

Valuing Education and Experience: The State of North Carolina values the knowledge and experience of our jobseekers and current state employees. Approximately 91 percent of state job classifications allow experience to be substituted for education or do not require a post-secondary degree. Learn more about how you may qualify for a position through education or directly related experience, or a combination of both, with the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide.