Relief Keeper

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO 24 days

Sick and Safe Leave

2 paid holidays

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with employer match

Job summary

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore seeks a Relief Keeper to care for collection animals and maintain exhibits. The role may rotate across animal areas to meet business needs, and requires comfort with a variety of species and regular observation of health, safety, diet, and behavior.

You will support Animal Keeper staff and Management, report changes, assist with routine veterinary and husbandry tasks, and help with maintenance.

Qualifications

• One year of paid or unpaid animal experience.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Familiar with Microsoft Office programs and data entry.

Responsibilities

• Staff contact yard areas and animal guest interactive areas as scheduled.
• Assist Animal Keeper staff in animal areas as scheduled.
• Report changes in animals’ appetite, disposition, habits, and in physical appearance and/or excreta to Animal Keeper staff.
• Inspect enclosures, fencing, pools, and furniture for cleanliness and/or structural defects and to perform minor repairs as needed.
• Prepare diets for animals, clean and fill water containers, and place food in exhibits at specified times per daily protocol.
• Provide species appropriate enrichment and training to animals according to area protocols.
• Assist with routine veterinary, emergency, training or husbandry, and management procedures.
• Adhere to all policies and procedures of the Zoo.

Education

Associates degree in zoology, biology, or related field preferred. Or, two years of continuing education towards a bachelor’s degree in zoology, biology, or related field preferred.

Job description

General Summary

The Relief Keeper is responsible for providing careand maintenance to collection animals and their associated exhibits and holdingareas. Relief Keepers may be assigned to work in any of the animal areas tomeet business needs. Therefore, thisperson must be knowledgeable and comfortable working with a variety of specieson a regular basis. Relief Keepers are expected to support Animal Keeper staffand Management in the observation of collection animals, by paying specialattention to health, safety, dietary consumption, and behavioral abnormalities.This position will directly report to the Area Manager, and may take directionfrom other Animal Department staff as scheduled. Additionally, the Relief Keeper will support the Zoo’s mission to save wildlife and protect wild places and contribute to its environmental, social, governance sustainability, conservation, education, and DEAI (Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion) goals.

EssentialFunctions

PrimaryFunctions

• Staff contact yard areas and animal guest interactiveareas as scheduled;
• Assist Animal Keeper staff in animal areas asscheduled;
• Reportchanges in animals’ appetite, disposition, habits, and in physical appearanceand/or excreta to Animal Keeper staff;
• Inspectenclosures, fencing, pools, and furniture for cleanliness and/or structuraldefects and to perform minor repairs as needed;
• Preparediets for animals, clean and fill water containers, and place food in exhibitsat specified times per daily protocol;
• Cleanfacilities, exhibits, and associated animal areas according to the areaprotocols or as directed;
• Providespecies appropriate and approved enrichment and training to animals accordingto area protocols;
• Assistin data collection for approved research projects;
• Provideroutine maintenance of facilities and minor repair of equipment, exhibits, andall associated animal areas;
• Maintainfamiliarity with all animal recapture and restraint equipment;
• Assistwith routine veterinary, emergency, training or husbandry, and management procedures;
• Assistwith medical care procedures and administer medication as directed;
• Providegeneral maintenance of grounds in and around exhibits and associated facilities;
• Actas a member of the Animal Recapture Team as needed and directed;
• Driveto specified locations as needed;
• Interact in a consistentlypleasant and helpful manner to fellow employees, guests, vendors, and othervisitors of the Zoo and demonstrate the highest standards of internal andexternal customer service;
• Perform other duties asassigned; and,
• Adhere to allpolicies and procedures of the Zoo.

Communication(Internal and External)

• Maintainreports on all animal conditions in daily reports, diary, records, etc. perdepartmental protocol;
• Provideregular updates to the Animal Keeper staff on the condition and status of theanimal collection;
• AttendZoo general staff meetings and departmental meetings;
• Interpretthe Zoo to guests, donors, and zoo associates;
• Attendall staff training sessions as directed; and,
• Promotethe mission of The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.

Managementof Resources (Financial, Human Resources, Facilities)

• Unloadand store commissary items; and,
• Maintainequipment and tools in a good state of repair.

MinimumQualifications

Education

• Associates degree in zoology, biology, or relatedfield preferred. Or, two years ofcontinuing education towards a bachelor’s degree in zoology, biology, orrelated field preferred.

Experience/Training

• Oneyear of paid or unpaid animal experience, excluding pets;
• Mustpossess a valid driver’s license; and,
• Mustbe familiar with computer operations including Microsoft Office programs anddata entry.

TraitsDesirable

• Abilityto work with a wide variety of individuals from ethnic, cultural, and economicbackgrounds;
• Abilityto operate both independently and as part of a team in a productive andefficient manner with proper time management skills;
• Extremelywell organized;
• Self-directed,collaborative, and detail oriented; and,
• Possessa positive attitude and a general philosophy/outlook in line with the Zoo’smission.

Equipment

• Mustbe able to operate a variety of machines and equipment including computer,telephone, radio, and vehicles, hand tools, animal restraint and capturedevices, incubators, gardening/carpentry tools and machinery, computer, scales,etc.

WorkingConditions

• Mustbe able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, 25 pounds frequentlyand/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry,push, pull or otherwise move objects.Physical demands are in excess of those for sedentary work; must be ableto remain on feet for periods of time, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, push, pull,climb, balance;
• Mustbe able to lift 75 pounds with assistance and 50 pounds unassisted as needed;
• Mustbe able to travel large areas of the Zoo on foot as needed;
• Ability to work a flexibleschedule to include weekends, holidays, and special events;
• Must be able to stand andremain active for an eight-hour shift;
• Must be able to work in anoutdoor weather environment in all seasons and weather, includingheat/humidity, cold temperatures, and/or wet conditions;
• Mustbe able to climb a ladder carrying up to 15 pounds;
• Exposureto zoonotic diseases and risk of animal attack;
• Exposure to potential environmental hazards such as poison oak/ivy, uneven terrain, insect bites/stings, and Hepatitis B depending on the position.
• TBtest, physical required;

Benefits

• We offer an excellentbenefits package including 24 days of Paid Time Off (PTO), Sick and Safe Leave,and 2 paid holidays.
• Eligible for medical, dental,vision, short- and long-term disability and life insurance.
• 401(k) with employer match.

Disclaimer

The statements above are intended to describe the generalnature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to thisclassification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustivelist of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of all personnel soclassified. Therefore, management reserves the right to revise the job orto require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change.