Animal Care Professional, Primates/South America

SUMMARY

The Birmingham Zoo is currently seeking applications for an Animal Care Professional in the Primate/South America Department.  Under the direction of the Zoological Manager, the successful candidate will be responsible for providing a high level of animal care to a diverse collection of taxa. 

Primary responsibilities of this position include monitoring animal health, maintaining cleanliness of animal areas, providing environmental and behavioral enrichment, preparing diets, modifying habitats, maintaining accurate records, and presenting both formally and informally for the public.  The candidate must be a motivated self-starter with a willingness to learn and drive to continuously improve.  This position requires a team player capable of positive interactions with staff, guests, and volunteers. 

This is a full time position working at least 40 hours per week, including weekends, holidays, and late events as needed.  Successful candidates will work in close proximity to dangerous animals; professionalism and good communication are required. 

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Bachelor’s degree in a relevant biological field preferred.  
2. Experience in a zoological institution preferred
3. Must have excellent written and verbal communication
4. Capacity to act decisively under a variety of circumstances
5. Ability to handle multiple tasks, complete projects, and meet deadlines.
6. Aptitude for fostering teamwork both within and across teams.
7. Competency in computer skills.
8. Must have a current valid driver’s license with no prior traffic violations (within the last five years).
9. Must have current negative TB test and provide documentation, or be willing to have a TB test.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Demonstrates understanding of the basic biology, behaviors, and husbandry of the animals in their department in the daily routine.
2. Cleans and maintains animal spaces, including the use of chemical agents and special tools to assure the health and safety of the animals.
3. Uses designated techniques for shifting animals on their assigned routine.

1. Identifies, recognizes and reports any abnormal behavior of all the animals in their department.
2. Monitors weather related needs for the animals in their department and shelters animals appropriately.
3. Identifies, documents, and properly communicates any animal medical concerns to the Zoological Manager in a timely manner.
4. Develops a good line of communication with the Zoological Manager to ensure that all facilities and animals are in good order and that all problems are reported.
5. Implements techniques from both classical and operant conditioning under the supervision of the Zoological Manager
6. Utilizes the zoo’s enrichment program to properly meet the enrichment requirements of the animals within their department. Properly records the results of enrichment.
7. Creates new enrichment ideas and items to be added to their department repertoire.
8. Properly utilizes the animal record keeping systems within the department.
9. Documents animal behaviors or issues on the Daily Report.
10. Maintains and updates the departments’ animal files.
11. Prepares and presents public keeper chats to visitors and guests.
12. Other duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee should expect:

1. Regularly utilize hands, fingers, tools, or controls. 
2. Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, and crouch
3. Speak clearly and/or receive verbal communications under a variety of conditions
4. Routinely lift and/or move more than 30 pounds. 
5. Maintain balance under exposure to wet, slippery, and/or uneven surfaces.
6. Work within proximity of dangerous animals.
7. Wear a face mask, gloves,  and/or other personal protective equipment for long periods of time. 
8. Perform potentially strenuous duties under challenging physical conditions and in extreme weather.

Safety Analysis

The ACP is expected to maintain the highest level of safety in the work area through implementation of safety protocols and procedures. The ACP position is impacted by a wide variety of potentially hazardous exposures including but not limited to:

1. The unpredictability of wild animals.
2. The care and husbandry of animals, some of whom are dangerous or may carry zoonotic diseases.
3. The proper use and understanding of cleaning and disinfecting agents.
4. Weather conditions including extreme heat, cold, and storm conditions.

 Safety of people and animals are top priorities of the zoo, and as such, specific training and procedures will be provided. The use and understanding of a variety of personal safety equipment is mandatory.

Animal Care Professionals, as with any staff member of the zoo, are required to be familiar with the Zoo’s overall safety policies as outlined in the staff handbook as well as being responsible for reporting any injury immediately to the first aid department.

POSITION TYPE AND HOURS OF WORK

1. Full time
2. Schedule varies between weekdays and weekends.  Weekend work required as well as occasional evening work and holidays.