Senior Animal Care Specialist; Carnivore/Ungulate

Philadelphia Zoo

Senior Animal Care Specialist; Carnivore/Ungulate

TITLE: SENIOR ANIMAL CARE SPECIALIST - Carnivore/Ungulate

REPORTS TO: DIRECTOR OF CARNIVORE/UNGULATE

DEPARTMENT: ANIMAL CARE

CLASSIFICATION: FULL-TIME REGULAR

EMPLOYEE STATUS: EXEMPT

DESCRIPTION:

Basic Function: Under the supervision of the Managers, this role contributes to the success of the Philadelphia Zoo by providing high quality animal care, positive animal wellbeing, exhibit maintenance, guest interactions, teaching, mentoring and coaching within a team setting. This role possesses proven and deep working knowledge of animal husbandry and physiology, and knowledge of specific area animals. Senior Animal Care Specialists (ACS): have an exemplary safety record; support a conservation ethic; effective instructional skills and exceptional interpersonal skills to provide day to day leadership of other Animal Care Specialists within their assigned areas. In addition to the essential functions listed in this job description, the Senior ACS needs to be able to perform the essential functions outlined in the Animal Care Specialist job descriptions. This role must be able to perform the essential functions and any assignments within the area of responsibility.

Essential Functions:

• Supports day to day guidance to the Specialist Team on the husbandry tasks.
• Administers medication and supplements as directed by veterinarians and nutrition.
• Follows and trains specialists on standard operating procedures and policies per assigned area.
• Completes and reviews daily activity reports, diet consumption reports, behavior and/or training records, enrichment records and any other written documentation on assigned animals/run. Improves animal wellbeing with managers on husbandry and welfare improvements based on this data.
• Observes individual animals' daily welfare and reports and records animal behavior, food consumption, appearance, etc. Reports problems or abnormalities to managers and/or the Department of Nutrition or Animal Health as appropriate. Makes recommendations to animal management to improve problematic situations.
• Prepares and trains specialists on animal areas for aesthetics, animal safety, animal wellbeing and guest engagement (including removal of toxic plants from exhibits).
• Trains specialists on proper restraint techniques for crating, transferring or veterinary procedures.
• Provides continual environmental enrichment by approved methods; researches and provides new enrichment initiatives. Trains and assists other specialists on implementation of behavioral enrichment.
• Trains new and maintains existing husbandry behaviors with assigned animals utilizing operant conditioning (reinforcement, bridging stimulus, least reinforcing stimulus etc.). This includes the ability to teach animals to shift, move or gate without adverse stimuli. Writes animal training plans and trains and offers assistance with same to specialists. This includes but is not limited to behavioral problem solving and proactive behavioral maintenance and advanced concepts of operant conditioning. Collaborates with managers on overall wellbeing and behavioral goals for the department.
• Responds and coordinates during hazardous or potentially unsafe situations by following Zoo emergency protocols, and promptly notifying supervisory staff.
• Actively continues education on the animal residents and makes animal husbandry recommendations based on this knowledge; researches scientific journals and shares knowledge with others.
• Creates opportunities for improved animal welfare based on fact-based science and documentation, maintains environments that are species appropriate and that encourage natural behaviors / achieve welfare goals. Makes recommendations to managers. Shares knowledge with others.
• Creates environments that induce breeding and achieves welfare goals. Recommends habitat design options to managers that support these initiatives. Shares knowledge with others.
• Adheres to directives in the Zoo employee handbook, the area SOP manual, and any other supplied directives. Provides feedback to specialists on their adherence to these documents.
• Ability to be trained in multiple areas and buildings while maintaining high animal care standards.
• Regularly liaises with the animal management, facilities and other Zoo teams. Works collaboratively with others to problem solve with mutually beneficial outcomes in a timely manner.
• Provides accolades regarding staff achievements to supervisors.
• Trains and teaches SOPs, husbandry techniques, safety procedures, etc. to animal care specialists and interns; provides constructive and timely feedback regarding same.
• Assists in protocol and SOP development; actively reviews and evaluates existing protocols and SOP in an effort to achieve high husbandry standards. Proposes edits when needed.
• Responsible for day to day animal husbandry in assigned area, including cleaning and disinfection, in accordance with Zoo, AZA, and other applicable standards.
• Possess an understanding of and ability to participate in veterinary immobilization procedures. Demonstrates proper handling of capture darts. Trains specialists in safe techniques/assists in training others.
• Participates in or leads assigned meetings, one on ones with supervisor and can serve on internal zoo committees.
• Attends scheduled zoo-wide meetings.
• Completes required trainings as assigned.
• Carries out duties and responsibilities in a safe and efficient manner to maintain a safe work environment and surrounding area for oneself, animals, co-workers and public.
• Works with and mentors interns according to the established intern program.
• Senior ACS will coordinate with managers on daily and monthly activities and communicate operations to other specialists.
• Communicates verbally and/or in writing (i.e. email, ZIMS) information that affects the collection, facilities, or guest engagement to other specialists and managers in a timely manner.
• As directed, coordinates changes made by managers to other specialists.
• Senior ACS will coordinate with managers on internal and external activities such as contractors and will communicate operations to other specialists and managers. Responsible for providing safe access to the building and animal areas. Explains work orders to facilities.
• Ensures that supplies, commissary items and equipment necessary in the area are stocked and properly maintained. Coordinates short-term and long-term delivery schedules as needed.
• May be required to perform related duties as required by management.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Conservation and Science

• May participate in ex situ and/or in situ conservation initiatives. Examples include but are not limited to public education, marketing, research projects, SAFE, SSPs, AZA Institutional Representative.
• Supports, accommodates and/or participates in research initiatives. Examples include but are not limited to areas of animal behavior, reproduction, or health.

Public Interaction

• Represents the Philadelphia Zoo in a professional manner.
• Provides scheduled talks, tours and presentations for VIPs, guests and zoo program participants.
• Provides feedback to other specialists on presentation skills and guest engagement.
• Adheres to Zoo dress code and presents in clean and unmarred uniforms when in public view.
• Collaborates with managers on guest engagement goals.

Interpersonal Skills

• Strong instructional skills in various formats (hands-on, verbal and written) also includes providing constructive feedback and coaching.
• Communicates regularly with peers and managers concerning matters of animal care, safety and work schedules.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with co-workers across the organization, including volunteers and the public.
• Understands and follows verbal and written instructions.
• Demonstrates dependability, teamwork, positive attitude, resourcefulness, good judgement and uses common sense.
• Voices concerns constructively.
• Participates in or leads assigned meetings, one on ones with supervisor and committees. May present at All Animal Care and / or Staff360 meetings or other related functions as assigned.
• Participates in leadership training and assists with leading a cohesive and collaborative team.
• Utilizes effective organizational skills and two-way communication skills.
• Collaborates with others and works within a team.
• Ability to prioritize, make decisions and problem solve.
• Ability to give and receive feedback.
• Willingness to continuously learn and participate in professional development opportunities.
• High emotional intelligence.
• Displays excellent project management skills.
• Has the ability to effectively present information and answer questions.
• Has the ability to remain curious or seek appropriate ways to solve problems.
• Displays unquestionable integrity.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in animal science or other related field with a minimum of six (6) years full-time experience with exotic animals in human care in an AZA-accredited zoological park or equivalent.
• Two (2) years of additional demonstrated education, training or experience supporting the Essential Functions listed above may be considered as a substitute for a bachelor's degree for a total of eight (8) years.
• Knowledge of AZA standards and welfare requirements for animals in the area per USDA and the Commonwealth.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.

Physical and Medical Standards

• Successful completion of a medical screening, drug test and Mantoux tuberculin test prior to beginning work.
• Capable of performing strenuous and/or heavy physical labor.
• Able to safely move and transport up to 50 pounds.
• Able to work from heights or in confined spaces.
• Ability to work outside in all weather conditions.
• Ability to work around plants and animals.
• Must obtain proof of required vaccinations prior to employment start date and demonstrate awareness of possible exposure to other infectious and parasitic diseases which may be present in the animal collection.
• Remain in stationary position for long periods of time.
• Ability to ascend, descend and work from stairs and ladders, move under low objects.
• Ability to use and handle hooks, tongs, catch poles, nets and other animal handling equipment.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate in person as well as through radios, phones and computers.
• Ability to drive Zoo vehicles.
• Able to deal with possible exposure to dust, potentially dangerous and unpredictable animal species, and potentially dangerous machinery, restraint devices and hazardous chemicals and/or drugs. Use of protective clothing or equipment may be required for some tasks, including but not limited to goggles, masks, gloves, braces hats, gowns, boots, etc. Work in specific areas may require ability to use other protective gear (e.g. respirators).

Experience Required

6 years

Salary

28.42/hour

How to Apply

Please email ... with a resume if interested in this position.

Philadelphia Zoo

3400 W Girard Ave

Philadelphia , PA 19104

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