Animal InterpreterZookeeper – Nocturnal (Full Time)

Summary:

The Animal Interpreter/Zookeeper acts as an ambassador of the Zoo through a variety of on-site and virtual educational programs that feature live animal ambassadors. Interpretive duties include providing encounters impromptu and scheduled chats and other programs for all ages;participatingin a variety of outreach and appearances; providinggeneral supportto daily education and interpretive programs and engaging with Zoo guests daily.

This position is also responsible for providing for daily husbandry of a collection of small mammals birds amphibians invertebrates and reptiles in the Animals of the Night and ambassador animal collections.

The ideal candidate would be proficient in all aspects of zoo animal care including husbandry enrichment training exhibit maintenance record keeping keeper chats and conservation as well as engaging guests to connect with the animals. Candidates for this position should be self-motivated hard-working positive dependable who can work independently but also thrive in a team setting.

Collection:

Ambassador animals include birds of prey (barn owl red-tailed hawk) a green winged macaw invertebrates (scorpion millipedes and Madagascan hissing cockroaches) reptiles (pancake tortoise box turtle Indian star tortoise blue tongue skink prehensile-tailed skink scheltopusik red-tailed boa ball python and gray rat snake) amphibians (smooth-sided toads) and small mammals (rabbit tenrec rats).

The Animals of the Night collection is managed in a reverse-light cycle building and encompasses a variety of small mammals including aardvarks agoutis armadillos (three-banded and six-banded) bats (bulldog bat Egyptian Rousettus bat Sebas short-tailed bat and vampire bat) binturong bushbabies genets ringtail cats kinkajous pygmy slow lorises naked mole rats owl monkey pottos tamandua and two-toed sloths.

Essential Job Functions:

• Provides best available practices in daily animal care husbandry enrichment and training.

• Guest engagement:Facilitatesformal and informal public presentations to engage guests and provide a positive guest experience.

• Researches develops and presentsrecurring shows chats and encounters with ambassador animals for in person and virtual audiences.

• Providesunique interactive educational and naturalistic experiences featuring ambassador animals for Zoo guests.

• Activelyobservesanimals behavior checking for any signs of illness or disorder; reports irregularities and abnormal behavior to supervisor; works with vet staff to address medical needs.

• Prepares and administersappropriate dailydiets andmaintainaccuraterecords of assigned animals.

• Appropriately cleans and disinfects assigned animal enclosures/habitats according to written protocols and ensures a sanitary and safe environment.

• Performs exhibit maintenance including concrete work and periodic updates toexhibitperching and hides.

• Exercisesgood judgement when making decisions that affect our collection.

• Assistshospital staff in all aspects of animal treatment within the assigned section.

• May incorporate modern behavioral husbandry techniques such as operant conditioning and environmental enrichment into animal care.

Minimum Education or Experience:

• Bachelors degree in ZoologyBiologyora relatedfield.

• Proficiencyin Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Education or Experience:

• Previousexperience with animal care and operant conditioning in a zoological setting.

• Previousexperience in the education field or with animal presentations.

• Knowledge of current technology and applications for communicationresearchand record keeping.

Competencies:

• Flexibility/Adaptability.

• Guest Focus.

• Problem Solving/Analysis.

• Public Speaking.

• Records andReportsCreation and Management.

• Stress Management/Composure.

• Teamwork Orientation.

• Written/Verbal/Oral Communication.

Supervisory Responsibility:None.

Reporting Structure:Reports to Associate Curator.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

Full-time positions are defined as positions scheduled to workapproximately upto40 hoursa week. Scheduling is at the discretion of the manager. This position regularly requires flexible hours including weekdays holidays and weekends including early morning daytime and evening hours to provide coverage during Zoo hours of occasionally requires after-hourswork.

This position is considered non-exempt under the federal and state wage and hour laws.

Work Environment:

While performing the duties of the job the employee willfrequentlywork outdoors (Zoo grounds). When outdoors this position isrequiredto work in various weather conditions including rain humidity and extreme heat or position has extensive interaction with the public.

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.

This position requires frequent standing/walking/bending/kneeling/crouching and may occasionally move or lift objects up to 50 pounds.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Other Duties:Pleasenotethis job description is not designed to cover orcontaina comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities that arerequired ofthe employee for this job. Duties responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Other Requirements:

• 18years or older.

• Clear background check.

• Clear drug screening.

• Clear TB screening.

Benefits & Perks

The Memphis Zoo hasa comprehensivebenefits and employeeperkspackage. Please see ourMemphis Zoo Careerspage for details.

EEOC and Inclusion Statement:

The Memphis Zoo believes that human diversity is as important as the biodiversity weseekto conserve. World-class zoos arecomprisedof world-class team membersrepresentinga variety of backgrounds perspectives and skills. We value a diverse workplace and strongly encourage people of color LGBTQ individuals people with disabilities members of ethnic minorities and veterans to apply.

The Memphis Zoo is anequal-opportunityemployer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race color sex sexual orientation gender identity or expression age religion national origin citizenship status disability ancestry marital status veteran status medical condition or any protected category prohibited by localstateor federal laws. If you need to request any accommodations for the interview or hiring process please let the Human Resources team (HR) know. HR can be contacted at.

The Memphis Zooparticipatesin E-Verify and is an EEO/ADA/Veteran employer.

All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of pre-employment screening. Memphis Zoo is a drug-free workplace.

Applicants mustbe authorized towork for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visaat this time.

How to Apply:

Applications should besubmittedvia the Memphis Zoo Careers page. Please note that any other application submissions will not be considered.