Senior Animal Keeper Giraffes and Warthogs

We are hiring a keeper for Giraffes and Warthogs at either the Keeper or Senior Keeper level, depending upon experience. We have posted both roles separately at this time to help our candidates find the position that most aligns with their experience and goals. However, only one position will be filled. Please note: If you apply for the Keeper or the Senior Keeper, you will be automatically considered for both.

•  A Senior Animal Keeper must be an experienced keeper with extensive knowledge in the areas of animal care/management and supervision of paid staff and unpaid volunteers/interns, including team building, leadership training, and conflict management.
• Work ranges from the physical tasks associated with feeding, enrichment, training, and maintenance of the animals’ living areas to more analytical tasks of planning, record keeping, and communication.
• This Senior Keeper position is a Primary Keeper role with the Oakland Zoo’s giraffe and warthog team.
• This position works 5 days per week on the giraffe and warthog team.   

Essential Job Duties:

• Knowledge of animal(s) natural history, behavior, and captive management – able to assess safety risks and act accordingly.
• Thorough understanding and compliance with safety and emergency response protocols.
• Provide daily care and husbandry to assigned species such as diet preparation, feeding, shifting individuals and/or groups, cleaning and disinfecting animal facilities
• Knowledge of animal(s) natural history, behavior, and captive management – able to assess physical and psychological wellbeing or individuals and social groups, able to provide appropriate adjustments to management, training, enrichment, and/or facility as appropriate
• Animal training knowledge and skill- ability to complete Oakland Zoo’s Animal Trainer Level 1 within first six months of position, able to effectively and efficiently training animals for management, husbandry and medical care
• Maintenance of Service Areas and animal facilities to Zoo standards, including meeting or exceeding USDA and AZA standards.
• Train new staff, Apprentice Keepers, interns, and volunteers
• Identify needed maintenance, grounds and horticulture work where possible do the work. If not write the appropriate work order and then manage the work of staff or contractors in and around animal areas.
• Knowledge of landscape maintenance, including using proper techniques for maintaining trees, shrubs, turf, hardscapes, and other environmental features in and around animal spaces.
• Behind the Scene Tours, press interviews, instructional classes, and casual communication with Zoo guests.
• Possible participation as a trained and certified member of the Emergency Immobilization Team, Animal Dispatch Team, Gondola Rescue team
• Supervise junior staff, Apprentice keepers, Interns and volunteers in task associated with daily string operations.   

Experience Required

• Minimum of two year’s experience working directly with giraffe, warthog, or other exotic ungulate species is preferred (preferably at an AZA accredited facility).
• At least five years full time professional experience in the care of wildlife at an AZA zoo or comparable facility Bachelor’s degree or specialized associate's degree (ex. Moorpark) or 6 years of experience at an AZA facility or equivalent Experience in the areas of animal care/management Experience with supervision of paid staff and unpaid volunteers/interns, including leadership training/conflict management Have or develop significant level of knowledge of the natural history and captive wildlife management for the animals under their care to insure their best possible physical and psychological well-being Able to use the tools of animal observation, enrichment, training, and other behavioral husbandry methods to ensure the best possible psychological well-being of the animals in their care Able to walk long distances on uneven terrain in variable environmental conditions (e.g., steep, muddy, etc.) Good physical condition: able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs. (i.e., feed sack) and move a minimum of 120lbs. (i.e. hay bale) Valid driver’s license and clean driving record Willingness to work outside normal business hours including weekends and holidays Knowledge of the habits and hazards of working with wild animals; willingness to work with some physical risk while observing proper safety precautions Able to represent the Zoo in a variety of public settings including press interviews, instructional classes, and casual communication with Zoo guests Oakland Zoo requires COVID vaccination*

Further Comments

• This position is subject to a collective bargaining agreement

Perks

• The Oakland Zoo offers a comprehensive benefits package, including Health insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, Flexible spending account, Retirement plan, Paid time off, Employee Assistance Program, and A Family Zoo Membership.

Salary

• $30.03 per hour