Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc.
Your Role: Zookeeper Assistant
Your Manager: Zoological Manager
Your Pay Structure (FLSA Status): Part-time, hourly/nonexempt
Safety Sensitive: This is a safety-sensitive position. Regardless of whether you are a medical marijuana licensee, you must receive a negative result on a 10-panel, pre-placement drug screening to include THC, prior to beginning work.
The Zoo
Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. (TZMI) is a nonprofit organization driven by our mission of Connecting, Caring, Advocating for Wildlife, People, and Wild Places. From trumpeting elephants to squawking parrots, each member of our team is integral to the success of the Zoo as Green Country’s largest paid daily attraction. At Tulsa Zoo, the IDEA is a zoo for all. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. Apply today for your opportunity to join our dynamic group of passionate individuals who bring the zoo to life each day, 365 days per year, caring for animals, interacting with guests, educating the public, and managing the Zoo’s grounds, operations, and facilities.
A Few of Your Many Benefits
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Free family-level Tulsa Zoo membership
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401k
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Unlimited virtual visits with a mental health therapist at no cost to you
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Food, beverage, and retail discounts on zoo grounds
Your Job
Zookeeper Assistants are responsible for the daily care, maintenance, and observation of animals primarily held in the Children’s Zoo contact yard and associated facilities as well as guest interactions. Under close supervision, this position is involved with exhibit maintenance, diet preparation, veterinary procedures, animal training and enrichment, education programs, and addressing guests.
Your Essential Responsibilities
If you disclose different abilities, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable you to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this position. Other duties may be assigned to you.
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Daily cleaning of animal exhibits, service areas and holding units utilizing various tools, instruments, and disinfectants.
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Diet preparation and feeding such as restock, inventory, ordering feed supplies as needed and as prescribed. Maintain food preparation areas and equipment.
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General maintenance of exhibits, service areas and holding units such as fence repair, decoration, mister systems, automatic drinkers, shade cloth, filling holes, etc.
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Maintain exhibits and holding units to ensure animal, keeper, and visitor safety, and in good appearance for public viewing at all times.
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Demonstrate positive interactions with and monitor guests to ensure animal, keeper, and visitor safety in compliance with all external and internal rules, laws, and policies.
- Assist in designing and constructing exhibits/holding units by cutting and moving branches to plant or secure them to walls with dirt, cement, wire, nails; install nest boxes and barrels; attach burlap to cage walls to provide privacy; maintain plants in exhibits.
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Capture and restrain animals by hand, net, catchpole, or by corralling them under direction of supervisor for shipping/loading or routine/non-routine medical procedures.
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As assigned, assist Animal Health department with medical treatments such as prescribed medication/treatments, weighing/measuring, surgery, and restraint/capture of animals.
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Daily observation of animal collection for injury, illness, aggression, stress, breeding activity, diet intake, behavior, enrichment, capture/restraint, prescribed medical treatments, in-house moves, acquisitions/de-acquisitions, and fecal consistency and maintain accurate record of these observations.
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Identifies and communicates situations for repair and maintenance for the safety of animals, visitors, and staff as well as overall upkeep of the facilities.
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In conjunction with animal care leaders, work with animal collection on a one-to-one basis such as crate training, practicing commands, clicker training, and orientating animals to new enclosures.
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Apply appropriate techniques and opportunities for enrichment of the animal collections.
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Train, assist, and oversee work of volunteers/interns and ensure their safety while performing duties.
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Recognize signs of pest infestation in animal areas and combat pests as directed.
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Maintain area compliance with all local, state, federal and international regulations and standards are met (USDA, AZA, etc.).
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Maintain necessary certifications as required (SCUBA, AZA Elephant Management, Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) etc.).
- Attend and participate in staff meetings and assigned training.
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Participate in visitor education programs, formal and informal animal presentations and outreach programs, scheduled keeper talks, and provide accurate information to the public.
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Maintain necessary testing/vaccinations as required (TB, rabies, etc.).
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Effectively communicate and demonstrate interpersonal skills with all levels of employees in a clear and professional manner and follow verbal and written instruction from animal care and veterinary staff.
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Demonstrate and adhere to TZMI’s workplace values.
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Know and follow zoo policies and procedures, including emergency protocols.
Supervisory Responsibilities
This position has no direct reports.
What We Expect
Required Qualifications, Education and/or Experience
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Must be 18 years or older, possess a valid driver’s license, and be insurable on TZMI’s insurance carrier
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Must have a driving record free of any infractions for the past 7 years
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Must have a high school diploma or GED, at least 3 months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
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Must be able to work weekends and evenings
- Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals; to write routine reports and correspondence; and to communicate effectively before groups of guests, employees of TZMI, and the general public.
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Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals
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Microsoft Word; Microsoft Excel; Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) a plus; Internet Browser(s) - Explorer, Chrome, Safari, etc.
What You can Expect
Our Values
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We are enthusiastically committed to be part of the Tulsa Zoo community.
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We will all work together as one Zoo Team to support the Zoo’s mission.
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We will value and appreciate everyone and create a safe, understanding, and welcoming environment for all.
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We will all be accountable for achieving excellence.
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We will earn the trust of one another, acting honestly and treating each other with respect.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
- Moving about - constantly
- Reaching with hands and arms – frequently
- Stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling - frequently
- Climbing and/or balancing – occasionally
- Exchange of in-person, phone, radio, or digital communication - frequently
- Carrying or lifting up to 50 pounds – frequently
- Pushing and/or pulling up to 50 pounds - frequently
- Exposure to outdoor weather conditions - constantly
- Exposure to high noise levels- frequently
- Gripping, pinching, writing, and other hand movements – constantly
- Exposure to strong smells – frequently
- Work near moving mechanical parts – occasionally
- Wet or humid environment - occasionally
