Keeper, Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park - (Full-Time)
Classification: Non-Exempt/Hourly
The Saint Louis Zoo’s mission is to conserve animals and their habitats through animal management, research, recreation and educational programs that encourage the support and enrich the experience of the public. We are passionate about our commitment to conservation and achieve success by pursuing three keys that are important to us - Animals Always, People Matter and Operational Excellence – and by operating according to our Core Values of Community, Creativity, Openness, Integrity and Life-Work Balance.
Summary: The Saint Louis Zoo is seeking team members to advance its mission and values by directly supporting the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park team. At the 425-acre WildCare Park in St. Louis County, the animal care team is cross-trained as generalists, overseeing a variety of taxa, including ungulates, marsupials, and birds. In addition, the WildCare Park team oversees the animal care and facility maintenance functions of the 355-acre Saint Louis Zoo Sears Lehmann, Jr. Wildlife Reserve in Franklin County where the Zoo’s non-public facility for American red wolves exists. These keepers will be a part of a team that is responsible for the daily operations of the animal areas of both facilities and will be required to report to two different work locations, one in St. Louis county and one in Franklin county, as scheduled. In addition, this keeper will receive cross training to perform duties in partnership with other departments. Intern mentoring, guest and donor interaction and community engagement are also key components of this position.
Essential Functions:
- Understanding of the Three Keys and Core Values of the Saint Louis Zoo and modeling these Keys and Values on a day-to-day basis.
- Serving as an ambassador for the Saint Louis Zoo, WildCare Park, the Reserve, the animals and the community at all times, including to donors, guests, neighbors, coworkers, media, AZA and other outside agencies;
- Thinking innovatively, working collaboratively, communicating proactively with internal and external stakeholders in a fast-paced environment to contribute to the design, development and operation of WildCare Park and the Reserve;
- Thriving in a teaching environment and mentoring WildCare Park animal care keepers, interns and volunteers with positivity, patience and professionalism, including classroom teaching and on-the-job training;
- Achieving the highest standards of animal wellbeing through exemplary animal care, training, enrichment and social management as appropriate for the goals of the different programs, as well as tracking and documenting these activities;
- Performing behavioral observations and wellbeing assessments in person and using video surveillance to enhance individual animal and group wellness;
- Managing animals according to safety, wellbeing and reintroduction protocols, as needed, for herd management, recovery/reintroduction programs, veterinary health care and research purposes;
- Maintaining and enhancing outdoor and indoor animal living spaces;
- Ordering, receiving and handling dietary items and other supplies for the animals, as well as monitoring the quantity and quality of these items on a prescribed schedule;
- Assisting with the successful implementation of AZA SSP, AZA SAFE and USFWS program recommendations;
- Transporting animals between campuses and other animal care facilities;
- Creating and maintaining departmental records and assisting with animal transport paperwork;
- Monitoring, studying and managing native wildlife and native habitats at WildCare Park and the Reserve, including data management for several ongoing collaborative projects;
- Receiving training and performing shared duties across both campuses in partnership with other departments, such as repairs, mowing, heavy equipment operation, tree maintenance, snow removal, fence assessments/repairs, security monitoring, housekeeping, education classes, donor tours, and construction meetings;
- As needed, addressing the horticultural, facility and custodial needs of both campuses, as well as monitoring the overall guest experience at WildCare Park;
- Participating in and raising awareness for WildCare Institute Centers and Programs, recovery/reintroduction initiatives and AZA SAFE programs related to the animals at WildCare Park and the Reserve.
Qualifications:
- A bachelor’s degree or higher in an animal-related field and previous animal care experience are desired. Successful candidate is likely to have at least two (2) years of paid hands-on experience in the care, management and propagation of ungulates, wolves and/or birds. Applicants with equivalent combinations of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job are encouraged to apply.
- A successful candidate will be a leader and have a positive, can-do attitude. They should expect a team-based approach and be ready to participate in cross-departmental collaborative team activities, in addition to performing duties within the WildCare Park Animal Care department. They should be curious, ready to learn and forward thinking. They should have the ability to solve complex problems efficiently and the ability to make good decisions during emergencies. They should be a self-motivated individual who can identify tasks that contribute to the function of the programs at WildCare Park and the Reserve and complete them independently. They should be open to a level of flexibility that sometimes requires a changing schedule based on the seasonal requirements of the job relating to animal care and facility maintenance needs.
- A successful candidate will be an effective communicator and have good writing, public speaking and storytelling skills. Interaction with donors, guests and the community will be frequent in this role, so a passion for public speaking and excellent presentation skills will be essential.
- A successful candidate is likely to have experience with animal management in large spaces, including animal introductions, multi-species habitats, animal transports and propagation of ungulates, American Red Wolves and/or other taxa, as well as a working knowledge of animal behavior and natural history, operant conditioning, field conservation and related subjects. On the job training will be made available for these activities, as needed.
- Confidence with technology, including ZIMS, database entry and analysis, PowerPoint, video/audio recording and video surveillance systems will be useful in this position. Training will be made available for these activities, as needed.
- Experience operating small equipment, such as weed eaters and leaf blowers, and large vehicular equipment, such as animal trailers, trucks, tractors, mowers, skid steers, and forklifts would be beneficial in this position. Training will be made available for these activities, as needed.
- A successful candidate must have a good safety record and be able to perform all duties and responsibilities with safety as a priority.
- A successful candidate will have the physical ability to perform required duties as assigned, including standing for long periods, walking, lifting, bending, driving, and working in all types of weather.
- A successful candidate must have a clear driving record and will be asked to get a Class E driver’s license.
- Must be available to work at all Saint Louis Zoo campuses as operational needs require, with primary assignment to WildCare Park and the Wildlife Reserve.
- Must be available to work a varied schedule, including early mornings, late evenings, weekends and holidays, as needed. Staggered shifts may be required to ensure coverage of animal care and guest interactions during extended hours of operation in the future.
- May be called in when animal or facility emergencies arise outside of scheduled shifts.
- All successful candidates for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check and a drug test. As this is a safety-sensitive role, a negative drug test result is mandatory. The drug test screens for five substances, including marijuana.
Preferred
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
