Hoofstock Keeper

Central Florida Zoo

The Hoofstock Keeper at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens will provide husbandry and maintenance protocols for specimens in the Hoofstock section, including the Greater One-Horned Rhino, Giraffe, Peccary, and domestic barn animals. The Hoofstock Keeper reports directly to the Senior Hoofstock Keeper. In the Senior’s absence, this position will report directly to the Assistant Curator or General Curator. Additional guidance is received through established policies and procedures, plus verbal and written communications.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The employee in this position must be able to perform all the essential duties listed below; however, this list not intended to all of the specific tasks, which an employee in this position may be expected to perform.

• Be an ambassador for the Zoo at all times.
• Perform duties involving the husbandry and well-being of all specimens allocated to the department’s responsibility, including animal observations, documentation of behaviors, training, enrichment, diet preparation and presentation, and enclosure maintenance and sanitation.
• Perform construction to maintain exhibits and holding areas when needed, in a sound and aesthetic fashion.
• Perceive changes in an animal’s behavior that may indicate signs of illness and provide medical care and admission of drugs under the direction of the Veterinarian staff.
• Assist in the capture, restraint, and presentation of specimens for veterinary review, and evaluate animal’s response to suggested therapy.
• Develop a work routine that emphasizes safety and spotting potential dangers to the animals, staff and public. Tool safety is required at all times, as is a system of double checking all locks, doors, latches and shift doors.
• Interact with co-workers and the public in a professional and constructive manner.
• Develop and promote a working philosophy that emphasizes safety on the job, and continuously monitor and evaluate potential dangers to animals, staff, and the visiting public.
• Participate in neonatal care when required to maintain the health and welfare of department’s animals.
• Create and maintain animal records in an organized fashion in conjunction with the Registrar.
• Be in sound health and capable of safely performing strenuous physical labor and lifting.
• Assist with projects or daily duties in other animal areas as needed.
• Develop and nurture professional relationships with all Zoo staff.
• Perform all duties required in the department and work productively with little supervision.
• Adhere to all Central Florida Zoo Policies and Procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

The duties listed above are intended only as an illustration of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

Qualifications:

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be a minimum of 18 years old.
• Must provide a negative TB test and negative drug screen result.
• Must be able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Must be self-motivated and goal-oriented
• Must have strong communication skills, both written and verbal, when interacting with team members, co-workers, visitors, and vendors.
• Must be able to present feeding demonstrations that emphasize normal feeding strategies in the wild and respond to guests’ questions on natural history.
• Must have knowledge of operant training techniques.
• Must have knowledge of husbandry requirements and the prevention of Zoonotic diseases.
• Must be knowledgeable of the Zoo’s layout and animal collection to respond quickly during animal emergencies.
• Must be able to maintain effective working relationships with other Zoo employees and the public.
• Must be comfortable with public speaking, as participation in education and media programs is often required.
• Must be able to represent the Zoo in a courteous and professional image.
• Must be able to work a 40-hour work week which may include flexible hours, including weekdays, weekends, holidays and evenings.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE:

• This position requires a high school diploma or equivalent. A college degree in biological science is preferred.
• A minimum of one (1) year of experience with Hoofstock is recommended.
• A minimum of one (1) year paid, verifiable animal keeper experience with a Hoofstock program is preferred. This must include documented direct animal care, husbandry, and operant conditional training. Or, if following a non-traditional path, successful completion of the same type of internship at an AZA-accredited or affiliate facility is required. This must include a minimum of 175 hours with documented direct animal care, husbandry, and operant conditioning training.
• Experience in a zoological environment is essential.

LANGUAGE ABILITY:

• Must be able to read and understand directions, both verbally and in writing.
• Must be able to communicate with staff and guests clearly and effectively.
• Must be able to prepare clear and concise reports.

REASONING ABILITY:

• Must be able to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Must have the ability to think logically and solve problems with little or no guidance.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Must possess a valid Florida State Driver’s License.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the following have been identified as physical requirements of the job:

• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds.
• The employee may be required to drive Zoo vehicles.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
• The employee is frequently required to use hands and fingers to handle, reach, feel, and manipulate objects or controls.
• The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk distances, climb, balance, stoop, bend, kneel and crouch.
• Several job functions of this position are performed in confined areas.

Salary