Temporary Zookeeper
: Job Details :

NOTE: If you are a current NC State Government employee, you will not be considered for a temporary assignment.

The Zoo is recruiting for TWO Full-Time Temporary Positions to work up to 11 months

Full-time Hours - 40 hours

Hourly Rate of Pay: $15.00 - $18.00

Temporary positions are assigned to the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources - NC Zoo in Asheboro - Randolph County.

There are no leave, insurance or retirement benefits offered.

This position will be located at:

NC Zoo

4401 Zoo Parkway

Asheboro, NC 27205

Primary Purpose:

The NC Zoo is seeking two Full-Time, 11-month Temporary Zookeepers to be part of its Gorilla/Baboon or Streamside team. These positions are responsible for daily care of a dynamic group of animals. The candidates for this position will be cross trained between other animal work areas to be a cohesive member of this team. Responsible for health and behavior monitoring and assessment, feeding, hygiene of habitats and holding enclosures, ensuring containment and safety, keeping written husbandry records, and implementing prescribed preventative medical practices and medical treatments for all animal specimens housed in the habitats and holding buildings. Duties will be performed under the direction of full-time Zookeepers and the Animal Management Supervisor for the section.

Animal species housed in the Gorilla/Baboon work unit include Western Lowland Gorillas and Hamadryas Baboon.

animal species housed in the Streamside work unit include North American river otters, bobcat, barred owl, as well as Southeast US native fish, reptiles and amphibians. The Streamside work unit is also responsible for the care and management of the zoo's honeybee colonies and seasonal butterfly garden.

Maintains animal habitats, night quarters and related facilities, enhances the zoo guests' experience and contributes to the realization of NC Zoo's mission by communicating information about the habitats' interpretive themes, animal ecology and natural history, and key conservation issues.

Key Responsibilities:

* Provide care to animals in the collection. Monitor their health and behavior; provide nutrition and keep animal enclosures and adjacent areas clean and safe.

* Maintain enclosures to ensure they are free of hazards to the animals and staff, clean of fecal material and other waste, contain sufficient materials for nesting, bedding, hiding, displaying behaviors, playing, climbing etc.

* Understand and follow established standard operating procedures and guidelines for the work unit assigned.

* Maintain personal safety and the safety of colleagues, animals and guests.

* Clean and maintain habitats and related facilities to NC Zoo, AZA and USDA standards.

* Maintain structural integrity, security of animal enclosures, and adjacent areas are monitored to prevent animal escapes, and identify, report and correct safety hazards to animals, staff and/or public.

* Ensure safe practices and protocols are followed. Biohazards and chemicals are handled safely, and exposures are prevented. Equipment is used in a safe manner. Escaped Animal Recapture Procedure is well understood and implemented effectively when necessary.

* Develop a thorough understanding of work unit species natural histories and become familiar with individual animal histories for the animals under your care.

* Identify health conditions and behaviors of all animals under your care and report any changes.

* Food presentation meets the nutritional, physical and behavioral needs specific to the animals assigned.

* Effectively communicate information to work unit co-workers, supervisors, curators, and veterinary staff.

* May participate in the behavior management program (training sessions, shifting, demonstrations, and enrichment creation) as proficiency allows based on the established protocols and guidelines set forth by the work unit assigned.

Job Requirements:

* Must be able to work a rotating schedule that involves working weekends, holidays and after regular work shifts.

* Must be able to capture, handle and restrain live exotic and potentially dangerous animals and use associated capture equipment.

* Must have good physical agility, strength, vision, and hearing, and the ability to perform strenuous physical work in extremes of weather and challenging physical environments. Such as walk, stand, see animals and habitats for observation and safety as well as hear animal's sounds, radio communication and emergency situations.

* Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. with or without an accommodation.

* Must have, or be able to obtain, and maintain a valid NC driver's license.

* May be required to participate in the zoo's occupational health program due to potential exposure to zoonosis.

To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must list the information on the application form. Any information omitted from the application form, listed under the text resume section, or on an attachment will not be considered for qualifying credit.

* Demonstrated knowledge of basic biology (animal anatomy and physiology), animal natural history and/or animal behavior.

Managements Preference:

* Experience working for a Zoo, Aquarium or wildlife facility that is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums

* Demonstrated keen observational skills and the ability to discern and interpret subtle changes in animal health and behavior.

* Strong oral and written communication skills.

* Ability to use basic tools and equipment such as hydraulic door controls, pressure washers, steam cleaners, and/or handheld power tools, etc.

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an equivalent combination of education and experience. If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details.

Trainee may be accepted if no qualifying candidates apply.

Bachelor's degree in biology, zoology, natural sciences, or related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution

and

one year of experience working in a zoo-based or related animal care facility;

or

an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Primary Purpose of the Organizational Unit:

The North Carolina Zoo exists for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of all of North Carolina's citizens and visitors to the zoo. The mission of the zoo is to encourage the understanding of and commitment to the conservation of the world's wildlife and wild places through the recognition of the interdependence of people and nature. The Zoo displays, conserves and protects representative examples of natural beauty, plant and animal species and ecological features of the North American and African regions of the world through the presentation of live animal exhibits from these regions.

Department Information:

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) takes care of the things that people love about North Carolina, literally from A to Z. The Arts to the Zoo, and so much else - parks, aquariums, historic sites, archaeology, African American Heritage Commission, science and history museums, the state Symphony, Library, and Archives, historic preservation, land, and water stewardship, and more. These places, and the ideas they represent, create a shared identity among us as North Carolinians. They provide common ground. Everyone is welcome. Our goal is to promote equity and inclusion among our employees and our programming to reflect and celebrate our state's diverse population, culture, and history. We encourage you to apply to become a part of our team.

Check out this amazing video about our Department. DNCR

The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) selects applicants for employment based on required education and experience and job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age (40 or older), disability, National Guard or veteran status, genetic information, political affiliation, or political influence.

We are an Employment First state, ensuring that people with disabilities have equal opportunities to succeed in the state government workplace. DNCR supports pay equity for women, establish paid parental leave for birth, adoption, and foster care, and implement fair chance policies. Join a team that welcomes, values, respects and supports all members of our work community.

Please be sure to complete the application in full. Resumes may be uploaded with your application but will not be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application and will not be considered for qualifying credit. See Resume or See Attachment will NOT be accepted.

Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.

Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions, you must provide supporting information within the Work Experience section of the application, to support your answers.

Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts, and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application. If you have student loans, becoming a state employee includes eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Visit www.studentaid.gov to learn more.

To obtain veterans preference, you must scan and upload a copy of your DD-214 or discharge orders.

Applicants requesting and receiving an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are eligible to submit paper applications via mail or by fax. Please call the human resources office for assistance.

If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM on the closing date.

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Upon the closing date, applications are Under Review and will be screened by Human Resources for the qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks.

It is the policy of the State of North Carolina and the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources that all employees provide proof of employment eligibility (immigration and naturalization) on the first day of employment. We participate in E-Verify (Employment Eligibility Verification System).

CONTACT INFORMATION:

N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

Division of Human Resources

Ellie Meadows

4401 Zoo Parkway

Asheboro, NC 27205

336-###-####

...@dncr.nc.gov

Please visit our website at www.nczoo.org for more information regarding our facility.