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SCSedgwick County
Sedgwick CountyZoo

Zookeeper

Birds

Location

Wichita, Kansas, United States

Work type

Onsite

Employment

Full Time

Experience

3-5 years

Compensation

$20 - $20 per hour

Posted

2h ago

Summary and responsibilities

Role overview

Summary

Provides daily care for avian collection, including feeding, cleaning, monitoring incubation, and hand-rearing neonates. Responsibilities also involve observing and reporting animal behavior, participating in well-being assessments, and producing animal training and enrichment. The role requires facility inspections and customer service interactions.

In a team setting provides daily care for avian collection including: feeding, cleaning, monitoring artificial egg incubation, hand-rearing neonates; observing, recording, and reporting behavior. Participates in animal well-being assessment practices. Produces and provides goal-based animal training and enrichment. Inspects facilities for security, safety, repair and maintenance. Interacts and provides customer service to all Zoo-defined customers. Job duties may extend to other animal taxa. This position participates in a mandatory on-call rotation.


Animal Care and Management

  • Ensure animals are housed and cared for in ways that meet all Zoo-defined goals.

  • Observe and understand the complexities of animal behavior, including individual animals and larger social context, animal general health, and behavior.

  • Recognize abnormalities and potential medical conditions, and communicate observations of animal behavior and health condition to veterinary staff, supervisor, curator, and other pertinent staff members.

  • Handle animals for husbandry needs, medical purposes, and in preparation for transport.

  • Monitor incubation process of eggs; record weights and size. Set eggs in incubators, monitor temperature and humidity, candle eggs to determine fertility, and assist in egg hatching, under the direction of supervisor and curator.

  • Enter and swim in aquatic habitats, on occasion, but never fully submerges (head stays above water).

  • Follow all safety protocols and area SOP’s while working with and around delicate, wild and potentially dangerous animals. Complete required training and safely operate all zoo-required equipment for completion of job duties.

  • Drive Zoological Society-owned vehicles, as needed, to care for or transfer animals to other zoological facilities. Animal transfer trips may occasionally require overnight travel.


Animal Well-being

  • Through consultation with supervisors and other resources, develop and maintain a skillset of positive animal well-being and animal training.

  • Use positive reinforcement training to assist with husbandry tasks and to maintain a safe working environment.

  • Maintain thorough and accurate record keeping: animal training, enrichment, behavioral observations and health conditions.


Area Maintenance

  • Clean and maintain service areas, animal habitats and public areas so they are clean, organized and aesthetically pleasing.

  • Complete daily inspections of animal habitats and associated facilities for security and safety concerns.

  • Conduct minor repairs to facilities or promptly submits concerns to supervisor.

  • Ensure that habitats are ready for public display in a timely manner.

  • Communicate any pest control concerns to supervisors or veterinary team.

Updated 2h ago

Candidate fit

Skills and qualifications

Additional skills

Animal Care • 1+ yrs
Animal Behavior Observation • 1+ yrs
Positive Reinforcement Training • 1+ yrs
Operant Conditioning • 1+ yrs
Record Keeping • 1+ yrs
Facility Maintenance • 1+ yrs
Power Tools • 1+ yrs
Customer Service • 1+ yrs

Experience

3-5 years

Certifications

US Driver's License • Required
Automobile Insurance • Required

How this role is positioned

Role classification

Job domains

Operations

Industries

Wildlife & Conservation

Employment

Full Time

Contract duration

Permanent

Hiring type

Direct

Global hiring

Location specific

Offer details

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

$20 - $20 per hour

VisibilityShared on listing
CurrencyUSD
PeriodHourly

Location, schedule, and role shape

Work setup

Work conditions

Primary locationWichita, Kansas, United States
Work typeOnsite
Global hiringNo

Bandwidth profile

peopleMedium5/10
physicalHigh8/10
cognitiveMedium7/10
executionHigh8/10
creativityMedium5/10
uncertaintyMedium6/10
communicationMedium6/10

Context on the employer

Company snapshot

Company

Sedgwick County

Team size

Growing team

Location

Wichita, Kansas, United States

Sedgwick County is a local government entity that operates a Zoo department. It offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, including health coverages, paid leave, regular compensation reviews, retirement plans, and professional development opportunities.

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Zookeeper

Wichita, Kansas, United StatesFull Time