Animal Keeper II
Location
Wheeling, West Virginia, United States
Work type
Onsite
Employment
Full Time
Experience
1-2 years
Compensation
$15 - $15 per hour
Posted
2h ago
Summary and responsibilities
Role overview
Summary
The Animal Keeper II at Oglebay Good Zoo is responsible for the physical and psychological well-being of zoo animals, including habitat maintenance, diet preparation, and health monitoring. This role also involves educating visitors, supervising volunteers and interns, and maintaining comprehensive records.
Summary
Responsible for the physical and psychological well-being of zoo animals and their enclosures while supporting visitor education and interpretation of the animal collection.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Clean and maintain animal habitats, service areas, and surrounding guest areas using appropriate tools and cleaning agents.
Prepare and distribute animal diets according to curator-approved guidelines.
Maintain habitats, furnishings, substrates, horticulture, and grounds to support animal welfare, naturalistic environments, and guest viewing.
Monitor and document animal health, eating habits, behavior, reproduction, and overall welfare; identify abnormal conditions and report concerns to managers.
Develop and evaluate enrichment programs, recognize stereotypical behaviors, conduct welfare assessments, and apply operant conditioning to support husbandry and veterinary procedures.
Maintain detailed animal records, reports, training plans, inventories, and routine correspondence.
Supervise, assign tasks to, train, and assist with evaluating interns and volunteers within the assigned keeper area.
Maintain knowledge of the in-situ and ex-situ biology of assigned species through professional and library resources.
Conduct fecal, water chemistry, minor blood tests, and other basic laboratory procedures.
Assist veterinarians with animal examinations, treatment, medication administration, and first aid.
Assist with wildlife issues within the resort, including trapping, relocation, or euthanasia of sick or nuisance wildlife as permitted by law and applicable AVMA/AZA guidelines.
Monitor facility conditions, report maintenance and safety hazards, and participate in CPR, first aid, and crisis response activities.
Safely restrain, capture, and transfer animals, including neonates, injured animals, fragile animals, and large or strong species.
Provide specialized care for sick or newborn animals, which may include hand-rearing neonates or returning to the zoo outside normal hours.
Provide educational, promotional, informational programs, tours, and training support for guests and volunteers.
Follow written and oral instructions and adhere to professional ethics established by the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Maintain positive relationships with guests and coworkers and address guest concerns professionally.
Supervisory Responsibilities
Assigns and monitors daily work performed by interns and junior and adult volunteers within the assigned keeper area.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university, or 1–2 years of related experience/training, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Valid driver’s license and CPR certification.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, technical procedures, regulations, and other relevant materials.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports and communicate effectively with staff, guests, managers, and the public.
Ability to apply basic mathematical concepts, including percentages, ratios, proportions, probability, and statistical inference.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills with the ability to interpret written, verbal, diagram, and schedule-based instructions.
Ability to work independently and effectively in situations with limited standardization.
Physical Requirements
The position requires frequent standing, walking, hand use, reaching, talking, and hearing. Employees may occasionally climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and must frequently lift or move up to 50 pounds. Adequate close, distance, peripheral, and depth vision and the ability to adjust focus are required. Reasonable accommodations may be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities.
Work Environment
Work is regularly performed outdoors and may involve wet or humid conditions, mechanical equipment, fumes, airborne particles, chemicals, extreme temperatures, electrical hazards, and radiation exposure. The work environment typically has moderate noise levels. Employees must follow all applicable safety procedures and use required protective equipment.
Updated 2h ago
Candidate fit
Skills and qualifications
Additional skills
Experience
1-2 years
Certifications
How this role is positioned
Role classification
Job domains
Industries
Employment
Full Time
Contract duration
Permanent
Hiring type
Direct
Global hiring
Location specific
Offer details
Compensation and benefits
Compensation
$15 - $15 per hour
Location, schedule, and role shape
Work setup
Work conditions
Bandwidth profile
Context on the employer
Company snapshot
Company
Oglebay Good Zoo
Team size
Growing team
Location
Wheeling, West Virginia, United States
Provides for the physical and psychological well-being of zoo animals and enclosures; assists with interpreting the collection to visitors.
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Animal Keeper II
Wheeling, West Virginia, United States • Full Time