Carnivore Keeper
Location
Sanford, Florida, United States
Work type
Onsite
Employment
Full Time
Experience
1-3 years
Compensation
$18 - $20 per hour
Posted
1d ago
Summary and responsibilities
Role overview
Summary
The Carnivore Keeper at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens is responsible for the husbandry and maintenance of carnivore specimens, including animal observations, diet preparation, enclosure maintenance, and medical care assistance. This role involves ensuring animal well-being, maintaining safety protocols, and interacting professionally with staff and the public.
Carnivore Keeper – Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
The Carnivore Keeper provides daily husbandry, care, and maintenance for animals in the Carnivore section, including Amur Leopards, Fossas, African Crested Porcupines, Cougars, Cheetahs, and Black Bears. The position reports to the Senior Carnivore Keeper and, in their absence, to the Assistant Curator or General Curator.
Essential Duties:
Provide daily care and husbandry, including animal observation, behavior documentation, training, enrichment, diet preparation, feeding, and enclosure cleaning and maintenance.
Monitor animal health and behavior, recognize signs of illness, and provide veterinary care or medications as directed by veterinary staff.
Assist with animal capture, restraint, veterinary examinations, and evaluation of treatment responses.
Maintain safe procedures and routinely check locks, doors, latches, and shift doors to protect animals, staff, and visitors.
Participate in neonatal care and other animal welfare activities as needed.
Perform construction and maintenance work on exhibits and holding areas.
Maintain accurate animal records in coordination with the Registrar.
Conduct feeding demonstrations, answer visitor questions, and participate in education and media programs.
Work professionally with Zoo staff, visitors, vendors, and other departments.
Assist with projects and duties in other animal areas as needed.
Follow all Zoo policies, procedures, and safety requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications & Skills:
Must be at least 18 years old.
Must provide a negative TB test and drug screen.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Self-motivated, dependable, and goal-oriented.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Knowledge of operant conditioning/training techniques, animal husbandry, and zoonotic disease prevention.
Ability to present feeding demonstrations and discuss natural animal behaviors and history with guests.
Knowledge of the Zoo layout and animal collection for emergency response.
Comfortable with public speaking and representing the Zoo professionally.
Ability to maintain effective relationships with employees and the public.
Available to work a 40-hour week, including flexible schedules, weekends, holidays, evenings, and weekdays.
Education & Experience:
High school diploma or equivalent required.
College degree in biological science preferred.
At least one year of carnivore experience recommended.
At least one year of paid, verifiable animal keeper experience in a carnivore program preferred, including direct animal care, husbandry, and operant conditioning.
Alternatively, candidates following a non-traditional path must have completed an equivalent internship at an AZA-accredited or affiliated facility, including at least 175 documented hours of direct animal care, husbandry, and operant conditioning.
Zoological environment experience is essential.
Communication & Reasoning:
Ability to understand written and verbal instructions and communicate clearly with staff and guests.
Ability to prepare clear reports.
Strong problem-solving and logical reasoning skills with the ability to collect information, establish facts, and reach sound conclusions with minimal supervision.
Physical Requirements:
Frequently lift or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 75 pounds.
Ability to drive Zoo vehicles when required.
Ability to walk, stand, climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and work in confined areas.
Good close, distance, peripheral, and depth vision, with ability to adjust focus.
Frequent use of hands and fingers for handling and operating equipment.
Work Environment:
Work is primarily outdoors and may involve rain, wind, cold weather, extreme heat, and high humidity. Employees may encounter dust, allergens, chemicals, infectious diseases, and potential hazards associated with working around exotic and domestic animals, including bites, kicks, heavy lifting, and medical or surgical equipment. Noise levels are generally moderate.
Updated 1d ago
Candidate fit
Skills and qualifications
Additional skills
Experience
1-3 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
$18 - $20 per hour
Benefits and perks
Location, schedule, and role shape
Work setup
Work conditions
Bandwidth profile
Context on the employer
Company snapshot
Company
Central Florida Zoo
Team size
Growing team
Location
Sanford, Florida, United States
The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens is a zoological park.
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Carnivore Keeper
Sanford, Florida, United States • Full Time