Animal Keeper

Position Summary:
The Animal Keeper is responsible for the daily care and husbandry of both marine and terrestrial animal species, supporting Senior Keepers in ensuring the health, welfare, and enrichment of a diverse animal collection. This position plays a key role in maintaining a clean, safe, and stimulating environment while assisting with training, enrichment, and educational programs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide daily feeding, cleaning, and enrichment for both marine and terrestrial animals as assigned.
• Monitor animal health, behavior, and environmental conditions, reporting any concerns promptly to senior keepers.
• Support senior keepers in carrying out specialized care routines (e.g., water quality checks, tank maintenance, terrestrial enclosure upkeep).
• Assist in safe and proper handling, restraint, and transport of animals as required.

Support Senior Keepers:

• Help implement enrichment plans, training sessions, and behavioral observations under the guidance of senior keepers.
• Participate in the execution of medical and preventative care procedures, ensuring adherence to veterinary protocols.
• Collect and maintain accurate records on feeding, behavior, health, and habitat conditions.
• Collaborate on projects such as exhibit improvements, species-specific research, and breeding programs.

Safety and Facility Maintenance:

• Maintain cleanliness of all animal areas, including aquariums, tanks, and terrestrial habitats.
• Conduct routine inspections of habitats and life support systems, reporting issues to senior staff.
• Follow safety protocols for working in aquatic environments, including water quality monitoring and diving (if trained and certified).

Visitor Engagement and Education:

• Engage with visitors to answer questions and share information about marine and terrestrial species.
• Support public presentations, feeding demonstrations, or educational talks under senior keeper supervision.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, zoology, marine biology, or a related field required.
• Minimum 1 year of experience in animal care, including some experience with both marine (e.g., fish, invertebrates, small mammals) and terrestrial animals.
• Strong interest in supporting senior keepers in daily tasks, learning from their expertise, and developing skills in both marine and terrestrial husbandry.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Physically able to perform strenuous tasks in various weather and environmental conditions.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including weekends and holidays.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with water quality monitoring, life support systems, or diving certifications (e.g., SCUBA) is a plus.
• Basic knowledge of behavioral enrichment and training techniques.

Working Conditions:

• May involve working in and around water, climbing, lifting, and exposure to potentially dangerous animals.
• Required to work weekends, holidays, and evenings as scheduled.