Animal Care Technician - PT

Location

Allentown, PA | United States

Job description

The Part Time Animal Care Technician(s) will be responsible for the care of animals displayed in the Da Vinci Science Center’s Lehigh River Watershed Exhibit, scheduled to open to the public in May of 2024. Native wildlife will be exhibited in a collection including North American river otters, freshwater fish, turtles, and non-venomous snakes upon opening, with the planned addition of an education ambassador collection after opening.

Under the supervision of the Lead Otter Keeper and Animal Care Manager, the primary responsibilities of this position include performing and/or contributing to daily animal care (feeding, enclosure cleaning, minor maintenance), enrichment, and training, and helping to lead interpretive programming for visitors. This position may also help with animal introductions, facility set-up, and other pre-opening tasks to contribute to the on-time opening of this exhibit, as needed.  

This is a part-time position working 20-25 hours per week, including weekend, and occasional evening and holiday work. Hours will be assigned as-needed to cover animal care routines, and may be inconsistent.  

MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Animal Care

· Perform diet prep and feeding of collection.

· Perform enrichment for all collection animals and incorporate enrichment into feeding routines.

· Under the direction of the Lead Otter Keeper and Animal Care Manager (LOKACM), participate in and eventually lead otter training sessions.

· Oversee and perform daily exhibit and holding area cleaning and maintenance, including shifting animals for cleaning.

· Monitor animal behavior, health and well-being, and perform health assessments daily; report and document abnormalities.

· Monitor visitor interactions and survey exhibit daily to ensure animal and visitor safety.

· Monitor environmental conditions of enclosures/exhibits.

· Maintain detailed, thorough records of all of the above, file daily reports.

· Maintain an excellent line of communication with supervisor and other relevant staff.

Life Support Systems

· Perform water quality testing as planned.

· Monitor and perform routine maintenance on LSS systems, animal habitats, and back-of- house equipment.

· Perform water changes, adjust water levels, clean filters, replace filter media, etc. as needed.

Other responsibilities

· May be asked to assist with new facility set-up, including equipment assembly, receiving and unpacking materials, setting up enclosures, etc.

· Work under LOKACM and Dir. ES & LC to implement and adjust newly written procedures

· Present public and reserved programs to visitors, possibly including keeper talks and enrichment demonstrations.

· Assist with exhibit creation, design, or modification as needed.

· Serve as an in-house expert on native wildlife and conservation.

• Make diversity, equity, and inclusion a priority in day-to-day operations and colleague and community relationships.

• Other duties as assigned.

  Qualifications

Mandatory

Successful candidate will meet all of these qualifications:

·1-3 years of experience working as a keeper/animal care personnel in a zoo, aquarium, museum, or nature center environment.

· Comfort with caring for and handling turtles, snakes, and fish.

· Motivated, task-oriented, accountable, independent worker, with the ability to multitask and keep to a schedule.

· Skilled at working harmoniously and efficiently as part of a team.

· Ability to walk on uneven, slippery terrain and be comfortable around 3-4 ft deep pools.

· Basic computer skills (Microsoft Office, file sharing, email, etc.)

· Must agree to follow health and safety and PPE protocols when working with animals (including possible vaccination, tuberculosis test requirements and use of safety equipment)

· Motivated self-starter that is team and goal oriented

· Exceptional communication skills, both oral and written.

· Comfortability with public speaking and presentation.

· Ability to participate in programs, events and receptions that may occur outside of normal working hours.

· Demonstrated problem solving skills and ability to work with staff at all levels in a complex, collaborative environment.

· Work and communicate effectively and respectfully with people from different cultural backgrounds.

Preferred

Successful candidate will meet some or all of these qualifications:

· Experience caring for otters and knowledge of their husbandry needs and natural history

· Experience caring for and handling native reptiles

· Experience caring for fish including LSS/filtration maintenance and water quality testing

· Experience teaching environmental education programming

· Bilingual in English and Spanish a plus

Job tags

Salary

$18.5 per hour