This position is responsible for the efficient and safe preparation of diets for individuals and groups of exotic animals. This includes a sanitary and uncluttered commissary that emphasizes food safety. Additional duties may include maintaining the commissary garden, unloading vendor shipments, and cleaning all areas of the Animal Commissary, including the break area and restrooms. The staff at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium strive to foster an environment of open communication and collaboration concerning, but not limited to the following discussion points: research, observations, behavior management, husbandry, nutrition, and training. This position reports directly to the Animal Commissary Supervisor.
Duties and Responsibilities/Essential Functions (include but not limited to):
- Accurately prepare diets, including raw food handling, weighing, chopping, grinding, mixing, measuring, and packaging.
- Ensure accurate diets are sent to every animal each day.
- Work closely with all commissary staff, volunteers, and interns to make sure that all daily tasks are completed.
- Properly label and store completed diets to ensure timely pickup by appropriate keeper teams.
- Make sure everything is clean and organized for the next day including produce carts, thawing meat, diet bags and containers, scales, and knives.
- Provide timely reports to the Supervisor or Lead regarding any food quality or diet issues or concerns.
- Contribute ideas for improvements in food safety, diet quality/variety, cost savings, food waste, and process efficiency.
- Assist in the organization and upkeep of the inventory in dry storage area, coolers, and freezers.
- Perform daily and other scheduled general cleaning and maintenance of building and equipment.
- Detect and inform the Supervisor or Lead of any problems with food quality, inventory levels, and anything affecting the safety or sanitation of the commissary.
- Maintain refrigerator/freezer temperature logs and records of meat lot numbers.
- Drive to pick up food donations from various donors as needed.
- Must be familiar with food safety protocols and sanitation practices to ensure both animal and human safety.
- Participate in cleaning the commissary at the end of every day, including scales, tables, floors, and equipment.
- Demonstrate knowledge of fire safety to include alarms and alarm panels, area specific fire suppression systems, fire extinguishers and building evacuation.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in nutrition, animal science, biology, food science, or related field preferred.
- Food industry or food prep experience preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Must have strong attention to detail.
- Must demonstrate specific knowledge of area specific safety protocols i.e., proper operation of pallet jacks, mixers, dicers, and grinders.
- Strong communication skills.
- Ability to work independently.
- Good time management skills and the ability to work on a team are a must.
- Knowledge of food processing equipment and its safe and proper operation.
- ServSafe certification for food handling. Must obtain within 6 months of job acceptance.
- Food industry or food prep experience preferred.
- Valid driver’s license is required.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- None.
Work Environment/Physical Demands:
- Will sometimes work extended/odd hours including weekends, holidays and some night programs.
- Must be able to walk long distances across the zoo. Walk in coolers and freezers for periods of time.
- Must be able to stand for long periods of time.
- Must be able to sit, stoop, kneel, bend, twist, crouch, reach above head and climb.
- Will lift, push, pull, and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 75 pounds using safe and proper lifting methods. Regularly lift completed diet buckets or crates onto cooler shelves.
- Will be regularly exposed to water, cleaning chemicals, loud noises, etc.
- Will be regularly exposed to a variety of produce, nuts, seafood, meat, and rodents.
- Operation of equipment such as pallet jacks or skid loaders may be necessary; therefore, employees must have a willingness to properly train on such equipment as-needed.
- Perform additional duties and/or assume other responsibilities as directed by Supervisor.
Travel Required:
- None.
Remote Work:
- This position does not support remote work.
DISCLAIMER
- The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification.
- It is not designed to contain, nor is it to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees assigned to this job.
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer as defined by the EEOC.
