Lead Keeper - Jungle

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is seeking a Lead Keeper for the Lied Jungle to provide daily husbandry and behavioral management of all the animals within the Lied Jungle. The successful candidate will be expected to perform in a proactive leadership role and communicate regularly with the area supervisor regarding animal management, facility maintenance, and staff supervision and development. Assist in departmental hiring, scheduling, and work assignments, as well as the development of departmental goals and plans. Aid in establishing work priorities for the department. Ensure compliance with all Zoo policies and procedures. Train and direct work of interns, seasonal employees, and full-time keeper staff. Routinely monitor and review the work performance of keeper staff in assigned area and ensure completion of tasks in a timely and effective fashion. This position reports directly to the Jungle Supervisor.

Duties and Responsibilities (include but not limited to):

• Support the Jungle Supervisor with day-to-day management of keeper staff and interns.
• Requires excellent animal training skills, time management, and staff/volunteer supervision skill sets.
• Expected to have or develop the appropriate level of knowledge of the natural history and captive wildlife management under their care to ensure the best possible physical and psychological well-being of the animals in their care.
• Implement department priorities as well as demonstrate the initiative and expertise to regularly find ways to make improvements.
• The Lead Keeper is expected to be active as a department leader and can be expected to cover department function and emergency response coordination in the absence of area supervisor.
• Assist with the maintenance of the area buildings and structures including, but not limited to, cleaning, painting, light construction, etc.
• Assist with the maintenance of the area grounds including, but not limited to, plant care, raking, weeding, trash collection, etc.
• Work has exposure to physical and zoonotic disease risk.

Physical Demands:

• The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms and talk or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 80 pounds.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, as well as knowing when to delegate tasks
• Requires excellent time management and staff/volunteer supervision skill sets.
• Proven knowledge of basic training techniques, theory and application. Internal candidates should have completed Trainer Level II or be working towards completion.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Creative, positive, and self-motivated.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs.
• Able to stand for long periods and work in inclement weather conditions.
• Ability to drive and operate motor vehicles.

Qualifications:

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must hold a valid state driver’s license.
• Must have a tuberculosis test completed prior to employment and pass all pre-employment screenings.
• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Animal Science, Behavior or related field is preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in an AZA accredited institution or related organization.
• Exotic/zoo animal husbandry experience is required; primate experience is preferred.
• Operant conditioning and enrichment experience is required.
• Public speaking experience preferred.

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.