Lead Avian Animal Keeper

About the Akron Zoo

The Akron Zoo has experienced remarkable success over the last two decades with tremendous attendance growth, strong financial sustainability, and an enviable record of repeated AZA accreditation certifications. This coupled with overwhelming community support demonstrated by the repeated passing of tax levy campaigns, which provide annual funding towards the Zoo’s operating and capital needs. 

The Zoo is poised for continued growth and development having just completed new strategic, master, and conservation plans that outline several important projects including a new $25M+ African exhibit expansion which will add giraffe to the collection, a new animal hospital and increased resources directed to new conservation programs. 

With that as a canvas, the Akron Zoo is seeking a full-time, 40-hour per week Avian Lead Animal Keeper with excellent communication and interpersonal skills and a mature attitude, for physical work (which includes climbing and walking on uneven terrain; entering and wading into pools; climbing hills, stairs and ladders; wearing PPE; lifting up to 50 lbs.; and working outside in all weather conditions, etc.). 

Essential Job Functions:

This position will have responsibility for husbandry/keeper duties, personnel oversight and coaching, and administrative duties. 

The Lead Avian Animal Keeper will be scheduled to work an animal routine multiple days each week depending upon the needs of the Zoo. They will maintain training and knowledge of all the routines within their assigned unit by working each of them at least once per month. In addition to working a routine, the Lead Keeper’s animal care role will include but not be limited to: 

• Checks in and provides oversight for all of the routines on their unit on a daily basis
• Ensures pest control is maintained in assigned areas.

Personnel oversight may include but is not limited to:

• Mentors, coaches, and trains assigned staff
• Coordinate keeper routine activities and procedures and provide Animal Care management with input on future work schedules.
• Create and enforce a written routine of daily tasks and infrequent tasks and projects for all assigned staff to follow. It is required that a written routine is followed by all staff to ensure consistency of care for the collection animals.
• Conduct team meetings in manager’s absence

Administrative duties may include but are not limited to: 

• Inventory and order supplies
• Ensure submission of accurate feed orders each week. 
• Scheduling – Tours, team schedules, projects, trainings, exams, etc.
• Maintain and update Servicing Guidelines
• Help review and update policies and SOPs

Lead Animal Keepers may also function in the role of Animal Chief on the Incident Command Team providing sufficient training and skills.

Consideration for this position will include:

• Preferred minimum five-years full-time experience at an AZA institution with Avian species 
• A 4-year degree is strongly preferred; a minimum of an associate’s degree or equivalent is required. 
• Significant experience with artificial incubation and hand rearing across several Avian species.

Must be available weekends, holidays, and for a flexible schedule and must be able to meet all other requirements of the job.

Current Hours worked: 7:00am to 4:00pm; 8:00am to 5:00pm; or 9:00am to 6:00pm (Hours worked will change with season/programming)

Hourly rate: $27.23/hour   

Days off: Friday & Saturday 

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Therefore, this employee may be required to perform other reasonably related duties as assigned by his/her immediate supervisor. The Akron Zoo reserves the right to revise and change job duties as business requirements dictate.

The Akron Zoo is a Drug-Free Workplace and an EOE.

This is a Full-time, Non-Exempt, Collective Bargaining position with benefits. Open until filled.