Title: Animal Nutrition Center Technician Internship
Reports to: Animal Health Manager
Overview:
The Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens is currently seeking an enthusiastic and hardworking candidate for its new Animal Nutrition Internship program. The Animal Nutrition Center is part of the zoos Animal Health Department. This candidate will work alongside our Animal Nutrition Technicians. This new internship position will provide you not only with the opportunity to work hands on in our kitchen preparing diets, but you will also learn about all the work that goes into preparing a diet you know the animal will not only love but also benefit from nutritionally. Working at the Animal Nutrition Center will give anyone interested in the field of nutrition an eye-opening experience as to just what goes into our daily routine of making the diets for tigers, hornbills, mandrills, and even elephants!
Learning Opportunities:
• Close attention to detail. We follow in depth “recipes” when making diets and pride ourselves on accuracy.
• Working directly with raw meat and fish.
• Working efficiently to prepare and put away following temperature regulations.
• Station Cleanliness.
• Rotation of freezer and cooler/produce inventory.
• Using sharp knives along with other kitchen utensils.
• Sweeping, mopping, and dusting (shelves, corners, coolers, etc.).
• Helping unload grain, fish, and meat orders into various areas such as the deep freezer
and dry storage.
We are willing to work with you and can find other tasks for you to perform should one of the above
responsibilities need to be excluded. There is always room for accommodation. Please note that this is not meant to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities and that the requirements of the internship are subject to change as required.
Duration of Program:
20-40 hours per week (20 being the minimum and 40 the maximum). Days are flexible, but you may be required to work Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
Note, if you are pursuing this internship for school credit, it is the student’s responsibility to organize that with their school and the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens.
Qualifications:
Education and Experience
- Enrollment in or graduation from an associate or bachelor’s degree program in a related field. Having an interest in the field of nutrition is strongly preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong work ethic: dependable, timely, responsive, productive, organized
- Effective verbal and written communication skills including professional and respectful interpersonal skills
- Excellent safety practices including safe operation of hand tools, vehicles, and equipment
- Basic computer operations, including Microsoft Office, and willingness/ability to use technology
- Ability to learn new tasks and follow written and verbal instructions
- Effective time management including prioritization
- Sound judgment and critical thinking skills
- Ability to remain focused despite interruptions and manage stress to perform job effectively
- An inclusive mindset with strong interpersonal and collaboration skills
- Acceptance and application of constructive feedback
- Maintains confidentiality where required
Physical Requirements:
• Physically able to withstand long hours standing.
• Ability to lift at least 50lbs without difficulty.
• Willingness to go in and out of the deep freezer (-10F) as well as dry storage (90F) without difficulty throughout the day.
• Organizational skills.
Although we do work inside, this job has potential to be strenuous with heavy lifting and long hours
standing. Please let someone know if you need accommodations. Health and Safety are key here
at the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens.
We are an equal opportunity employer and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local employment regulations
EOE / DRUG FREE WORKPLACE
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