Goat Yard Husbandry/Attendant

Description

The Virginia Zoo is looking to welcome to the team Goat Yard Attendants to help in the Zoo farm and goat yard.

Goat Yard Attendants assists zookeepers in our farm and goat yard to provide a memorable guest experience to visitors of the Virginia Zoo. Attendants are responsible for caring for the animals in the goat yard and farm which includes feeding, monitoring health changes, maintaining safety and cleanliness, and providing enrichment.

This is an hourly, non-exempt part-time position.

Daytime hours, some evenings required for events, holidays, and weekends. This position does not supervise any staff.

Goat Yard Attendants may assist with the following tasks:

• Clean animal exhibits, stalls, goat climbing structures, windows, and visitor pathways.
• Monitor goat yard entrance and exit gates.
• Assist with Behind-the-Scenes Tour experiences as needed.
• Provide animal feeding throughout day.
• Monitor and track animal behavior and health and report changes.
• Assist zoo visitors during animal interactions to ensure interactions are safe and positive for both visitors and animals.
• General monitoring of interactive animal areas for visitor and animal safety.
• Interpreting animal exhibits to zoo visitors to help connect visitors with the animals and share natural history and conservation messages.
• Assist zookeepers with animal husbandry, enrichment, exhibit maintenance, animal restraint, and other area needs (Including but limited to Goat Yard and Farm area).
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Candidates should be either be in college, be a recent college graduate, or have equivalent experience working in a zoological setting.
• Experience working with children of all ages
• Experience working directly with animals and in guest-focused settings is preferred.
• Candidates should be comfortable working around goats and interactive animals on the Zoo Farm.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
• Must be able to work outside year-round in varying weather conditions.
• Must be able to work weekends and some evenings.

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to walk and stand for long periods; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, or crouch; lift up to 50lbs and talk or hear. Work is done outside, in all weather conditions.

At Virginia Zoological Society, we believe that diversity fuels creativity and innovation. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, genetic information, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, non-job related physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.

The Virginia Zoo is a drug free workplace