| Location | West Orange, NJ |
Turtle Back Zoo
Guest Experience Keeper - part time
DESCRIPTION
The Turtle Back Zoo is looking for a dynamic individual to join its Guest Experience Team. A successful candidate will possess an excellent understanding of conservation education, animal husbandry, welfare, training, and guest engagement. The individual should be passionate, positive, and professional and have the skills and competency to perform basic animal keeper duties in assigned areas and conservation education throughout the park.
As a Guest Experience Keeper, responsibilities include providing engaging guest experiences on topics ranging from sharks and rays to giraffe. This position will learn/work primarily with our domestic farm animals but should be prepared to work with other taxonomic classes of animals. This position requires excellent interpersonal skills and works with other teams rotating throughout the zoo to create positive conservation engagement experiences with our guests throughout all our animal interaction areas including - Touch Tank, Giraffe Feed, Budgie Aviary, Pony Rides and Butterfly Pavilion.
Excellent written and oral communication, time management and organizational skills as well as the ability to work well alone or with others in a team environment are a must. Applicants should be articulate, enthusiastic, have a strong work ethic and exceptional public speaking skills.
Additional skills that are preferred but not required include teaching or interpretation experience, animal handling experience.
This is an entry level position, part-time with a maximum of 30 hours per week.
Experience Required
Experience Required The requirements for this position include: • High school graduate or equivalent required. Bachelor\s degree or college coursework in relevant biological field or equivalent combination of training and experience preferred. • Minimum six months animal care facility, farm, kennel, or equivalent animal experience preferred. Incumbent must possess an understanding of practical principles of animal behavior and ability to work with live animals safely. Knowledge of natural history, zoology, or animal husbandry preferred • Must be a minimum of 18 years of age. • Good interpersonal and communications skills. Must be able to interact in a courteous and professional manner. • Must be able to learn and integrate information, knowledge, and direction quickly. • Must be reliable. Must be capable of dealing with emergencies calmly and efficiently. • Must be able to read, write, and speak the English language fluently. • Experience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audience. Multilingual ability and Spanish fluency a plus.
Other Requirements All candidates selected for hiring by Turtle Back Zoo must undergo a complete background and professional reference check, and those who are hired should possess the ability to lift 75 lbs. and work indoors/outdoors in all conditions is required.
Physical aspects of the job include: standing for long periods of time, exposure to the elements, enclosure construction / maintenance, stooping, sitting, twisting, walking (often on uneven terrain). The position involves working on weekends and holidays and is subject to 24 hour on call availability.
How to Apply
Please fill out an application at:
Turtle Back Zoo
560 Northfield Ave
West Orange, NJ 07052
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