Part-time Hospital Assistant, Bronx Zoo

Hospital Assistant

Reports to: Assistant Director, Zoological Health Program

Position Managed: Volunteers

Location: Bronx Zoo

Department: Zoological Health Program

Scope: Bronx Zoo; In-person Position Type: Part time (2-3 days per week must include either Friday-Saturday or Sunday-Monday)

Salary: $17.00/hour

About Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS): WCS stands for wildlife and wild places. As the world's premier wildlife conservation organization, WCS has a long track record of achieving innovative, impactful results at scale. We run field programs spanning 60 countries and the entire ocean. We build on a unique foundation: Our reach is global; we discover through best-in-class science; we protect through work on the ground with local and indigenous people; we inspire through our world-class zoos, aquarium, and education programs; and we leverage our resources through partnerships and powerful policy influence. Our more than 4,000 diverse, passionately committed team members in New York City and around the world work collectively to achieve our conservation mission.

Position Summary: The part time Hospital Assistant is part of the team which cares for hospitalized and quarantined animals at the Zoological Health Program's (ZHP) Wildlife Health Center (WHC)/Quarantine Facility (QF). The individual's main responsibilities will be to assist in performing any activity necessary to provide safe, proper and humane care of assigned animals in the WHC and QF according to established protocols or under the direction of ZHP/Animal Department Supervisors or Veterinarians. Assisting in the maintenance of the WHC/QF physical plant and environs is also integral to the role.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Care, training, enrichment, and restraint of assigned animals of all taxa housed at the WHC/QF including carrying out medical care, recordkeeping, specialized diets as ordered by veterinarians or ZHP/Animal Department Supervisors.
• Perform safe and proper maintenance (cleaning and proper environmental parameters) of environmentally controlled enclosures, holding facilities, and associated service areas according to established protocols or under the direction of ZHP/Animal Department Supervisors or Veterinary Staff.
• Participate in the modification, enhancement, and proper disinfection of animal holding areas/enclosures under the direction of ZHP/Animal Department Supervisors or Veterinary Staff.
• Assist with general equipment/supplies replacement, all recordkeeping, and maintenance of the WHC compressed medical gas system.
• Assist with set up and carrying out mandated quarantine procedures (Centers for Disease Control, United States Department of Agriculture, etc. or specific infectious disease control)
• Assist with the proper handling and disposal of Regulated Medical Waste.
• Maintain the WHC/QF environs and vehicles for cleanliness, safety, and organization
• Assist the Operations/Maintenance staff and outside contractors as needed to ensure the WHC and QF physical plant and medical systems operate properly.