Animal Care Technician

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Part Time Schiele Museum of Natural History, Gastonia, NC, US

The Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, NC is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research.

Description

Under general supervision by Head of Living Collections, keepers perform a wide range of functions in the Living Collections department. Their primary responsibilities include daily diet preparation, maintaining and cleaning animal exhibits, providing enrichment, and keeping detailed records. Keepers also provide occasional informal educational programming to the public, school groups, and summer camps in the form of Keeper Talks, live animal programs, and event day activities. The Schiele has three collections of animals: the Farm, the Exhibits collection, and the Education collection. The Farm is home to chickens, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, and rabbits. The Exhibits collection includes native snakes, turtles, mammals, and birds. The Education collection includes reptiles, arthropods, amphibians, and mammals from all over the world. This animal care staff position will work with all three collections. Work schedule includes weekdays and weekends, and rotating holidays.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides care (prepares diets for, feeds and cleans) for animals and maintains habitats, related structures, and surrounding non-public areas.
• Perform daily observation of animals to identify normal and abnormal behaviors related to husbandry/health issues.
• Communicate questions or concerns regarding medical/health issues of specimens in collection to supervisor. Assist with treatment as directed, including administering medication.
• Provides behavioral and psychological enrichment for animals.
• Communicate with visitors as needed for educational (delivers public programs) and behavioral/safety purposes.
• Services and maintains tools, equipment and facilities to ensure safe use (includes opening and closing of facilities).
• Follows all safety rules and regulations, policies and procedures.
• Assists with training for new keepers or volunteers and interns as assigned.
• Documents observations and information on animal health, behavior, diet, enrichment, and facilities for department records.

Qualifications

Skills

• Knowledge of safety practices, animal care, and handling exotic & domestic animals.
• Knowledge of animal diet preparation, general biology, and behavior.
• Ability to receive, understand, and carry out verbal and written instruction, direction, and assignments.
• Ability to perform physical work activities in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to communicate and cooperate with employees and to deal with the public in an effective and positive manner.
• Ability to work without direct supervision.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the public and comfortable with public speaking.
• Ability to present animal-themed programs to school groups and guests of varying ages and abilities.

Education/ Experience

• High School Diploma or equivalent. Applicants must be 18 years or older.
• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Zoology, Environmental Education, or related field preferred, but not necessary.
• At least one year of experience in animal husbandry, handling and training in a professional setting is preferred.

Physical Responsibilities

• This is an indoor and outdoor position; applicants will work outside year-round in inclement weather conditions such as extreme high/low temperatures, snow and rain conditions.
• Stand, sit, or walk for an extended period of time or for an entire work shift. Applicants are required to have the ability to bend, stoop and extend oneself etc., as required for performing assigned tasks.
• Move, lift, carry, push, pull, and place objects weighing less than or equal to 50 pounds without assistance.

Work Schedule

• Part-time position, ~24 hours per week.
• 8 hour shifts; 8:30am-4:30pm, though times may vary slightly
• Flexibility: Position may require flexibility in working hours to accommodate special events, emergencies, or animal care needs.