Education Animal Keeper

Department: Education Supervisor’s Title: Director of Education Position Pay Range: Hourly $9.00 Personnel Classification: Part-time About the Lincoln Children’s Zoo Rated among the nation's best zoos for children by Parent Magazine, the Zoo is home to over 400 different animals and 40 endangered animals and is the third most attended arts & cultural attraction in Nebraska. The Zoo has been featured on NBC Today, Time Magazine, ABC News, USA Today, Buzzfeed, CNN and National Geographic. The Zoo continues to grow each year with more than 240,000 in attendance so far in 2019 and the addition of a 10-acre space complete with giraffes, tigers, spider monkeys. Further expansion was completed in 2020 including a cheetah run and giant anteater habitat. Lincoln Children’s Zoo Core Values

  • We are there for each other.
  • We generate enthusiasm.
  • We are humble.
  • We go above and beyond.

Overview

The Lincoln Children’s Zoo is looking for a responsible, mature, driven, and hardworking individual with a passion small animal health and behavior. The Education Animal Keeper supports the Ambassador Animal keeper team with daily husbandry and care of our animals in Wrangler Roundup including Nubian and African pygmy goats, domestic chickens, llamas, ponies, and dromedary camels, our Hive Building including a variety of small reptiles, amphibians, and insects, our Critter Outpost including rabbits, hedgehog, ferrets, doves, and guinea pigs, and our Jungle Outpost including rabbits, chinchillas, rats, tenrecs, small parrots, flying squirrels, alligator, and iguana. In addition to the daily husbandry and care in each area, the Education Animal Keeper will participate in the daily pony rides, animal encounters, and the supervision of our youth volunteers that assist in Wrangler Roundup. This position will assist and participate in training with positive reinforcement for the animals in the area, daily enrichment, and any necessary medical procedures. As an Education Animal Keeper, you will be engaging with guests teaching them about our daily care for the animals in their area and continuing our Zoo’s mission “to enrich lives through firsthand interactions with living things.”

Principal Duties

  • Responsible for the care of animals in each area.
  • Responsible for the supervision, teaching, and evaluation of youth volunteers.
  • Maintain cleanliness and organization.
  • Follow all safety guidelines and demonstrate ability to make good decisions regarding the welfare of participants and animals
  • Ability to multi-task and be detail oriented in a fast-paced environment
  • Provide excellent and professional communication with all Lincoln Children’s Zoo staff, volunteers, and guests
  • Create a positive guest experience
  • Create a positive working environment for all
  • Foster a respectful, caring, and professional attitude with Zoo Crew and teen participants
  • Continue to uphold the zoo’s mission at the zoo and zoo functions as well as whenever in zoo attire on and off zoo grounds
  • Other duties as assigned

Necessary Skills

  • Ability to interact with the public in an engaging and welcoming manner.
  • Ability to connect with teens and act as a mentor
  • Ability to work as an effective team member as well as function independently
  • Must be able to act in a responsible and mature manner, using common sense
  • Ability to remain calm and think rationally under pressure
  • Must be available for duration of summer, some nights, and weekends.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Preferred 18 years of age
  • Experience with horses is a strongly preferred.
  • Experience and/or strong interest in supervising and educating teens
  • Experience and/or strong interest in environmental education, animal science, or related field
  • Must be on your feet almost the entire time
  • Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds
  • CPR and First Aid training strong plus

How to apply: Send a resume, cover letter, and references to Aimee Johns, ajohns@lincolnzoo.org

  • Visitors in 2022
    Visitors in 2022

    349,564

  • CAMPERS IN 2021
    CAMPERS IN 2021

    1,864

  • CREATURES CARED FOR
    CREATURES CARED FOR

    400