Zookeeper - Wildlife

Primary Purpose of this Position:
The NC Zoo is seeking an enthusiastic Wildlife Zookeeper who thrives in a dynamic clinical/teaching environment to join its Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. This position works with and cares for North Carolina native wildlife for the sole purpose of release back into the wild. A successful candidate will be a collaborative team player who will bring a positive attitude as well as an eagerness to learn.

Key Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Triaging new patients, providing medical care within the constraints of experience and regulated guidelines, and completing all required forms
Ensuring completion of daily husbandry, nutrition, and veterinary medical care as prescribed to wildlife patients
Assuring provision of veterinary care as needed and daily nutrition, husbandry, training, and enrichment to resident collection
Reviewing charts of patients and residents ensuring documentation of food consumed, behavioral and medical observations, eliminations, and treatments
Evaluating/arranging for patients to transition to pre-release for eventual release; coordinating releases accordingly
Coordinating transfer to other facilities for continued rehabilitative care or placement as deemed necessary
Aiding with veterinary procedures; taking/developing x-rays, providing surgical assistance, monitoring anesthesia, taking/evaluating laboratory samples
Guiding/instructing volunteers and interns on center operations/rehabilitation practices; providing daily oversight and leadership to volunteers and interns in husbandry and care of residents and wildlife patients
Participating in internship training curriculum; teaching volunteers/interns hands-on wildlife care following 3-tiered skills checklists initialing tasks upon successful completion
This position will perform related duties as assigned by the Director of Animal Health
Position/Physical Requirements:
Job offer is contingent upon passing a pre-employment screen conducted by assigned provider
Must have good physical agility, strength, good hearing and vision, and perform physically demanding labor in extremes of weather and challenging physical environments e.g. animal enclosures. Specifically, this means the ability to lift up to 50 pounds, walk, stand, see animals & exhibits for observation and safety as well as hear animal’s sounds, radio communication and emergency situations
Must have good communication skills in oral and written form for guest interactions, public speaking, reporting, records and file keeping, and/or team interactions
Must have and be able to maintain a NC Driver’s License within 60 days of employment
Must participate in the Zoo’s Occupational Health Program
Must be able to work a rotating schedule including holidays and weekends that involves indoor and outdoor work in all weather conditions
Position is considered “Essential/Mandatory Staff” and required to work on adverse weather days and during zoo emergencies
Learn about the NC ZOO: https://www.nczoo.org
Learn about employee perks/benefits: https://oshr.nc.gov/state-employee-resources/benefits
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies
**To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must provide the information on the application form. Any information omitted from the application form, listed as general statements, listed under the text resume section, or on an attachment will not be considered for qualifying credit.**

Demonstrated hands-on animal care experience with North American native wildlife and/or small mammals, bears, otters, bats, songbirds, birds of prey/raptors, herptiles at an AZA accredited zoo, sanctuary setting, wildlife rehabilitation center
Demonstrated experience of animal husbandry to include working knowledge of biology, including animal anatomy, physiology, ecology, behavior, and safe practices
Proven experience observing and understanding the complexities of animal behavior, including individual animals and larger social context
Demonstrated experience with record-keeping
Demonstrated experience using computers and MS Office
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details.

Bachelor's degree in biology, zoology, natural sciences, or related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution and one year of experience working in a zoo-based or related animal care facility; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.