Senior Animal Keeper, Giraffes

This position is subject to a collective bargaining agreement

Pay Rate: $30.03/hour

*We are hiring a keeper for Giraffes at either the Keeper or Senior Keeper level, depending upon experience. We have posted both roles separately at this time to help our candidates find the position that most aligns with their experience and goals. However, only one position will be filled. Please note: If you apply for the Keeper or the Senior Keeper, you will be automatically considered for both. The Keeper role is linked here.*

Application Process -- Applications due by December 19

• Applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, and 3 professional references
• Candidates not meeting minimum requirements may not receive a response
• Applicants selected for candidacy are required to attend an on-site working interview

A Senior Animal Keeper must be an experienced keeper with extensive knowledge in the areas of animal care/management and supervision of paid staff and unpaid volunteers/interns, including team building, leadership training, and conflict management. Work ranges from the physical tasks associated with feeding, enrichment, training, and maintenance of the animals’ living areas to more analytical tasks of planning, record keeping, and communication.

This Senior Keeper position is a Primary Keeper role with the Oakland Zoo’s giraffe team. This position works 5 days per week on the giraffe team.  

‍

Oakland Zoo offers a comprehensive benefits package, including Health insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, Flexible spending account, Union pension, Paid time off, Employee Assistance Program, and a Family Zoo Membership.

‍

• Implement Department/Zoo priorities as well as demonstrate the initiative and expertise to regularly find ways to make improvements, which may include Departmental administrative tasks
• Guide and support staff and volunteers as appropriate
• Train, inspire, coach, set expectations, and provide feedback with a wide variety of people including docents, teen volunteers, and Education staff
• Act as a department leader. Can be expected to cover department functions and emergency response coordination in the absence of Zoological Manager or Department Vice President
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned by Animal Care leadership
• Must be able to represent the Zoo in a variety of public settings including press interviews, instructional classes, and casual communication with Zoo guests
• Expected to use animal observation, enrichment, training and other management methods to ensure the best possible psychological well-being of the animals in their care

• Minimum of two year’s experience working directly with giraffe (preferably at an AZA facility)
• At least five years full time professional experience in the care of wildlife at an AZA zoo or comparable facility
• Bachelor’s degree or specialized associate's degree (ex. Moorpark) or 6 years of experience at an AZA facility or equivalent
• Experience in the areas of animal care/management
• Experience with supervision of paid staff and unpaid volunteers/interns, including leadership training/conflict management
• Have or develop significant level of knowledge of the natural history and captive wildlife management for the animals under their care to insure their best possible physical and psychological well-being
• Able to use the tools of animal observation, enrichment, training, and other behavioral husbandry methods to ensure the best possible psychological well-being of the animals in their care
• Good physical condition: able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs. (i.e., feed sack) and move a minimum of 120lbs. (i.e. hay bale)
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
• Willingness to work outside normal business hours including weekends and holidays
• Knowledge of the habits and hazards of working with wild animals; willingness to work with some physical risk while observing proper safety precautions
• Able to represent the Zoo in a variety of public settings including press interviews, instructional classes, and casual communication with Zoo guests
• Oakland Zoo requires COVID vaccination*

Bonus if you have

• Significant knowledge in the natural history and captive management of wild animals
• Significant experience in behavior-based husbandry (enrichment and training) and welfare assessments
• Knowledge and experience in behavioral training theory and practical application.  Specifically, experience training giraffe for voluntary medical husbandry behaviors, including shaping of new behaviors.
• Knowledge and hands on experience in hoof care with giraffe and/or other domestic and exotic ungulate species
• Knowledge and experience with edible browse plant identification for ruminant species
• Experience with giraffe anesthesia and giraffe emergency response procedures
• Experience with giraffe transport (including loading and unloading), as well as introductions.
• Experience with management of a diverse giraffe herd including breeding animals, castrated males, and geriatric individuals
• Experience mentoring and teaching novice staff, interns, or volunteers
• Strong interpersonal skills necessary to support communication across a diversely skilled team

‍

• Collaboration – builds trusting relationships with both internal and external stakeholders across our organization and community-wide and approaches differences of opinion with curiosity and humility
• Communication – communicates respectfully and effectively with stakeholders across identities, both verbally and in writing
• Inclusive Culture - fosters a culture of mutual respect, transparency, collaboration and belonging which allows all employees to feel appreciated, included, and valued
• Organization – strong attention to details and able to build and/or maintain efficient systems
• Time management – strong capabilities with a demonstrated ability to effectively prioritize multiple commitments
• Sustainability – oriented toward the mission and values of the Oakland Zoo and able to put those into practice by finding creative and resourceful ways to develop sustainable practices within your role and department
• Passion – wholeheartedly believes in, represents, and models Oakland Zoo’s mission and PRIDE values at all times
• Wildlife Aware - understands mission to support the conservation and welfare of animals at The Zoo, locally and globally. This is demonstrated by a willingness/passion to reflect this mission in all actions and to continue to learn how to take action for wildlife