Animal Keeper II, Living Collections

Animal Keeper II, Living Collections

Museum of Science, Boston

www.mos.org

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SUMMARY STATEMENT:

The Living Collections Animal Keeper II is primarily concerned with providing a high-quality visitor experience through maintaining and practicing high professional standards for the husbandry, exhibition, and educational use of the animal collection. She/he is responsible for the daily care of the animal collection ensuring enough healthy well-trained animals to support the daily program use of the collection. Living Collections Animal Keeper II coordinates the animal enrichment program and maintains accurate records in compliance with USDA APHIS regulations and AZA Accreditation standards. They assist in mentoring and evaluating the work of part-time staff, interns, and volunteers assigned to the department as well as Museum staff and volunteers wishing to use the collection in their educational activities. The Animal Keeper II develops and presents wildlife and natural history interpretations and programs regularly. In the absence of the curators, the Living Collections Animal Keeper II becomes responsible for the daily operation of the Garden Walk and Insect Zoo.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides top-quality care for the live animal collection including diet preparation, animal feeding, medical care, monitoring, record keeping, and watering. Cleans and maintains animal enclosures and exhibits ensuring enriching environments for the animals. Assists with enrichment and training in assigned areas. May also assist with the care of live plants in assigned areas. Performs these duties to ensure all animal care meets or exceeds United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) regulations, Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation requirements.

• Coordinates the animal enrichment program for the Invertebrate collection and maintains accurate enrichment records.

• Performs routine cleaning and general maintenance of the Garden Walk and Insect Zoo and related animal exhibits to ensure these are kept in a clean, professional-looking manner and are safe environments for the animal collection, staff, volunteers, and visiting public.

• In support of the Museum's Mission actively engages visitors in life science/natural history subjects through the development and presentation of animal interpretations and programs. Writes and updates animal natural history information sheets for use by staff and volunteers to ensure the information being presented is current and accurate.

• Monitors visitors' interactions with the animal and plant collection to ensure these activities are carried out in a safe manner meeting Museum protocols, governmental regulations, and Association of Zoos and Aquarium Accreditation Standards.

• Assists in the mentoring and supervision of part-time staff, volunteers, and interns to ensure a knowledgeable and well-trained team in support of the Living Collections Department.

• Assists in monitoring the care and use of our invertebrate collection to ensure all Museum policies and procedures are followed. Coordinates animal training to ensure choice and control needs are being met for the ambassador invertebrate collection.

• Oversees, in the absence of the curators, the operation of the Garden Walk and Insect Zoo. Monitors and mentors part-time staff, volunteers, and interns to ensure animals are properly cared for and all procedures are followed. Promptly inform the curators or consulting veterinarians about animal health problems. Promptly reports problems with animal exhibits and in the Garden Walk and Insect Zoo to the appropriate department. Closes and secures the Garden Walk Insect Zoo and related animal exhibits.

• Remains current in best practices for the care and use of wild/domestic animals, including a focus on invertebrates in programs and exhibits through continuing research, developing professional contacts, and attendance at workshops and conferences.

• Perform other work-related duties as required by the Manager.

WORK SCHEDULE:

Non-Exempt (40 hours weekly) Tuesday-Saturday

REPORTS TO:

Manager, Living Collections

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Working knowledge and experience with the care, exhibition, and educational use of wild mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates as well as small domestic animals.
• Ability to create and maintain aesthetically pleasing animal displays.
• Working knowledge and experience providing animal enrichment activities.
• Creating natural and enriching animal environments.
• Experience training and supervising volunteers in a museum, zoo, aquarium, or nature center.
• Public speaking and interpretation skills.
• High comfort level working with the public in a very busy setting.

STARTING SALARY:

Non-Exempt (Hourly) $23.90

BENEFITS:

Benefits for full-time, exempt (salaried) staff include free parking, T accessibility, commuter spending account, 23 vacation days, 12 holidays, 10 sick days, medical, dental, and vision insurance, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, retirement and savings plan, health care/dependent care flex spending plan, a Museum Membership, employee discounts, employee referral program, tuition assistance, professional development, direct deposit, free admission, free Duck Tours, discounted movie passes, and much more!

The Museum of Science is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing, and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and where employees are treated with respect and dignity.

No phone inquiries, please. Qualified applicants will be contacted within two to four weeks of initial application.