Lead Animal Care Specialist, Marine Mammals
27-Feb-2024 Lead Animal Care Specialist, Marine Mammals 2645BR Regular Full Time Job Function and Responsibilities The dolphin program at Brookfield Zoo Chicago is also accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums , an international association representing marine life parks, aquariums, zoos, research facilities, and professional organizations dedicated to the highest standards of care for marine mammals and to their conservation in the wild through public education, scientific study, and wildlife presentationsOur newly renovated Seven Seas dolphinarium includes our bottlenose dolphins who have just returned after spending a year at Minnesota Zoo! In our pinniped area, we house our California sea lions, Harbor seals and Grey seals, including our newest pup (born February 17!)The Lead Animal Care Specialist, Marine Mammals contributes to the success of the Brookfield Zoo Chicago by providing experienced care for animals and performing related work of maintaining buildings, grounds, and interpretives in assigned area, under the direction of area managers or supervisorsPerform a wide variety of departmental supervisory activities, including supervising and instructing Animal Care Specialists in assigned area and to support innovations in Conservation Leadership and Animal WelfareRelieve other Lead Animal Care Specialists as directedPerform all routine duties independently and new duties with minimal directionPrimary duties and
Responsibilities:
Perform in a proactive leadership role and communicate regularly with area supervisors/managers regarding animal management, facility maintenance, and staff supervision and developmentAssist in departmental hiring, scheduling, and work assignments, and the development of departmental goals and plansEstablish work priorities for the departmentRoutinely monitor and review the work performance of Animal Care Specialists staff in assigned area, and ensure completion of tasks in a timely and effective fashionPrepare and conduct performance appraisals as assignedResponsible for current animal and equipment inventoryVerify employee work schedulesProvide written reports as assignedHandle personnel situations in a timely, objective, and consistent manner and in accordance with BZC policies and the union contractOrder, prepare, and distribute food to animal areas as requiredEnsure compliance with all policies and proceduresObserve assigned animals closely and objectivelyApply knowledge and prior experiences to affect or implement change where appropriateMaintain and utilize animal recordsObserve condition of assigned area(s), animal enclosures, and equipmentMonitor and clean public space(s), plants, and interpretives as requiredReport maintenance needs as appropriate, and perform minor maintenance tasksClean animal enclosures, pools, and service areas as requiredMaintain detailed and current knowledge of natural history, husbandry, and captive management of species and individuals in assigned areasMaintain proficiency in area routines and specialized proceduresMonitor guests to ensure animal and human safety and protection of BZC propertyCommunicate with and assist guestsTake initiative to facilitate guests' appreciation of animals and enjoyment of their visitDemonstrate knowledge of and implement zoo-wide and area emergency procedures as directedTrain and direct work of interns, seasonal employees, and full-time keep staff as assignedOther related duties as assignedPosition Requirements and Specifications B achelor's degree in relevant biological field or equivalent combination of training and experience requiredMinimum 4 years Keeper experience or equivalent requiredMust possess a track record of exemplary performance as a supervisory keeper or have equivalent, relevant experienceDetailed and current knowledge of natural history and principles of animal behavior and husbandry requiredMust be able to work with live animals safelyAdditional qualifications and experience may be preferred or required depending upon the specific animals and work area where the Animal Care Specialists will be workingGenerally, previous work experience with assigned taxa, Marine Mammals, will be preferredSCUBA Certification is requiredGood communication and interpersonal skillsThe ability to interact in a courteous and professional mannerMust be able to maintain good working relationships with staff at all levels, internal and external to Animal ProgramsMust be able to communicate effectively and promptly with co-workers, managers, and guests following appropriate communication channelsMust be knowledgeable in the management of captive populations including related AZA conservation programsMust be capable of dealing with emergencies calmly and efficientlyMust be proficient in learning and integrating information, knowledge, and direction quickly, and completing tasks as neededGood decision-making skillsAbility to integrate and apply knowledge and prior experiences to affect or implement changes and make sound independent judgments where appropriateIncumbent must demonstrate proficiency in perceiving and acting upon relevant changes in animal behaviors and conditionsIncumbent must demonstrate the ability to perform assigned routines and specialized procedures as directedMust possess a proven record of consistently and accurately performing job dutiesGood problem-solving skillsMust be able to identify problems and utilize appropriate information to develop solutionsMust possess a track record of demonstrating initiative in analyzing and solving problems, and recommending ideas and viable suggestions to improve operationsDemonstrated record of making recommendations and suggestions that are well thought-out and researchedMust be able to work with minimal supervisionStrong supervisory skillsDemonstrated ability to promote good morale and productivity in the workplaceProven ability to train and direct the work of interns, seasonal employees, and full-time Animal Care Specialist staffDemonstrated ability to effectively mediate routine personnel issues and conflicts between staffMust be able to serve in a leadership role in directing the management and operations within assigned area, and ensure short-term goals are developed and achievedSolicit input on improving operations and animal management proceduresDemonstrated capacity to guide the professional development of co-workersGood time management skillsMust demonstrate flexibility, creativity, and responsibility in use of timeAbility and willingness to learn our conservation programs as they apply to assigned areasMust be reliableMust be able to maintain confidentiality with regard to personnel and other privileged mattersBasic computer literacy requiredMicrosoft Office suite preferredExperience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audienceMultilingual ability, Spanish fluency a plusValid driver's license requiredAdditional Information This position description summarizes the primary duties and functions of this position, but should not be considered a complete listing of every duty the incumbent may ever be called upon to performBrookfield Zoo Chicago is an Equal Opportunity EmployerSchedule Details This is a full-time position with rotating shifts, including weekends, holidays, and eveningsJob Location Chicago Zoological Society-Brookfield Zoo Zip Code 60513 Department Animal Care and Programs Group Animal Care and Programs Union Status Union Apply to this job. Think you're the perfect candidate? Apply on company site $('.external-apply-email-saved').on('click', function (event) window.ExternalApply = window.open('/interstitial?jobdid=j3w4pd6hltjz4sl5ms2', 'ExternalApply-j3w4pd6hltjz4sl5ms2'); ); $(document).ready( function() $(#ads-desktop-placeholder).html(
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n Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
Responsibilities:
Perform in a proactive leadership role and communicate regularly with area supervisors/managers regarding animal management, facility maintenance, and staff supervision and developmentAssist in departmental hiring, scheduling, and work assignments, and the development of departmental goals and plansEstablish work priorities for the departmentRoutinely monitor and review the work performance of Animal Care Specialists staff in assigned area, and ensure completion of tasks in a timely and effective fashionPrepare and conduct performance appraisals as assignedResponsible for current animal and equipment inventoryVerify employee work schedulesProvide written reports as assignedHandle personnel situations in a timely, objective, and consistent manner and in accordance with BZC policies and the union contractOrder, prepare, and distribute food to animal areas as requiredEnsure compliance with all policies and proceduresObserve assigned animals closely and objectivelyApply knowledge and prior experiences to affect or implement change where appropriateMaintain and utilize animal recordsObserve condition of assigned area(s), animal enclosures, and equipmentMonitor and clean public space(s), plants, and interpretives as requiredReport maintenance needs as appropriate, and perform minor maintenance tasksClean animal enclosures, pools, and service areas as requiredMaintain detailed and current knowledge of natural history, husbandry, and captive management of species and individuals in assigned areasMaintain proficiency in area routines and specialized proceduresMonitor guests to ensure animal and human safety and protection of BZC propertyCommunicate with and assist guestsTake initiative to facilitate guests' appreciation of animals and enjoyment of their visitDemonstrate knowledge of and implement zoo-wide and area emergency procedures as directedTrain and direct work of interns, seasonal employees, and full-time keep staff as assignedOther related duties as assignedPosition Requirements and Specifications B achelor's degree in relevant biological field or equivalent combination of training and experience requiredMinimum 4 years Keeper experience or equivalent requiredMust possess a track record of exemplary performance as a supervisory keeper or have equivalent, relevant experienceDetailed and current knowledge of natural history and principles of animal behavior and husbandry requiredMust be able to work with live animals safelyAdditional qualifications and experience may be preferred or required depending upon the specific animals and work area where the Animal Care Specialists will be workingGenerally, previous work experience with assigned taxa, Marine Mammals, will be preferredSCUBA Certification is requiredGood communication and interpersonal skillsThe ability to interact in a courteous and professional mannerMust be able to maintain good working relationships with staff at all levels, internal and external to Animal ProgramsMust be able to communicate effectively and promptly with co-workers, managers, and guests following appropriate communication channelsMust be knowledgeable in the management of captive populations including related AZA conservation programsMust be capable of dealing with emergencies calmly and efficientlyMust be proficient in learning and integrating information, knowledge, and direction quickly, and completing tasks as neededGood decision-making skillsAbility to integrate and apply knowledge and prior experiences to affect or implement changes and make sound independent judgments where appropriateIncumbent must demonstrate proficiency in perceiving and acting upon relevant changes in animal behaviors and conditionsIncumbent must demonstrate the ability to perform assigned routines and specialized procedures as directedMust possess a proven record of consistently and accurately performing job dutiesGood problem-solving skillsMust be able to identify problems and utilize appropriate information to develop solutionsMust possess a track record of demonstrating initiative in analyzing and solving problems, and recommending ideas and viable suggestions to improve operationsDemonstrated record of making recommendations and suggestions that are well thought-out and researchedMust be able to work with minimal supervisionStrong supervisory skillsDemonstrated ability to promote good morale and productivity in the workplaceProven ability to train and direct the work of interns, seasonal employees, and full-time Animal Care Specialist staffDemonstrated ability to effectively mediate routine personnel issues and conflicts between staffMust be able to serve in a leadership role in directing the management and operations within assigned area, and ensure short-term goals are developed and achievedSolicit input on improving operations and animal management proceduresDemonstrated capacity to guide the professional development of co-workersGood time management skillsMust demonstrate flexibility, creativity, and responsibility in use of timeAbility and willingness to learn our conservation programs as they apply to assigned areasMust be reliableMust be able to maintain confidentiality with regard to personnel and other privileged mattersBasic computer literacy requiredMicrosoft Office suite preferredExperience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audienceMultilingual ability, Spanish fluency a plusValid driver's license requiredAdditional Information This position description summarizes the primary duties and functions of this position, but should not be considered a complete listing of every duty the incumbent may ever be called upon to performBrookfield Zoo Chicago is an Equal Opportunity EmployerSchedule Details This is a full-time position with rotating shifts, including weekends, holidays, and eveningsJob Location Chicago Zoological Society-Brookfield Zoo Zip Code 60513 Department Animal Care and Programs Group Animal Care and Programs Union Status Union Apply to this job. Think you're the perfect candidate? Apply on company site $('.external-apply-email-saved').on('click', function (event) window.ExternalApply = window.open('/interstitial?jobdid=j3w4pd6hltjz4sl5ms2', 'ExternalApply-j3w4pd6hltjz4sl5ms2'); ); $(document).ready( function() $(#ads-desktop-placeholder).html(
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n Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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