Supervising Animal Keeper - County of Bergen Department of Parks – Bergen County Zoo
Under direction, supervises and works with employees engaged in carrying out a program for the care and feeding and well-being of the animal collection at the Bergen County Zoological Park; does related work as required.
Job Responsibilities: (may include but not limited to)
- Supervises assigned animal keepers to ensure the maximum protection to the mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians within the facility.
- Supervises the care and the feeding of the animal collection.
- Ensures that pens cages, paddocks, and other areas are kept clean and sanitized.
- Performs some maintenance work such as the repair of modifications of animal displays at the facilities.
- Trains animal keepers in the natural history and husbandry, training and enrichment of the animal collection and follows up to ensure that the programs are carefully adhered to.
- Ensures that the proper level of animal food inventories is constantly maintained and places orders accordingly.
- Ability to give suitable assignments and instructions to the animal keeper staff.
- Maintains essential records and files.
- Take immediate steps to handle animals suffering from injury and illness by following the established procedures of the facility accordingly.
- Generates requisitions and keeps an account of all materials and supplies that are needed for the facility.
- Takes charge of animal keeper staff as it pertains to their performances and job functions.
- Ability to provide training that will guarantee high standards of performance.
- Responsible for maintaining and generating a detailed schedule of the animal keeper staff during their working hours.
- Responsible for conducting staff meetings to ensure that all animal keepers are aware of issues, concerns, new information, etc. and follow-up on any new business that is presented at those meetings.
Education/Experience Requirements:
- B.S. Degree in biology, life sciences or related field.
- 5 yrs. Experience working in a zoo facility.
- Experience in Animal training.
- Required Animal Keeper experience.
Schedule:
- Full Time / Over Time as needed
Other:
- Knowledge of ZIMS.
- Ability to interact or communicate in English sufficiently.
- Ability to work harmoniously with associates and persons using the zoo.
- Strong written and verbal communication, as well computer skills.
- Valid NJ Driver’s License.
- Must be able to work outdoors in all weather and have the physical ability to perform strenuous work.
Please send employment application to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – put in subject line job applying for, thank you.
The County of Bergen is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer.
It has been and will continue to be a fundamental policy of The County of Bergen not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, domestic violence victim status, sexual orientation, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, veteran or military status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, caregiver status, unemployment status or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state and/or local laws.
This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, training, working conditions, transfer, job assignments, benefits, layoff, and termination.