<h5>Facility</h5>
<p>Houston Zoo, Inc.</p>
<h5>Closing Date</h5><p>
[jobclosingdate]</p>
<h6>Description</h6>
Carries out all aspects of the daily care of assigned animals including cleaning, feeding, grooming, and observing animals.  Administers medication and treatment as directed.  Provides training and enrichment.  Participates in education and conservation programs.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
	Observes and evaluates animal condition, behavior and responses and communicates observations orally and on written reports.
	Prepares and feeds appropriate diets, noting conformance of foods provided to diets prescribed for each animal.
	Administers prescribed medications and dietary supplements and monitors food and medicine consumption.
	Checks on integrity of enclosures and structures, ensuring safety and welfare of animals, zoo visitors, and staff in accordance with established guidelines.
	Maintains live plants within enclosures ensuring neat, attractive exhibits.
	Performs minor repairs and preventative maintenance as necessary.
	Maintains clean and organized exhibits, equipment, and keeper areas.
	Improves the quality of life of the animal collection by providing environmental and behavioral enrichment opportunities.
	Trains selected animals through operant conditioning for purposes of gaining cooperation for veterinary treatment and/or public demonstrations.
	Installs exhibit furnishings, props, and decorations safely, attractively and in a manner consistent with zoo guidelines.
	Maintains effective communication with the veterinary staff
	Interacts with the public through keeper chats, behind the scenes tours, and while performing regular duties.

<h6>Education and Pre-requisites</h6>
EXPERIENCE:
At least one year of experience is required with Great Apes, particularly gorillas, in an AZA accredited zoo.

KNOWLEDGE:
Two years of college level education (60 semester credit hours) in zoology, biology, animal husbandry or a related field of which 24 semester hours must be credit hours in life sciences or physical sciences.

A certificate of completion from an acceptable animal care program of not less that 30 semester hours may be substituted for 30 hours of college.

SUPERVISION:	
May serve as a lead person for zookeeper apprentices or volunteers.

SKILLS: 

PHYSICAL EFFORT:
This position involves considerable physical exertion, such as regularly climbing of ladders, lifting of heavy objects (up to 80 pounds) on a highly frequent basis and/or assuming awkward positions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
There are routine exposures to significant levels of heat, cold, moisture and air pollution.  The position may involve exposure to chemical substances and physical trauma of a minor nature such as cuts, bruises and minor burns.

PHYSICAL SKILL:
Requires the ability to make closely coordinated eye/hand movements within very fine tolerance and/or calibration demands; or the ability to make rapid closely coordinated eye/hand movements on a patterned response space within somewhat fine tolerance demands; or the ability to make coordinated eye/hand movements within fine tolerances with large equipment as an extension of the worker.

PUBLIC CONTACT:
Requires heavy public contact requiring considerable interpersonal skill, extensive interaction with the public and with donors, members and the press requiring a high degree of appreciation of customer service

<h6>Compensation and benefits</h6>
Full Time with many benefits
<h6>Application instructions</h6>
Applicants can visit www.houstonzoo.org/careers to download an application 
E-mail resume and completed application to careers@houstonzoo.org 
Houston Zoo is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

