Animal Behavior and Wellbeing Assistant

Job Title: Animal Behavior and Wellbeing Assistant

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Hours: Part-time (20 hours/week; Monday - Friday with evenings and weekends as needed)

Pay Rate: $14.25/hour

Summary:

We are seeking a part-time Animal Behavior and Wellbeing Assistant under the direction of the Manager of Animal Behavior and Wellbeing (ABW). This position will assist the ABW team while working along with the keeper staff to support all aspects of the day-to-day husbandry, training, enrichment, and welfare requirements for the animals in our collection..

The Animal Behavior and Wellbeing team currently works with a wide variety of animals in various taxa. The focus of the ABW department is to promote wellbeing through progressive behavior management. The program consists of collection animals each having specific outlined objectives or teaching points that support the mission of Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium to inspire, educate, and engage people to serve as lifelong stewards for animals, their habitats, and their conservation.

Duties and Responsibilities (include but not limited to):

• Create, implement, and evaluate animal enrichment.

• Research natural history information to help identify ways to enhance animal environments and enrichment programs.

• Create ethograms and collect animal behavior data.

• Present results of data collection to animal care teams.

• Observe, record, participate in, and give feedback on animal training sessions as needed.

• Work with volunteers and the public to make animal enrichment.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Effective communication skills, strong work ethic, self-motivated and able to work both independently and as a team.

• Familiarity with animal behavior data collection.

• Experience using hand and power tools preferred.

• Familiarity with 3D printing preferred.

Candidates might be (depending on position) required to pass a pre-employment background check, drug test, negative skin tuberculosis test, and possess a valid driver’s license with a good history.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort:

• Will sometimes work extended/odd hours including weekends, holidays and some night programs.

• Must be able to travel long distances across the zoo.

• Must be able to work under all weather conditions.

• Must be able to stand for most of the work day.

• Must be able to sit, kneel, bend, twist, reach above head and climb.

• Will lift, push, pull, and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 80 pounds using safe and proper lifting methods.

DISCLAIMER

The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, nor is it to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees assigned to this job.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer as defined by the EEOC.