Animal Care Support Technician - Ungulates (TEMPORARY)

The Animal Care Support Technician primarily supports the welfare of the Zoo’s ungulate (may include other taxa) collection and their environments through habitat maintenance, area projects, and assisting Animal Care staff in animal husbandry practices. This position interacts with the public, enhances visitor experiences and performs a variety of skilled/semi-skilled work.

Employment Status: TEMPORARY (This position is anticipated to be filled for approximately 12 weeks working 40 hours per week)

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Pay: $14.00 Hourly

Experience Required: 3 months of animal care (includes qualifying unpaid AZA internships).

Minimum Education Requirements: High school diploma or G.E.D.

Department: Animal Management.

Direct Supervisor: Curator of Ungulates and/or Assistant Curator of Ungulates

Supervisory Responsibility: Direct (0); Indirect (0) 

Primary Work Location: Zoo Setting both indoors and outdoors.

Certification: Valid Oklahoma driver’s license within thirty (30) days of hire and pass driver’s history check. Completion of OKC Zoo Learning Management System (LMS) in the first six (6) months of employment

Other: This position is safety sensitive. It is subject to pre-employment and/or periodic background checks and drug testing.  This position works around animals susceptible to specific respiratory diseases, thus is subject to annual tuberculosis testing.

Essential Job Functions

An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the following essential duties:

• Assist with daily animal husbandry and medical care for relevant taxa.
• Observe, monitor, and report animal behavior and health conditions for relevant taxa. 
• Keep detailed digital and written records of animal weight, health, enrichment, training and behavior.
• Maintain and renovate exhibits, service areas, and equipment including use of power tools and lawn equipment.
• Implement daily purposeful enrichment and documentation to promote, encourage, and evaluate goal-based behavioral outcomes. 
• Develop a basic understanding of and the ability to perform limited basic operant conditioning training with assigned taxa.
• Develop a basic understanding of natural behaviors and life histories of the animals in the area. 
• Educate and interact with guests in both formal and informal settings; provide positive guest experiences. 
• Participate in and respond to safety-related issues and drills.
• Work effectively in a team environment.
• Support work projects for the areas assigned.
• Participate in conservation activities that support the zoo’s mission.
• Support OKC Zoo’s strategic management plans and institutional goals.
• Drive motor vehicles within and outside the Zoo perimeter in support of operations all seasons of the year, including animal transports. 
• Work a flexible schedule which may include evenings and/or weekends and holidays and during emergency situations such as dictated by weather.
• Work in a manner that supports and protects the health of the assigned collection, including wearing assigned PPE and limiting exposure to known contagions.

Non-Essential Job Functions

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Oklahoma City is one of the fastest-growing metros in the United States and is the 20th largest city in the nation. For nearly two decades our residents have continually invested in our community to make it a place people can find belonging, visit and call home. Our employees are at the heart of those investments–delivering essential services our residents expect and creating a strong and thriving city for all people.