Position: Keeper I Ambassador Animals

Reports To: Curator of Ambassador Animal Programs

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Position Summary:

This position is for an entry level keeper responsible for the care and wellbeing of the Aquarium's Education and Ambassador animal collections. This consists of a diverse array of species including raptors and other birds, small mammals, herptiles, and invertebrates. Areas of focus include animal care, training animals for guest presentations and shows, directly presenting animals to guests, and teaching Education team members effective animal handling skills.

*Institutional Summary: *

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium provides learning opportunities for all levels, interests, and ages, with the mission to inspire people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth's diverse ecosystems since 1997. Since opening its new facility in Draper in March 2014, the Aquarium has welcomed over eight million visitors and provided more than 650,000 educational experiences to students. Home to more than 4,000 animals representing 650 species, the Aquarium showcases ecosystems from around the planet including kelp forests, coral reefs, the deep ocean, Antarctic waters, Asian cloud forests, South American rain forests, and the waterways of our home state of Utah. Loveland Living Planet Aquarium has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2019. With a new expansion currently under construction and slated for completion in late 2024, LLPA will soon be the largest aquarium in the Mountain West, and 5th largest aquarium overall in the continental United States.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Cleaning and maintenance of equipment, supplies, animal habitats, and support spaces associated with the Education and Ambassador animal collections.
• Monitoring and maintaining appropriate environmental parameters for the Education and Ambassador animal collection.
• Providing high level animal care and nutrition to all animals within the Education and Ambassador animal collection.
• Monitoring and assisting in responding to signs of illness/injury, stress, or other factors that may impact animal health and wellbeing.
• Maintaining all necessary records, and review those records regularly in support of ensuring excellent animal care.
• Responsible for supporting institutional and industry best practice standards and procedures.
• Supports excellent animal wellbeing through providing enriching environmentsinteractions and behaviors supporting animal health
• Utilizing training best practices to develop and maintain behaviors within the Education and Ambassador animal collections for situations including presentation to guests, off-site travel, and animal shows with free-flight birds.
• Working closely with the Education Team to train and maintain best practice animal handling behaviors in support of the Aquarium's mission to inspire.
• Participating directly in animal presentations and shows as part of an expanding Ambassador program.

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Experience and Qualifications:

• Four year degree in zoological or biological sciences. Candidates with a suitable combined equivalent of education and hands-on experience will be considered.
• Minimum 6 months of internship or paid experience in an area of animal care at a zoological facility.

• Candidates with prior experience working in one of the following fields will be viewed favorably: reptile and amphibian husbandry, animal behavior, ambassador animals, falconry or other raptor experience.

   

Critical Competencies:

• Associate or Bachelor' s degree in Zoology, Biology or related field and at least 6 months of animal care experience (zoo/aquarium experience preferred).
  • In lieu of a degree a minimum of 2 years paid animal care experience is expected.
• Must have good written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work a flexib e schedule, which may include weekends, evenings, and holidays.
• Maintains a good rapport with team members and supervisors.
• Capable of participating in a team environment.
• Maintains a consistent professional attitude, high motivation, and ability to accept feedback.
• Learns and maintains proper time management

• Knowledge of ZIMS programming is a plus.

   

   

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations 

• Valid Utah driver's license or ability to obtain one within 6 months of hire.

• Must possess current, negative TB test results or obtain prior to start date. 

   

Special Working Conditions:

• Must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 lbs. and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
• Stand for long periods of time
• Drive aquarium vehicles
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.

• The employee is frequently required to use hands and fingers to handle, reach or feel and manipulate objects or controls. The employee is frequently required to sit, walk distances, climb, balance, stoop, bend, kneel, crouch and stand for long periods for time.

   

*While this job description attempts to describe the essential functions of the position, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. It does not restrict management's right to assign or reassign duties or responsibilities to this job at any time. The overall work environment while performing this job includes exposure to weather conditions and the noise level is usually moderate. The employee is expected to adhere to all policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies. *

The Living Planet Aquarium is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all.  We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or military status.   The Living Planet Aquarium is committed to ensuring individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application and interview process.  Should you require accommodations, please contact accommodation@livingplanetaquarium.org.