Keeper I

Position: Keeper I, Temporary

Reports To: Curator of Mammals and Birds

Compensation: $17/hr

Position Summary:

We are looking to hire a full-time temporary Keeper I to join the Mammal and Bird Team at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium for a fixed term of October 2024-January 2025. This position will be responsible for the daily care of the Aquarium’s diverse collection of mammals and birds.

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 mammal and bird collections.
• Monitoring and maintaining appropriate environmental parameters for terrestrial habitats.
• Providing high-level animal care and nutrition to animals within the endotherms 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 reviewing 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.
• Mentoring and training colleagues in areas of expertise to expand team skillsets.

Experience and Qualifications:

Two or four-year degree in zoological or biological sciences. Candidates with a suitable combined equivalent of education and hands-on experience will be considered.

Critical Competencies:

• Must have good written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work a flexible 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 driver’s license. 
• CPR/First Aid certification or the ability to obtain it in-house upon employment. 
•  Must possess current, negative TB test results or obtain prior to start. 

Special Working Conditions:

Must frequently lift and/or move up to 25lbs. and occasionally lift and/or move up to 75lbs, stand for long periods of time and 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.