Reid Park Zoological Society (Tucson, AZ) seeks an Animal Care Professional familiar with working safely around exotic wildlife and utilizing positive reinforcement training, who possesses a strong team mentality, to join our dynamic, diverse African Elephant Team! This is a positive reinforcement program that emphasizes choice and control for the elephants. The zoo has been a contributor to the African elephant SSP and is home to six elephants ranging in age from 18 months to 35 years old. RPZS is committed to African elephant conservation and is invested in continuing to contribute to AZA initiatives for the species.

Reports To: Animal Care Supervisor

General Duties:

• Demonstrates and models the core values of the Reid Park Zoological Society (RPZS or the Zoo)
• Perform duties in accordance with RPZS policies and procedures
• Provide excellent customer service as a component of all job duties
• Follows Zoo safety protocols and procedures
• Work collaboratively will all team members and others in the organization
• Provide daily husbandry including but not limited to: cleaning, training, diet preparation, and enrichment
• Under the direction of veterinary professionals, administer medications and/or treatments
• Able to communicate effectively and quickly with coworkers
• Able to follow verbal instructions for animal shifts, training sessions, and more responsively, timely, and accurately on a consistent, regular basis
• Select, train, and oversee area volunteers, interns, and docents
• Assist with training new team members
• Knowledge of browse programs and ability to learn plant ID required for feeding out browsable plant species to animals
• Knowledge of African elephant behavior and natural history and ability to interpret and communicate it to staff and engagingly with guests
• Timely report any abnormalities or discrepancies to zoo management
• Maintain existing behavioral repertoires and help build new behaviors in a protected contact setting
• Assist in full life care of a dynamic, social family herd including but not limited to: transports, neonate care, breeding, animal introductions, emergency response, and more
• Habitat maintenance including but not limited to heavy machinery operation, power tool use, plant care, and more
• Heavy machinery operation of zoo vehicles including but not limited to: trucks, skid steers, tractors, forklifts, excavators, and more
• Provide educational opportunities to zoo guests through public talks, tours, and programs requiring strong public speaking skills
• Maintain thorough, detailed records on training, diet, health status, enrichment, welfare, and more
• Emergency response preparedness for drills and true emergent situations
• Work cooperatively alongside other departments such as maintenance, grounds, education, administration, etc.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of RPZS and coworkers as well as diverse volunteers, guests, donors, community partners, vendors, and others
• Comply with all USDA, OSHA, AZA, and City of Tucson regulations
• Complete all trainings as required
• Be able to perform those tasks that are essential to the job, with or without reasonable accommodation

Minimum Required Qualifications, Skills and Abilities 

• EDUCATION REQUIREMENT Associate’s Degree in a science-based field of study or related field, etc.
• EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT A minimum of 1 year paid experience working with relevant exotic wildlife
• A valid, current, unrestricted driver license
• Successfully complete pre-hire background check and pre-employment drug screen (we do not test for THC)
• Comply with quarterly random drug testing if selected
• Proof of negative TB test within immediate past 12 months, OR, complete a pre-hire TB test (company paid) to be renewed annually
• Completes all training as required
• Participates in emergency drills
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and ability to maintain positive, constructive relationships, at all levels, with a diverse population of staff, guests, vendors and the public
• Assertive, energetic, and enjoy working in a fast-paced, public/guest attraction-focused environment
• Ability to take direction, constructive feedback, act or change direction as needed
• Regular physical attendance at work
• Reliable and able to work to a schedule
• Must be able to work a flexible work schedule, including evenings and weekends 

Physical Requirements 

• Must be able to lift to 50 pounds often
• Bend, stoop, kneel, and reach frequently
• Stand and walk for long periods of time
• Repetitious motions with hands
• Ability to use hands to control power and hand tools
• Must be able to work outside in either cold or hot weather conditions the majority of the time

Preferred Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities

• A bachelor’s degree in a science-based field of study is strongly preferred
• Three years of paid relevant wildlife experience is strongly preferred

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list.  It is intended to give a reasonable idea of what might be required. 

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is the policy of Reid Park Zoological Society to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, don't hesitate to get in touch with the Human Resources Dept.