New 6/98

City of San José

SENIOR ZOO KEEPER (FT) (6355)

Class Purpose
   Under general direction, supervises and performs work involving care of zoo animals and maintenance of cages, enclosures, grounds, and service areas. Performs related work as required.

Typical Duties and Results (Any one position may not include all the duties listed, nor do the examples cover all the duties which may be performed.)

• Leads Zoo Keepers, Zoo Keeper Aides, and volunteers in the care of the zoo animals.
• Assigns work and makes recommendations to supervisor on subordinate performance issues.
• Orders and maintains inventory of animal food, equipment, and other supplies.
• Oversees and prepares diets for the animal collection, cleaning of animal displays and holding and service areas.
• Works with animal collection in preparation for presentations, basic husbandry, and activity enrichment behaviors.
• Provides daily assessment of health and behavior of the zoo collection, records relevant facts in appropriate logs, and notifies animal health staff of abnormalities.
• Assists supervisor with maintenance of animal records, animal shipping, and graphic production.
• Assists in training zoo staff on proper safety practices and procedures in handling the animal collection.
• Leads and participates in development, construction, repair, and maintenance of animal displays and habitats, including horticultural collection maintenance.
• Assists animal health staff with animal handling, capture, restraint, testing, and medication administration.
• Coordinates maintenance chores, movement of animals, and loading and unloading of supplies, feeds, and other goods.
• Coordinates zoo volunteer program, including work schedules, performance records, and training.
• Responds to animal and zoo inquiries; provides information and makes presentations.
• May provide support to the South Bay Zoological Society, zoo education, and volunteer programs.
• Works weekends, evenings, and holidays during all climatic conditions as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristics
   This class is the highest level of three in the Zoo Keeper series. It differs from the next lower class of Zoo Keeper in that incumbents of the latter class support and are supervised by this class. It differs from the next higher class of Zoo Curator in that incumbents of the latter class supervise and train this class and are responsible for planning and conducting a comprehensive range of zoo activities including exhibit design/repair, animal acquisition/disposition, and collection animal record-keeping.

• Knowledge of the care, feeding, and handling of a wide variety of zoo and domestic animals.
• Knowledge of zoo safety rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of normal zoo animal behavior including that of reptiles, birds, and mammals.
• Knowledge of supervisory methods and techniques.
• Skill in the handling and restraint of a wide variety of zoo and domestic animals.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions including procedures for care and maintenance of animals, grounds, displays, and habitats.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, volunteers, and the public.
• Ability to enter animal areas and perform physical work (including lifting objects up to 50 lbs).
• Ability to work weekends, evenings and holidays, during all climatic conditions.

• Knowledge of animal training theory and applications.
• Knowledge of routine plant and equipment care.
• Skill in minor repair and maintenance of zoo equipment.
• Ability to organize, interpret, and prepare a variety of animal reports.
• Ability to train, assign and lead assigned personnel.
• Ability to maintain an inventory control system.
• Ability to recognize and report abnormal behavior, attitude, or appearance of zoo animals.

Education
   Completion of high school, General Educational Development (G.E.D.) Certificate, or California Proficiency Certificate.

Experience
   Three (3) years of experience in the care of zoo animals, including one (1) year as a Zoo Keeper at a zoo facility.

Acceptable Substitutions
   Coursework in zoology, biology or a related field can substitute for two years of the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Licenses/Certificates
   Possession of a valid State of California driver’s license may be required.

(New 6/98)
6355s000.doc