Seasonal Zoo Intern - Animal Care

About the Department

The duties of this position will entail assisting with day-to-day operations and promotion of the Lincoln Park Zoo.  The duties of this position will focus on animal care/husbandry and enrichment of all the animals currently in the collection at the Lincoln Park Zoo, along with performing zoo grounds and facility maintenance as assigned.

Position Duties

• Report to work on time as assigned.  Zoo hours are 9:00AM to 7:00PM.
• A weekly work schedule of 40 hours which will include work on some Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays be arranged with the Zoo Team Leader or designated staff.
• Abide by the policies and procedures established by the Department.
• Work with regular full-time and seasonal employees in assuring daily routine assignments are completed.
• Communicates effectively with zoo guest by answering questions and enforcing zoo rules relating to public safety.
• Clean, sanitize and be responsible for zoo facilities including but not limited to restrooms, educational facility, animal enclosures and all other zoo structures.
• Prepare animal diets of varies food types. 
• Feeds, provides water, and cleans up after the animals at the zoo when assigned.
• Unloads incoming supplies and delivers to appropriate locations and works in conjunction with other department staff.
• Informs Zoo staff of any discrepancy in animal behavior.
• Operates a variety of vehicles including UTV, trucks, mowers.
• Operates and cares for a variety of power hand tools, such as, weed trimmer used to maintain zoo grounds.  
• Picks up refuse in the parks, zoo, boulevards, and playground areas and place it in the appropriate truck or compactor.
• Assists in transferring animals, birds, or fish from one location to another within the zoo facility when needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Pursuit of a degree in captive wildlife, animal husbandry, wildlife or related field.

Experience: Any combination of education, training, and experience which provides the necessary interests desire, knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform in the Zoo Intern position. 

Certifications/Licenses: Must have Wisconsin Driver’s License and proof of an ATV/UTV operators safety certification course if born on or after January 1, 1988.

Other Requirements: Must be at least 18 years of age.

Other Qualifications

CUSTOMER SERVICE:

             Communicate well with a variety of ages and user group both orally and written.  

             Provided good customer service.

             Maintain a positive interest in animals and their welfare.

             Work in a flexible team atmosphere

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating maintenance instruction, blueprints, government regulations and procedures manuals.   Ability to complete routine paperwork.   Ability to effectively present information to other employees and supervisors.

MATHEMATICAL ABILITY:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to calculate figures.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.  Ability to apply situational reasoning ability by exercising good judgement in the implementation of work orders.  Ability to work independently with little direct supervision.