Animal Care Specialist

General Statement of Duties

Serves as primary caretaker providing daily care and feedings for a wide variety of farm animals on an interpretative living history farm museum complex, or to reptiles, amphibians and fish in a nature center setting with a 50,000-gallon outdoor aquarium; provides routine care and maintenance to the animals' habitats and related structures and systems; develops and facilitates or assists with educational and informational programming; does related work as required.

Essential Duties

• Candidate’s qualifications will determine their primary work location (Three Lakes Nature Center or Meadow Farm Museum) 
• Sound current working knowledge of the keeping, care, feeding, dietary and environmental needs, and display of a wide variety of farm animals, or reptiles, amphibians, fish, and terrestrial invertebrates at assigned location
• Sound current working knowledge of animal habitats at assigned location which may include farm environment or biological, chemical, and mechanical aquatic filtration systems for fresh and brackish water aquarium systems, including a 50,000-gallon outdoor aquarium
• Sound current working knowledge of animal husbandry and reproduction
• Sound current working knowledge and understanding of health maintenance, health issues, relevant appropriate treatments for common health issues, medicines and medical techniques, related healthcare supplies and rehabilitative care for animals at assigned location
• Sound working knowledge of data collection and management to create and maintain a wide variety of records and inventories
• Excellent organization skills with the demonstrated ability to plan and execute, work effectively to successfully complete assigned tasks accurately and in a timely manner within established deadlines
• Ability to multi-task effectively
• Sound critical thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to appropriately resolve a variety of questions and issues within established policies, guidelines, requirements, and procedures
• May require the ability to research issues and identify solutions
• Sound judgment with demonstrated ability to consider and weigh a variety of relevant factors and make accurate decisions or recommendations
• Visual and hearing acuity sufficient to support the safe handling and care of animals and ensure safety of self and others onsite
• Sound computer skills with ability to use computer and typical business software, proprietary software and applications to complete assigned tasks
• Excellent interpersonal and communication (verbal and written) skills to communicate information to diverse audiences in user friendly language
• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing; ability to plan, design and create live animal/reptile exhibit set-ups with a variety of methods and materials appropriate for diverse target audiences
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to collaborate effectively to establish and maintain a good working relationship with all levels of Division staff, contractors, and other relevant stakeholders
• Personal accountability including teamwork and establishing and maintaining positive working relationships
• Excellent customer service skills with the demonstrated ability to interact patiently, respectfully and with tact and courtesy with all site visitors and other stakeholders with varying levels of understanding and needs to appropriately address requests, needs and issues
• Must be able to represent the County positively and appropriately in interactions with the public and other site-specific stakeholders
• May be required to work holidays as assigned
• Requires the ability to work a flexible schedule, including days, evenings, weekends, and on-call as needed

Minimum Qualifications

Additional Information

A criminal history record check and fingerprinting is conducted on all persons conditionally offered employment, including a conditional offer of initial employment, or a conditional offer to promote, demote, or laterally transfer an employee.