Position Title:
Animal Collection Manager (Avian emphasis)

Department:
Animal Management

Reports to:
Animal Curator

FSLA Status:
Exempt

Salary:
S4 - Competitive

Posting:
Applications are now being accepted for Animal Collection Manager in the Animal Management Department at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. There position is full-time, and benefited.

Summary:
under general direction of the Animal Curator, this position oversees a portion of the animal management. The position contributes as a whole to the operations of the Animal Management Team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: include the following:

• Ensure that animal care standards are maintained at a high level through adherence to established zoo policies and procedures, while at the same time staying within a defined budget.
• Responsible for oversight, performance appraisals, and resolving personnel issues for subordinate positions.
• Ensure that zookeeper staff is allocated appropriately including arranging coverage for vacation, illnesses and other absences. Maintain a detailed scheduling database for the animal management department.
• Track pending maintenance and improvement work requests for animal exhibits and holding areas. Authorize and prioritize those requests.
• Coordinate with other departments regarding overlapping concerns.
• Take a lead role during emergencies such as animal escapes or natural disasters and coordinate Firearms Team operations.
• Identify potential safety problems, finding ways to reduce risks and injuries.
• Make recommendations to Animal Curator regarding purchases.
• Plan and oversee a regular staff training program for Animal Management staff.
• Facilitate and review the behavioral husbandry program for assigned area.
• Provide assistance in the planning and development of new animal exhibits, including concepts, designs, and monitoring the impact to Animal Management operations.
• Act in support capacity for Animal Curators performing functions of the job which include animal collection planning, acquisition and disposition of zoo specimens, establishing and communicating care parameters for newly acquired species, and acting as spokesperson for the zoo in order to respond to questions from the media, Board members, AZA, and other professional organizations and the public.
• Act in back-up capacity for Lead Zookeepers performing limited functions of that job which include direct supervision of animal units.
• Represent Woodland Park Zoological Society to AZA and other professional organizations.
• Support fundraising/development efforts of Woodland Park Zoo.
• Represent Woodland Park Zoo to the media, as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

-The position requires an expertise with a broad range of species.
-Successfully demonstrated leadership and personnel management skills.
-The capacity to achieve superior results working both independently and as a member of a team.
-Excellent interpersonal and organizational communication skills.
-Successful experience developing training programs and effectively training others.
-Good organizational skills with the ability to balance and prioritize multiple tasks and requests, and meet deadlines in a professional manner.
-May require that the individual be available or on-call 24 hours a day. Weekend, evening, and holiday work may also be required.
-Possess personal transportation and be willing to travel as necessary.
-Commitment to the mission of the zoo and the institution's Core Values.

Education/Experience:
Bachelor's degree in a life sciences field from a four-year (4) college or university; and five (5) years related experience (minimum 1-2 years supervisory) and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience required.

Language Ability:
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from visitors, regulatory agencies, or members of professional organizations. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, professional groups, and/or Board of Directors.

Math Ability:
Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability:
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.

Computer Skills:
Solid computer skills, including proficiency working with databases and Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:
TB test done annually
Membership in the AZA at a professional level
Valid Washington State Driver’s License required

Work Environment:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet or humid conditions (non-weather) and outdoor weather conditions. The employee is occasionally in direct contact with exotic animals. The employee is occasionally exposed to work near moving mechanical parts; work in high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; risk of electrical shock and vibration.

The noise level in the work environment varies. Occasional loud noises from visitors, animals or equipment are experienced.

Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl while cleaning animal exhibits. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds when cleaning and maintaining exhibitry and moving animals. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Evaluating animal health, diet, or environment requires hearing, smell, and a variety of vision capabilities. Interaction with visitors and animals requires talking and hearing.

How To Apply:

Woodland Park Zoo is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression.

<No Phone Calls Please>

Our Application for Employment is available below in two formats:

• Online
  Fill out the online application (which allows you to attach your cover letter and resume) and submit electronically.
  
• Portable Document Format
  Print and send the application along with a Cover Letter and Resume via U.S. mail or fax. If you experience difficulty downloading the PDF document you can obtain the necessary software (Adobe Acrobat Reader) here.

Attn: Manager, Animal Collection (Avian emphasis)
Fax: 206-548-1538
Email: hr@zoo.org

US Mail:
Human Resources        
Woodland Park Zoo
601 North 59th Street
Seattle, WA 98103

Application Deadline: January 23, 2009