Animal Caretaker - Primates

Love primates, hands-on animal care, and creating memorable guest experiences? Join our Animal Management team as an Animal Caretaker of Primates! In this role, you’ll help maintain the wellbeing of our primate collection through daily husbandry, enrichment, training, habitat care, and guest interactions. From preparing diets and observing animal behavior to supporting training sessions and caring for exhibits, no two days are the same. If you’re passionate about wildlife, teamwork, and conservation, this could be the perfect opportunity for you!

Essential Job Functions

An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the following essential duties:

• Demonstrate technical skills to perform daily animal husbandry and medical care for relevant taxa.
• Observe, monitor and report animal behavior and health condition for relevant taxa.
• Keep detailed digital and written records of animal weight, health, enrichment, training and behavior.
• Maintain and renovate exhibits, service areas, and equipment; including use of power tools and lawn equipment.
• Implement daily purposeful enrichment and documentation to promote, encourage, and evaluate goal-based behavioral outcomes.
• Develop an understanding and execution of operant conditioning principles to train progressive animal behaviors including during public presentations.  Participates in all required animal training programs.
• Educate and interact with guests in both formal and informal settings; provide positive guest experiences.
• Collaborate with other Zoo departments.
• Participate and respond to safety-related issues and drills.
• Develop an understanding of natural behaviors and life histories of the animals in the area.
• Work effectively in a team environment.
• Plan, organize and support work projects for the areas assigned; acquire supplies and materials.
• Support OKC Zoo’s strategic management plans and institutional goals.
• Drive motor vehicles within and outside the Zoo perimeter in support of operations all seasons of the year, including animal transports.
• Work a flexible schedule which may include evenings and/or weekends and holidays and during emergency situations such as dictated by weather.
• Work in a manner that supports and protects the health of the assigned collection, including wearing assigned PPE and limiting exposure to known contagions.

Employment Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Starting Pay: $15.93-$18.32 Hourly

Experience Required: One (1) year of paid animal care experience (preference for work in an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited facility) with relevant taxa OR, an equivalent combination of education and experience, including qualifying unpaid AZA internships, to successfully perform the essential duties.

Minimum Education Requirements: High school diploma or G.E.D.

Department: Animal Management.

Direct Supervisor: Curator of Primates and/or Assistant Curator of Primates.

Supervisory Responsibility: Direct (0); Indirect (0) 

Primary Work Location: Zoo Setting both indoors and outdoors.

Certification: Valid Oklahoma driver’s license within thirty (30) days of hire and pass driver’s history check. Completion of OKC Zoo Learning Management System (LMS) training in the first six (6) months of employment.

Other: This position is safety sensitive. It is subject to pre-employment and/or periodic background checks and drug testing.  This position works around animals susceptible to specific respiratory diseases, thus is subject to annual tuberculosis testing.

About Us

Oklahoma City is one of the fastest-growing metros in the United States and is the 20th largest city in the nation. For nearly two decades our residents have continually invested in our community to make it a place people can find belonging, visit and call home. Our employees are at the heart of those investments–delivering essential services our residents expect and creating a strong and thriving city for all people. Visit Oklahoma City--A Great Place to Live and Work! to learn more about our city.