GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Under supervision of the Animal Care Supervisor, the Commissary Zookeeper will provide a variety of duties involved in diet preparation for all zoo animals. This vital position assures that the animals get restaurant quality food prepared appropriately for their individual needs. While this position does not work directly with animals it does perform one of the most important functions for all the animals at the zoo. The zoo’s animal collection includes mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and amphibians. Being on staff will allow for walking around the zoo during breaks to witness your contributions to animal welfare as a result of proper nutrition and diet preparation. Employees may have access to controlled substances in the performance of their job duties. Therefore, employees are required to not have any felony convictions related to a controlled substance.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
The Zookeeper I exercises no direct supervision over other employees.
The Zookeeper II may exercise technical and functional supervision over lower level commissary staff.
IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Participates in procedures designed to meet the nutritional needs of exotic animals. This includes: preparing diets according to specifications, checking inventory for spoilage; Assists in efficient operation of the commissary department.
Diligence in the inspection of diet items for freshness, quality, and contamination; reports to the commissary supervisor when inaccuracies are discovered or quality falls below specifications.
Sanitizes and disinfects food preparation equipment and supplies in accordance with food industry standards; Sanitizes and disinfects commissary and adjacent areas in accordance with established protocols.
Helps clean and maintain the commissary building, freezer and storage rooms. Helps monitor refrigeration systems, recording temperatures; records operation of equipment; performs routine maintenance tasks in the commissary as needed. (including maintaining kitchen tools, equipment and cleaning supplies.
Provides novel foods to animal care keepers when requested. Occasionally makes special preparations (boiling, peeling, shredding, etc.) upon request.
As assigned by the commissary supervisor, conducts and assists in research projects designed to improve animal nutrition.
Completes required paperwork including daily reports, food inventories, work order requests and supply requests.
Work in a professional manner with volunteers, including interns, zoo teens and adult volunteers, and take responsibility for training and guiding them in assigned tasks.
Identifies and submits requests for work orders to the commissary supervisor as needed.
Operate City vehicles and motorized zoo vehicles.
OTHER JOB RELATED DUTIES
Perform other job related duties and responsibilities as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Zookeeper I
Knowledge of:
Basic hygiene practices for food preparation.
Recognition of product freshness and safety issues using sight and smell.
Safety practices using sharp cutting tools.
Skill to:
Possess written and oral communication skills to understand instructions and information of a technical nature.
Must be capable of basic math and functional computer skills.
Exercise time management and efficiency practices
Ability to:
Must have the ability and willingness to enhance the knowledge and skills needed to provide food services to animal areas.
Ability to use hand/small power tools.
Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, both internally and externally.
Must be able and willing to work weekdays, weekends, evenings, holidays, and rarely overtime.
Follow and embrace the City of Abilene Core Values – Respect, Integrity, Service Above Self, and Excellence in All We Do.
Perform as a team member in a manner that accomplishes the Division’s mission and treats team members with dignity, courtesy, and respect.
Zookeeper II
Participation on AZA Committees, as participation aligns to job responsibilities
Knowledge of:
Knowledge of zoo commissary specific operation policies and procedures.
Knowledge of diet and nutritional requirements of all Zoo Animals.
Knowledge of USDA and AZA requirements for the commissary department.
Skill to:
Skill to communicate with all food vendors.
Skill to initiative to fix problems when they arise.
Ability to:
Ability to follow zoonotic disease prevention protocols as mandated by the Abilene Zoo.
Responsible for informing coworkers and supervisors of operational and/or procedural changes in order to maintain good communications.
Ability to assist with an animal or public related emergency to prevent injury.
Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, both internally and externally.
Follow and embrace the City of Abilene Core Values – Respect, Integrity, Service Above Self, and Excellence in All We Do.
Lead, manage, and perform as a team member in a manner that accomplishes the Division’s mission and treats team members with dignity, courtesy, and respect.
Experience and Training Guidelines:
For positions with more than one level, all listed requirements at the lower levels are required at the higher levels. Any combination equivalent to experience and training to provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be qualifying. Knowledge, skills, and abilities may be obtained through:
Experience:
Food handling and preparation experience preferred.
Education/Training:
High School Diploma or GED is required
An associate’s degree or higher in animal nutrition, animal science, biology, zoology, animal management or a related field is preferred
License or Certificate:
A valid Texas drivers’ license, the ability to obtain one within (90) days employment, or a military waiver is required.
A food handler’s license will be successfully obtained within 90 days of employment.
Special Requirements:
In accordance with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), employees are required to not have any previous felony convictions related to a controlled substance.
Frequently handling a variety of feed animals (including rodents, chicks, fish and insects); occasionally processing whole animals for feed such as deer/cattle.
Ability to work in a commercial kitchen environment with exposure to sharp tools and potentially slippery conditions.
Ability to work alone.
Occasionally working in climatic conditions including rain, extreme cold or heat, and humidity.
Occasionally working around moving mechanical parts such as hydraulic doors, fans, pumps, heaters, saws, meat saws, etc.
Occasionally handling toxic and/or hazardous materials for cleaning facilities.
Willing to be TB tested negative before starting and tested yearly thereafter.
Attends safety training as required. Encouraged to attend professional development programs when offered.
Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment:
With or without accommodation, the “X” indicates the overall strength demand of the position during a typical workday:
___ Sedentary – lifting of no more than 10 pounds
___ Light – lifting no more than 20 pounds; carrying up to 10 pounds
___ Medium – lifting no more than 50 pounds; carrying up to 25 pounds
_X_ Heavy – lifting no more than 100 pounds; carrying up to 50 pounds
___ Very Heavy – team lifting over 100 pounds; carrying more than 50 pounds
Physical Demand Codes: The following describes whether or not the position is expected to exert the physical demands listed during a typical workday as well as the overall frequency of the task:
Codes for how often:
N = No
E = Extensive (100 – 70% of the time)
M = Moderate (60 – 30% of the time)
I = Infrequent (20 – 10% of the time)
A = Almost Never (<10% of the time) Code / Task
_E_ Standing
_I__ Sitting
_E_ Walking
_M_ Lifting
_M_ Carrying
_M_ Pushing/Pulling
_M_ Overhead Work
_M_ Fine Dexterity
_E_ Kneeling
_E_ Crouching
_I__ Crawling
_M_ Bending
_M_ Twisting
_M_ Climbing
_M_ Balancing
_E_ Vision
_E_ Hearing
_E_ Talking
_E_ Other: Sense of smell
_A_ Other: Running/Jumping
Other details
- Job Function 6. NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARKS AND RECREATION
- Pay Type Hourly
- Min Hiring Rate $14.40
- Max Hiring Rate $19.80
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