Animal Care Technician

Continue your career as an animal care professional by joining the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo We are currently recruiting **temporary** **on-call** **Animal Care Technicians** in our Animal Care, Health & Welfare branch.

Animal Care Technicians are responsible for the daily care of a variety of animals, monitoring and supporting the welfare and wellbeing of the animals in our care. They will also be responsible for maintaining the animal holdings and displays and completing reports with a high degree of accuracy and detail. Animal Care Technicians participate in delivering programs, educational talks and experiences, as well as answer queries of a general nature when on site.

**Our Purpose** **| We act for wildlife; saving species and inspiring people to join us.

**Our Vision** | Our vision is a future where people and wildlife thrive, together.

**Contract Details**
- ** Training Commitment**:Requires** **2 weeks, 5 days each week to complete orientation and training. After training, shifts will be on-call only
- ** Contract End Date**:December 31, 2024

**What you will do**:

- Provide prescribed diets and treatments to a variety of animals
- Monitor and report on animal diet/weight/score/body condition and psychological behaviour
- Monitor and measure environmental needs of animals
- Report changes or concerns in animal behaviour to supervisors and veterinary team
- Complete accurate and detailed checklists, electronic records, reports and other documents which provide veterinarians and supervisors with important information about animal health and welfare, ongoing treatments, changes, etc.
- Propose, implement, and track appropriate behavioural training and enrichment for a variety of animals to encourage a range of natural species-specific behaviours and/or to meet specific husbandry goals for welfare improvement
- Provide the highest standards of care for animals hosted at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo in accordance with established protocols and procedures under the guidance of Animal Care Supervisors and Animal Care Managers
- Maintain approved organizational standards for exhibits and back of house areas through regular cleaning (shoveling, raking, hosing, sweeping, wiping, etc.) and disinfection as prescribed in protocols, participation in the pest management program, and the reporting of required facility and equipment maintenance or repair
- Demonstrate established safe work practices
- Participate in timely review of protocols and mandatory internal training
- Identify maintenance needs for designated work area to Animal Care Specialists and Animal Care Supervisors
- Provide talks, demonstrations, and experiences including, but not limited to, organizational and educational messaging as well as behind house tours and programs as directed
- Under the direction and supervision of an experienced Animal Care Specialist or Animal Care Supervisor, assist with the execution of animal capture and restraint for veterinary procedures, shipments, transfers, or other complex procedures

**What you will bring**:

- A bachelor’s degree in biology, Zoology (or equivalent) or compensating experience
- At least one (1) year experience in animal care required. Zoo animal care experience is considered an asset
- Valid Class 5 Alberta Driver’s License required
- Expected to have a superior knowledge in the care of zoological and wildlife species
- Working knowledge of zoo terminology, awareness of animal welfare and conservation.
- Zoological Information Management Software (ZIMS) knowledge is an asset
- Adaptability to frequently changing priorities and deadlines
- Prepared to follow instruction with a can-do attitude
- Safety conscious
- Ability to exhibit discretion working around confidential/sensitive situations
- Ability to work independently and successfully in a team environment
- Ability to work in a physically demanding environment

**Working Conditions**:

- Shift work which may be scheduled between 6:00am and 8:00pm, 7 days per week
- Schedule may change at limited notice based on operational need
- Call-ins are possible at any hours for emergency needs
- Working in indoor and outdoor environments with various temperature conditions
- Walking, sitting, crouching, standing, climbing, reaching are required
- Pushing/pulling up to 45kg
- Lifting up to 35kg

The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is an outdoor facility and all staff working at the zoo must be comfortable working in a large variety of outdoor conditions. The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo follows the advice of Environment Canada when responding to temperature and air quality issues.

The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is a no smoking environment including vaping.

**What We Offer**:

- Competitive compensation and vacation
- Flexible benefits plan, including a health spending account
- Monthly Cell phone allowance (Bring your own device program)
- Discounts on food, beverage, and merchandise
- Participation in the Staff Pass Benefit prog