Animal Keeper

About the Role & Team

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is seeking candidates for an Animal Keeper position on the Savannah team. You will work with a large team of keepers to perform daily care of the collection following established guidelines. The Savannah collections are managed within the operation of the Kilimanjaro Safari. African species of focus may include, but is not limited to, large and small ungulates, carnivores, zebra, white rhino, warthog, flamingo, and/or ostrich.

This is a Full Time, Salaried position, reporting to the Savannah Zoological Managers.

What You Will Do

• Keepers are responsible for the day-to-day animal care and welfare. This includes husbandry, enrichment, and operant conditioning as it relates to the daily management and research of assigned species
• Ensure the daily routines of cleaning, animal observation, diet preparation are done efficiently and correctly, and medical needs or abnormal conditions are reported to Zoological Managers
• Maintain daily records using ZIMS, collecting, and logging information, and ensuring this information is communicated to management and the central animal record keeping system
• The work includes physical labor in ambient outdoor temperatures and weather conditions in Central Florida, which may include extreme heat and humidity
• Provide animal information and conservation messages through guest and cast interaction
• Keepers must work well in a large team environment.
• Partner with maintenance, operation managers, horticulture, veterinary staff, educators, and scientists
• Keep a flexible schedule, working a variety of shifts including early morning start times (5AM) or late evening ending times (11PM), as necessary to support Safari operation hours

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Strong Interpersonal and partnering skills
• Experience in applying operant conditioning techniques in the field
• Observation, evaluation, and data collecting skills
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the role including lifting manure, moving doors, and carrying heavy objects (bales of bedding, feed bags, etc.)
• Five years paid experience as a keeper in an AZA accredited institution, or in an institution with equivalent standards

-OR-

• Four years paid experience as a keeper in an AZA accredited institution, or in an institution with equivalent standards and at least 2 years of verifiable college course work (60 semester hours)

-OR-

• Three years paid experience as a keeper in an AZA accredited institution, or in an institution with equivalent standards and at least 3 years of verifiable college course work (90 semester hours)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with a variety of African species, including but not limited to, large and small ungulates, carnivores, equids, flamingos, or rhinos

Education

• Bachelor's or Associate's Degree in Zoology or related field of study preferred

Benefits and Perks

Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.