Animal Care Specialist 1 - Marine Mammals $18.50/HR- $20.00/HR at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Specific Duties and Responsibilities 

• Must have minimum of 4 days of unrestricted availability to include weekends, holidays, early mornings, and late nights
• 30 hours per week minimum
•  Enthusiastically represents SFDK by displaying a positive attitude, high level of energy and commitment to quality throughout all aspects of the job

• Responsible for the care, training, husbandry, and enrichment of all animals in an assigned area

• Focus is customer service, animal husbandry, training, enrichment, reproduction, medical assistance, transports, facility maintenance, and general animal care
• Prepares daily rations, feeds animals, and stores food according to schedule
• Cleans and sanitizes animal enclosures, food preparation, storage areas, and office spaces
• Administers medications as prescribed by veterinarians (orally or injectable)
•  Closely monitors and records animal's behavior and notifies staff of potential health and social challenges, and assist veterinarians with examinations, treatments, surgery, emergency care and necropsies

• Effectively and efficiently communicates in a professional manner to staff of all levels

• Demonstrates a understanding of operant conditioning animal training techniques and how to apply it for maintaining animal behavior with supervision of an ACS 2 or higher
• Understand and learn how to interpret animal behavior and make decisions appropriately with the aid of ACS2 or higher
• Perform in shows as well as conduct educational lectures and/or animal interactions and tours as assigned
• SCUBA dive in exhibits as required
• Collects and labels blood, urine, fecal and other diagnostic samples as directed by veterinary staff
• Provides support on carrying out capture and restraint (voluntary or un-voluntary) and rehabilitation operation for animals in the assigned area with veterinarian and management's assistance as well as assist in emergency situations
• Assists in the restraint of animals, fluids and assisted feedings, and participates in emergency situations
• Responsible for the daily operations in area assigned
• Provide animal enrichment and husbandry training maintenance with the animal collection
• Maintain, recognize, and aid in the renovation of facilities and equipment up to USDA standards
• Maintains area equipment such as tools and equipment such as scuba gear, transport units, squeeze cage, electric carts and more
• Provides support in the implementation and/or modifications to presentations and guest interactions
• Properly handles, uses, and stores all chemicals in accordance with SFDK policy
• Represents SFDK in a well-informed, positive manner before other zoological facilities, professional and educational organizations, the media, and federal and state agencies
• Ensure excellence in guest service by responding promptly to customer requirements, expectations and special needs
• Practices safe work habits
• Performs other duties as requested/assigned.

Skills and Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must be SCUBA, CPR and First Aid certified.
• Must have an Associate’s degree in biology, psychology, zoology or related field preferred or equivalent of 2 years of relevant experience
• Minimum of 1-year paid, full time experience in the care, husbandry and training of a variety of marine mammal species
• Minimum of 6 months experience as an Animal Care Intern
• Must have valid California driver's license
• Must have strong written/verbal communication skills, able to speak effective before large groups.
• Must be able to lift and/or move 50 pounds
• Must possess strong swimming skills (in an open water area only)
• Must be able to read, write and speak English and be proficient in MS office applications
• Must be willing and able to work both indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions
• Must be available to work weekends, evenings and holidays
• Must possess quick reflexes and be able to react quickly to changing animal situations
• Must possess the mental and physical capacities necessary to perform the primary job duties
• Must be willing and able to work in and around cold saltwater (in an open water area only)
• Must be able to demonstrate an annual swim competency (in an open water area only)
• Must be able to work with chemicals and adhere to the MDS and company standards
• Must have a basic understanding of water chemistry (in an open water area only)

Preferred Qualifications and Expertise

• Understanding and application of operant conditioning techniques with marine species
• Interactive and public programming
• Experience handling and training of pinnipeds and cetaceans
• Show experience