Commissary Keeper - The Living Desert - Palm Desert, CA

Job or Internship: Job

The Living Desert

Job Description

Commissary Keeper

Principal Function:

Support The Living Desert’s mission in desert conservation through preservation, education and appreciation.

The Living Desert is seeking a qualified applicant to join our Animal Department in a full-time position as Commissary keeper. This is a key, animal department position that requires a motivated, dedicated team player who is willing to make a significant commitment to the organization. This requires an individual with communication, decision making and organizational skills.

Supervision:

Reports directly to an Animal Care Manager. Directly supervises interns and volunteers.

Major Responsibilities:

• Preparing animal diets

• Re-stocking and ordering of supplies and food inventories

• Updating diets

• Quality control of food items and commissary

• Adhere to USDA and AZA requirements

• Supervise interns and volunteers

• To provide exemplary guest service experiences for all Zoo tours through various programs, activities and continuous guest interaction.

• Foster relationship with outside vendors

• Relief keeper for animal areas as needed

Specific Skills required:

• Accurately record and update animal diets, daily reports, supply inventory, coding receipts

• Computer-wise

• Good observational skills

• Strong organizational and mathematical skills

• To provide exemplary guest service experiences for all Zoo guests and tours through various programs, activities and continuous guest interaction.

• Communication skills for effective working relationships with all Zoo staff and outside vendors

• Ability to work as an effective team member

• Ability to work alone with minimal supervision

• Ability to follow instructions from Animal Management

• Ability to make good decisions regarding the welfare of animals

• Ability to remain calm under pressure

• Ability to work at a fast pace while still paying attention to detail

• Ability to safely work around dangerous animals

• Capable of emergency response to avoid injury to self, other and animals

Qualifications:

Prefer AA /AS or higher degree in Nutrition, Zoology, Biology, Animal Science or other related field with at least six months of exotic animal diet preparation or exotic animal care experience. May substitute training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Applicant must be able to acquire a CA driver’s license and be insurable on TLD’s auto policy. Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds, bend, stoop, stand for long periods of time and work outdoors in a very hot desert environment. Must be able to work holidays and weekends.

To apply send cover letter, resume and 3 reference to: Ben Klopf, Animal Care Manager at animalcaremanagers@livingdesert.org. Include in cover letter how you will help move The Living Desert forward in your role as Commissary keeper.

Deadline: June 1, 2016