Part-Time Animal Nutrition Center Technician

SUMMARY

The Animal Nutrition Center Technician is responsible for the preparation and delivery of prescribed animal diets. Ensures food safety and maintains USDA and AZA compliance and standards.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Prepares animal diets as directed.
• Delivers diets, including hay bales, to the various collection areas as directed.
• Cleans and maintains the nutrition center according to procedures and USDA and AZA standards.
• Accurately maintains necessary records and helps document inventory, including relaying to manager if inventory is running low.
• Communicates problems, issues or concerns as it relates to the collection, staff or public to the manager, curator, or a member of senior staff.
• Performs manual labor to include moving for both storage and delivery feed bags, boxes of meat and fish, hay bales, and shavings.
• As a team, responsible for paying attention to expiration dates and rotating inventory to prevent having expired food.
• Helps offload deliveries to the zoo.
• Engages and interacts with Zoo visitors/guests concerning Zoo operations, education and conservation.
• Helps with Behind the Scenes and VIPs in the Nutrition Kitchen.
• Assists with training of new staff, volunteers, and interns when requested.
• Follows established protocols.
• Other duties as assigned such as collecting browse, creating food enrichment, caring for feeder colonies, etc.

SAFETY ANALYSIS

The technician is expected to maintain the highest level of safety in the work area though implantation of safety protocols and procedures. The technician position is impacted by a wide variety of hazardous exposures: 

• The handling of a variety of sharp cutting utensils used in the preparation of animal diets.
• The proper use and understanding of cleaning and disinfecting agents.
• Weather conditions including extreme heat, cold, and storm conditions.

The use and understanding of a variety of personal safety equipment is mandatory. 

Animal Nutrition Center Technicians, as with any staff member of the zoo, are required to be familiar with the Zoo’s overall safety policies as outlined in the staff handbook as well as being responsible for reporting any injury immediately to their manager.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a staff member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  While performing the duties of this job, staff should expect:

• Use of hands, fingers, tools or controls
• Frequently required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch and talk or hear
• Routinely lift and/or move up to 50-75 pounds
• Exposure to wet surfaces during daily cleaning
• Depending on assignment, exposure to the elements can be expected
• May be required to wear a face mask and or other personal protective equipment for long periods of time.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

The Birmingham Zoo recognizes that skills and knowledge come from both formal and informal experiences including education, paid work, volunteer service, and life experience. Those who meet the majority of the requirements for a position are encouraged to apply.

Education and work experience

• High School Diploma; some College, preferred with a background and/or degree in conservation biology, environmental science, food services, or other related field.

Skills and Knowledge

• Ability to multi-task and coordinate with others to provide deliverables on an agreed upon deadline.
• Ability to think critically and demonstrated time-management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of the Microsoft suite; experience with online databases a plus
• Strong organizational skills with strong attention to detail.

Desirable qualities

• Strong interest in advancing the conservation missions of zoos and aquariums.
• High self-motivation and a detail-oriented work ethic.
• Professional, positive, and enthusiastic demeanor.

Other Requirements:

• Must have current negative TB test and provide documentation or be willing to have a TB test. Must provide other documentation of vaccines or be willing to follow protocols including, but not limited to, wearing N95 masks and gloves
• Must have a current, valid driver’s license with major traffic violations within the last three years. A pre-employment Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) check will be conducted, and an annual MVR review is required.

POSITION TYPE AND HOURS OF WORK

• Part-time, non-exempt (hourly)
• Schedule varies between weekdays and weekends. Weekend work required as well as occasional evening work.

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

Birmingham Zoo is committed to being a place where everyone feels welcome, whether as a guest, team member, or part of our broader community. Our core values— Passion, Excellence, Teamwork, Stewardship, and Inclusion— shape a work environment where respect, collaboration, and learning are valued. We encourage candidates with unique perspectives and experiences to apply.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Birmingham Zoo is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

APPLICATION PROCESS 

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

If selected, a background check and drug test will be conducted prior to beginning employment.

Birmingham Zoo Inc. is a not-for-profit entity. The rate of pay for this position is $17.25/hour.