Ambassador Animal Internship

Summary: Lincoln Children’s Zoo is looking for a candidate within our Education department working with our Ambassador Animals. Our Ambassador Animal areas consist of animals in our Wrangler Roundup with our goats, chickens, llamas, ponies, and dromedary camels, the Critter Outpost area with rabbits, ferrets, doves, rats, guinea pigs and hedgehogs, the Hive with a variety of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates, the Jungle Outpost with small parrots, alligator, chinchillas, iguana, and tenrecs, and our larger ambassador animals areas with sloth, macaws, hawk, vulture, cheetahs, giant anteater, porcupines, skunk, kookaburra, and serval. Our Ambassador Animal intern will be expected to be able to handle a variety of animals and engage guests in public animal demonstrations. A base knowledge in operant conditioning and experience with public speaking preferred but not required. Interns will work closely with keepers, alone in animal exhibits and alongside dangerous animals. The applicant will need to show maturity and drive and be able to follow directions. Prior animal experience is preferred but not required.

As an intern, you will able to learn about animal observations, keeping records, conducting keeper chats and animal demonstrations, diet preparation, animal husbandry, protocols, safety policies and procedures, administering medications and/or supplements, training and enrichment, observing veterinary procedures, among other essential keeper duties. Training projects can be assigned based on performance.

Essential Duties:

• Apprentices are required to work a minimum 12 weeks at a minimum of 20 hours per week.
• If housing is needed, a minimum of 40 hours per week is required Punctuality/Reliability.
• Apprentice will be in uniform and wear a nametag while on Zoo grounds.
• Appropriate footwear is required; work boots, hiking shoes or similar.
• Appropriate outerwear is required for all the weather conditions: extreme heat, dust, rain, wind, etc.
• Apprentice will adhere to the Zoo Look policy while working at the zoo.
• Ability to work in extreme heat and cold.
• Must be able to stand for long periods of time.
• Provide a safe environment for the animals, themselves, keepers and guests by identifying, fixing or reporting potential safety hazards.
• Interact with guests and share The Lincoln Children's Zoo messages.
• Continue to uphold the zoo’s mission at the zoo and zoo functions both on and off grounds.
• Performs special assignments and projects as requested
• Be able to work on projects with minimal supervision.
• Other duties as assigned

Required:

• Negative tuberculosis test prior to start date
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Further Comments: This is unpaid.

To apply: please submit your resume and cover letter to lmccaffree@lincolnzoo.org