Hospital Keeper

Position Title: Hospital Keeper & Medical Data Entry Assistant

Department: Animal

Reports to: Hospital Manager

Location: Zoo

General Summary:

The position will have shared duties in the Animal Health Care Center working with veterinary staff providing care to hospitalized and quarantined animals. Additionally, there will be responsibilities in the Animal Collections department with medical data entry as well as other record keeping. The time spent in each department and scheduled time within each department will be agreed upon between the Hospital Manager and Curator Collections depending on the needs of each department.

While working in the Animal Health Care Center the Hospital Keeper is responsible for providing food, water, cleaning, observation, enrichment, and care of animals housed in the Animal Health Care Center (AHCC) and Quarantine facilities for approximately 3 days/week. They are also responsible for general Hospital and Quarantine cleanliness and assisting the Veterinarian and Veterinary Technician in medical procedures as needed. The full-time Hospital Keeper will give direction and coordinate these tasks in conjunction with the Hospital Manager.

While working in the Collections Management Department, the Medical Data Assistant works to provide accurate and valid animal medical records data entry for Audubon Zoo, Audubon Species Survival Center, and the Alliance for Sustainable Wildlife. This position reports directly to the Curator of Collections Management.

The position requires a candidate who is reliable, motivated, and organized; one who shows great attention to detail and accuracy; and, one who will bring tasks and projects to timely completion. The candidate must be able to understand and follow written and verbal direction, to think critically and generate reports from data, and must be able to integrate information within and across departments and facilities. The successful candidate will be someone who is capable of independent judgment, critical thinking and who can perform research to verify and/or correct information to be entered into databases. Candidate must possess the ability to work as a member of a team as well as independently, to work efficiently and effectively, and to wisely use Audubon Nature Institute resources.

To deliver on the Audubon Mission, the Hospital Keeper & Medical Data Entry Assistant will:

Provide a guest experience of outstanding quality.

• Provide high quality and species-appropriate husbandry, enrichment, observations, and accurate detailed record keeping for hospitalized, boarding, or quarantined animals according to standards established for accreditation by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums

• Maintain AHCC in clean and orderly condition, including stocking supplies, maintaining inventory, and general cleaning as needed

• Prepare fecal samples for in-house submission

• Assist Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians in routine health procedures as needed

• Know principles of animal husbandry and zoology

• Know animal care procedures established by the zoo and follow all biosecurity protocols properly

• Ability to exercise sound judgment in calmly responding to emergency situations that arise

• Ability to work as a team with volunteers and other staff

• Interact positively with the public and co-workers

• Provide engaging and informative tours to VIPs and schools and Zoo Camp groups

• Will always deal with co-workers, staff, and colleagues from other facilities in a manner that reflects credit on Audubon Zoo.

Enhance the care and survival of wildlife through research and conservation.

• Knowledge of local wildlife and their individual husbandry needs

• Assist Veterinarian in all medical needs of individual wildlife cases

• Educate public about needs and proper treatment of wildlife when picking up injured wildlife (raptors) at Audubon Park and public donations at front gate

• Maintain accurate records for medical care, laboratory results, serum and tissue banks, and controlled substance logs. Assist in other record keeping duties as required

• Ability to use a computer to obtain and retain information, and generate reports

• Skill in the observation, capture, restraint, and transport of animals

• Observe general animal health and behavior daily and report any abnormal situations to a supervisor

• Maintain accurate and detailed records of health and behavior status of animals under care

• Prepare and follow prescribed diets and feeding procedures

• Participate in behavior modification goals and enrichment programs as assigned

• Assist in training, supervision, evaluation, and assignment of volunteers as needed

• Participate in capturing, restraining, and moving animals as trained and directed

• Input animal records data into ZIMS, ZIMS Medical and MS Office programs and ensure the accuracy and validity of data

• Perform database maintenance and data backup

• Maintain internal filing systems

• Regularly create complex spreadsheets, forms, and/or formats using various computer software packages

• Assist with special projects for Collections Management and Animal Health Care Departments

• Assist with reporting and analyses of animal records data

• Assist with updating animal management policies and procedures

• Clerical support including filing, system forms maintenance, copying, printing, mailings, and other general clerical duties as required and / or assigned

The above-listed duties are general statements of required major duties and responsibilities performed on a regular and continuous basis. They do not exclude other duties as assigned.

To deliver on the Audubon service promise, the Hospital Keeper and Medical Data Entry Assistant will:

Welcome

• Make eye contact with every customer encounter, smile at every person, offer friendly phrases and greetings

• Wear identification badge

• Walk individual to destination instead of pointing; offer assistance to people who look confused

• Assume ownership of potential safety hazards (wipe-up spill, pick up trash). Always have the camera-ready look

Share

• Maintain positive attitude, pleasant tone of voice (remember it is not what you say, but how you say it)

• Coworkers are to be coached on service expectations

• Utilize the power of teamwork to give excellent service

• Know when to involve management

Inspire

• Know the answers to questions or seek out the answers

• Utilize proper phone etiquette (answer phone within three rings, smile before answering call, ask for permission and wait for response before placing caller on hold)

• Ensure work area is free of food, drink, socialization, and personal business

• Follow Dress Code Policy on clothing and grooming

• Keep unpleasant concerns behind closed doors (vent backstage).

Supervision: Training and general oversight of volunteers

Experience:

• 6 months kennel/keeper experience in a veterinary hospital, zoo, or similar facility

• High School diploma and 2 years of animal experience at an AZA institution or an Associate’s degree and 18 months animal experience at an AZA institution

• A general knowledge of zoonotic diseases and their prevention through effective biosecurity protocols

• Minimum of 1 year experience with animal recordkeeping, preferably at an AZA accredited facility.

• Familiarity with medical terminology

• Experience with data entry

Education:

• 2-year Associate’s degree

• College credits in Biology or related field

• Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred

Licensure/Certification/Vaccination:

• Maintain current Tetanus, hepatitis A/B, and influenza vaccines and TB test (q2 yr)

• Current Rabies vaccine (can obtain after hire)

• COVID-19 vaccination series

• Must maintain a valid Louisiana driver’s license and have reliable transportation. May need to travel to other facilities using personal vehicle.

Software Requirements:

• Proficiency in basic computer processing

• Must be proficient in: MS Office Software products, ZIMS, ZIMSmedical, or other animal records database programs; or possess the ability to quickly obtain proficiency.

• Efficient typing skills

Machinery/Tools/Equipment Requirements:

• Ability and willingness to operate power tools, lawn equipment, etc.

• Must have the ability to use general office equipment such as multi-function copier, multi-function printer, fax machines, computers/PC, printer, scanner, and mobile device.

Physical Requirements:

• Willingness to work outdoors

• Sitting or standing, bending, stooping, and per OSHA regulations: Heavy work involving lifting no more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying objects weighing up to 50 pounds

• Risk periodic exposure to fairly predictable and controllable hazards associated with wild animal and zoonotic diseases

• Assists veterinary and curatorial staff in treating animals as assigned and prescribed

• Willingness to learn

• Constant adequate range of motion and mobility required

• Regular near acuity with clarity of vision at 20 inches or less required

• Typical ability to collect and analyze numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions and ability to determine the time, place and sequence of operations or actions required

• Regular talking and the ability to express and exchange ideas by means of language expected

• Regular hearing and the ability to perceive the nature of sounds

• Constant ability to read, record, or type data quickly and accurately required

• Regular hearing and the ability to perceive the nature of sounds

Environmental/Working Conditions:

• Willingness to work overtime including weekends and holidays

• Must be able to work weekends

• Will work both closely with co-workers, colleagues at other facilities, or alone on projects.

• High standards of cleanliness

• Maintains off-exhibit areas in a clean, organized and safe fashion

• Willing to perform pest control duties as necessary