Zoo Jobs: Animal Care Specialist

Animal Care Specialist – Ski Dubai

The Animal Care & Welfare team is currently looking for Animal Care Specialists to join their team in Dubai, UAE.

We fully appreciate that there are not a lot of people out there with Penguin training experience so you will learn this aspect on the job. However, it is essential that applicants have considerable animal husbandry and training experience with a serious and genuine interest in promoting an educational conservation message to our multinational guests.

The Animal Care Specialists work as a team and participate in the husbandry and training of the penguin collection, including the maintenance and cleaning of the penguin facility, preparation of diets, penguin feeding and the set-up and maintenance of presentation areas.

They will work closely with a team of friendly, outgoing, and dedicated international trainers presenting the penguins to our guests in our educational, interactive encounters. The penguins AND the trainers ARE the team.

Key Tasks:

· Monitor and perform daily feeding and training of King and Gentoo penguins

· Monitor penguins and guests during public demonstrations

· Clean exhibit daily, including touch-up after presentations

· Manage the LSS and perform daily water quality checks

· Observe penguins for signs of stress or illness

· Keep records up to date each day

· Computer literate in Excel, Word, PowerPoint

· Public speaking for a variety of penguin presentations and guest orientation

· Willing to work weekends, public holidays and overtime when required

· Performs other duties as required

· Reliable

Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree in Biology or Zoology or Diploma in the Management of Zoo and Aquarium Animals or related field or equivalent experience

· Preferably three years of training experience, ideally with marine mammals. Alternative expertise in animal husbandry given serious consideration (incubation, hand rearing).

Key Competencies:

· Previous experience in maintaining living specimens

· Ability to work well with staff and supervisors

· Ability to perform well under duress typical of positions dealing with living organisms

· Able to work alone and to work with others

Typical Physical Demands:

· Be able to lift 50 lbs. to shoulder height

· Carry materials, transport boxes, buckets, etc. throughout the facility

· Able to work on rotation

· Standing, walking for long periods in an extremely cold freezing environment

If you are interested in applying for this position please send a letter of interest, resume and recent photo of yourself to Sarah.Pillay@maf.ae

Closing date for applications: 15^th August 2022

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