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Animal Care Intern-Brandywine Zoo

Delaware State Parks Internship Program
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The animal keeper internship provides the opportunity to work with animals across several taxa. Interns will learn skills that include but are not limited to general exhibit maintenance, animal behavior observations, veterinary observations, environmental enrichment, diet preparation, and operant conditioning. An animal keeper intern will also get the chance to develop skills in public engagement. All interns will be required to complete a project to demonstrate an aspect of animal keeping to be presented in a poster session at the end of program event.

 

Special projects are typically added to an intern’s regular duties so that they can practice project management skills needed to see a project through from start to finish. Projects vary greatly and are determined on an individual basis.

 

Work is performed indoors and outdoors under various weather conditions. Applicants must be available to work weekends and holidays as scheduled.

 

Job Duties:

 

  • Reports to the Assistant Zoo Manager and intern mentor. 
  • Under supervision performs the full range of essential functions.
  • Prepares food according to prescribed diets, feeds animals in accordance with protocol direction.
  • Cleans and performs routine maintenance on animal exhibits and facilities.
  • Performs grounds and equipment maintenance.
  • Informs superior about the needs of the animals and the zoo.
  • Complies with security and safety practices around wild animals for the protection of the public and animals and participates in capturing, restraining, and moving wild animals.
  • Operates motor vehicles and a variety of light and medium equipment.
  • Other duties as assigned. 
  • Maintains good public relations with Zoo visitors and staff. 
  • Provide excellent customer service and Zoo information to visitors. 
  • Must be able to demonstrate responsibility, dependability, and good communication skills. 
  • Maintain a positive attitude. 
  • Schedule 29.5 -37.5- 8-4pm shift
    • Varies some weekends, evenings, and holidays.

 

Condition of Hire:

  • Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.  DNREC does not provide sponsorship for holders of H-1 B Visas. 
  • The State of Delaware participates in E-Verify.
  • Criminal background check: A satisfactory criminal background check is required as a condition of hire. The recruiting agency may require the applicant to pay for the criminal background check as part of the conditional offer of hire.
  • As a condition of hire you must possess a valid driver's license (not suspended, revoked, or cancelled, or disqualified from driving).
  • Applicants must provide proof of negative Tuberculosis test within the last 12 months before start date.