Animal Trainer

Training singular groups or a variety of mixed animals for interaction performance and medical behaviors as directed by the Zoo Manager.

Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Husbandry and cleaning requirements for animals in training.
2. Managing and providing diets in context to training.
3. Providing companionship to animals and building relationships.
4. Training behaviors using operant conditioning.
5. Record keeping.
6. Creating and executing training plans.
7. Liaising with the training manager in relation to animal welfare and mental state.
8. Assisting veterinary doctors with treatment of animals.
9. Educating other staff about correct handling procedures and safe training.
10. Presenting animals on-site and off-site locations and events.
11. Accepting changes of hours and days off as requested by the Zoo Manager to attend events.
12. Organizing food and training equipment with the store supervisor.
13. Providing enrichment to training animals.
14. Assisting with the training of animals outside of your quota as required.
15. Research to inspire shows and presentations to be the best performance possible.

Requirements:

• Work in cooperation with other trainers and staff members to optimize training times for all animals.
• Be polite and courteous to other members of staff and park guests.
• Never abuse or punish an animal in any way that has been unnecessary where training can be applied.
• Excellent communication skills to interact with animals, staff, and the public.
• Ability to assess animal behavior and apply appropriate training methods.
• Strong problem-solving skills and patience to work with animals of varying temperaments.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.