Keeper (Avian Avenue)

Our Mission:  

The World Bird Sanctuary’s mission is to protect and preserve birds and their habitats through conservation, rehabilitation, and education.

Salary: $30,000 annually, up to 40 hrs per week

Job Summary:
Cooperating effectively with staff and volunteers, an Avian Avenue Keeper is responsible for working in a variety of roles, with the goal of providing support to multiple areas of World Bird Sanctuary operations.  A Keeper has a varied skill set, including the ability to conduct animal training sessions, especially with birds and particularly with raptors, as well as be able to execute construction maintenance operations and landscaping projects.  This range of responsibility may include an array of tasks from general care and daily husbandry of animals, food preparation and record keeping, animal training and enrichment activities, organizing storage areas for food and equipment, managing pickups of food and material supplies, and general upkeep and maintenance of enclosures and/or site grounds, animal housing and WBS facilities.  Additionally, a Keeper is responsible for interacting professionally with guests of World Bird Sanctuary, answering their questions, and helping to enable a positive experience for visitors.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Working primarily at the Sanctuary’s Avian Avenue, Rollins Ridge, and Visitor Information Center habitats, a Keeper reports to the Avian Avenue Manager, and completes assignments and follows project and shift schedules set by the Avian Avenue Manager.
• Food preparation and cleaning of animal housing units are among the most important daily tasks of a Keeper.  Following policies set by the Avian Avenue Manager, a Keeper is required to maintain accurate records that track all manner of husbandry activities.
• Following the policies and training plans set by the Curator of Bird Training and Avian Avenue Manager, a Keeper is expected to conduct daily training activities that ensure the best health and wellbeing of sanctuary animals.
• Following maintenance plans set by the Assistant Director and Avian Avenue Manager, a Keeper is expected to maintain site horticulture and landscaping features, including planting, watering, and maintaining the health of a variety of Missouri native trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses.
• A Keeper is expected to cooperate with other rotating staff to ensure coordinated completion of both animal training and site maintenance related projects, as well as assist with, and at times manage, various group volunteer projects.
• A Keeper will provide supportive services for WBS operations, such as trash and recycling collection, maintenance and upkeep of enclosures and grounds, including site trails, and snow/ice removal, as well as at times traveling in WBS vehicles to make pickups of food and material supplies.
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience Preferred:

• Prior experience with wildlife; raptor experience is preferable. 
• Must be able to lift 40lbs with relative ease and be able to walk or stand for extended periods of time.
• Must be willing to work primarily outdoors in both cold and hot weather. 
• Must be able to safely and efficiently use a variety of hand and machine tools to complete construction maintenance projects.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an enthusiastic willingness to positively interact with the public.
• Must have a strong appreciation for wildlife and the environment.
• Must be able to work independently, and as part of a team, to achieve positive results.
• Valid driver’s license required to operate World Bird Sanctuary vehicles.
• Proof of current Tetanus shot.

Keepers are generally assigned to one department but will be cross-trained to work in other departments as the staff schedule requires. 

How to Apply

Please submit a letter of recommendation along with your resume and cover letter with at least two references to the email address below.   

Kerstin Orgill

Avian Avenue Manager 

korgill@worldbirdsanctuary.org

World Bird Sanctuary

125 Bald Eagle Ridge Rd

Valley Park, MO 63088