Organization: Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat
Job
Type:
Full-time
Location: Cochrane, Ontario ON
Posting
Date: July
8, 2015
Deadline: Jul 07, 2015
Website: http://www.polarbearhabitat.ca
JOB DESCRIPTION
Bear Keeper
General Description:
The Bear Keeper is
responsible for the day to day care of the polar bears at the Cochrane Polar
Bear Habitat including feeding, enrichment, moving of bears between enclosures,
cleaning, food handling, purchasing of bear supplies, coordination of research
projects, as well as providing educational programing to the public on polar
bears and the challenges they face due to global warming. The position
requires ensuring program and research initiatives correlate to the Polar Bear
Habitat’s mission and objectives; and performing administrative functions as
necessary.
Reports to: Manager,
Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat
Supervision,
Scheduling and Administrative Reports to: Conservation Coordinator
Works With:
Marketing Coordinator (Events and Workshops), Maintenance and Acting Managers
Duties and
Responsibilities:
Day
to day care of polar bears to the husbandry standards of the Polar Bear
Habitat, CAZA , AZA and/or EAZA.
- Feeding,
cleaning, and enrichment for polar bears according to CAZA, EAZA and/or
AZA standards, PBH policies and/or the policies of the facility that owns
the polar bear/s. - Rotation
of polar bears within enclosures on a regular basis for both enrichment
and public viewing purposes. - Adherence
to safety and security protocols (Including Lock Out procedures) when
operating bear locks, ensuring a minimum standard of bear gates/locks are
between you and a polar bear at all times. - Monitoring
the health of the polar bears, and reporting any changes or concerns to
the PBH Manager. - Coordination
and recording of data of polar bear activities in a daily log, and sending
of that data to the PBH Manager weekly – noting any substantial anomalies
or points of interest in the behaviours of the bears. - Maintaining
of supplies, purchase of enrichment and food items, purchase and/or
acquisition of bedding, and/or all polar bear related supplies according
to Town of Cochrane purchasing policies. Any large purchases to be
approved by the PBH Manager. - Lead
Bear Talks for schools, groups, general public etc. - When
time and opportunity allows, recording video and photos of the polar bears
for educational, research, advertising and/or marketing purposes. - Collect,
analyze data and record projects - Coordinate
schedules with Conservation Coordinator of all shifts, volunteers, etc.
according to upcoming holidays, statutory holidays, events, etc. - Coordinate
lesson plans and schedule university and college groups/s as required
and/or with the assistance of the Conservation Coordinator. - Communication
and submission of data to Researchers and Scientists affiliated with the
PBH and/or who are conducting approved research projects at the Habitat,
assuring the PBH Manager and the Conservation Coordinator is informed and
copied in on all communications - Coordinate
and submit work schedules with other Conservation Coordinator for
submission to PBH Manager, ensuring all overtime is pre-approved and
appropriate vacation days are approved and submitted. - Maintain
statistical data for all education-related activities - Maintain
polar bear pool, including daily water tests, regularly scheduled power
washing of pool, cleaning glass and addition of water balancing
treatments. - Create
and/or maintain PBH Bear Care policies, such as Nutrition, Enrichment,
etc. for both onsite use and CAZA and/or AZA certification requirements. - Create
and/or maintain polar bear care procedure guides for use in training
and/or on-going reference. - Writing
and posting of the Bear Keeper’s Blog for the Polar Bear Habitat website,
and writing of promotional stories and documents when necessary for
promotional purposes - Participation
in information sharing conference calls and/or web audio video calls with
other animal care professionals and/or researchers when required and
approved by Manager - Prepare
and implement polar bear rehabilitation and conservation awareness
programs - Coordination
of access to polar bears for researchers, students and/or Media as
approved and/or assigned by PBH Manager. - Perform
other tasks as required by PBH Manager or Acting Manager
- University
Degree or College Diploma in Animal Sciences, Zoology, Zookeeper, Wildlife
Management, Veterinary Technician, Wildlife Rehabilitation or
Biology. - Minimum
2 years’ experience working with animals in either a farm, animal park,
Zoo and/or educational setting. - Experience
in outdoor education, working with children and the public - Experience
creating and delivering presentations - Experience
with Skype, Zoom and utilizing an IPOD for online broadcasts and/or
presentations within classrooms. - Basic
knowledge of polar bear physiology - Experience
documenting research projects. - Animal
training and/or behavioural experience preferred - Experience
creating course outlines - Experience
dealing with the public and/or the media. - Healthy
regard for the power and potential danger of polar bears - Firearms
license and/or tranquilizer training preferred - Excellent
communication skills in both official languages preferred - Experience
working with a budget - Ability
to work with minimal supervision - Ability
to work with a small, close-knit team. - Ability
to follow direction at a facility that has tourism, conservation and
research expectations. - Must
possess valid “G” motor vehicle license - Excellent
interpersonal, communication and organizational skills. Other critical
skills required include the ability to multi-task; with multiple groups
and diverse communities, and proficiency in MS Office. - Ability
to work weekends, evenings and statutory holidays. - Some
heavy lifting required.
Note: The Bear
Keeper position is 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Bear Keepers are
expected to coordinate their schedules and time off with other Bear Keeping
staff.
Please send cover
letter and resume to k.cummings@polarbearhabitat.ca
Only applicants we
are considering for interviews will be contacted.
Thank you for your
interest in the Polar Bear Habitat.
