Assistant Curator – Family Farm

Interested in joining Milwaukee County? Milwaukee County is searching for authentic people who are out to change the game and bring their whole selves to work every day.

Milwaukee County oversees operations from our Airport, Behavioral Health, Child Support Enforcement, Combined Court Operations, Sheriffs Department, Community Reintegration Center, Human Services, Parks, Public Safety, Public Works, Fleet Operations, Transportation, and at the Zoo. Our departments are also dedicated to our Seniors in the Department on Aging, those with Disabilities, and Veterans Affairs. Our employees also remain committed to serve the cultural, human, recreational and social needs of the entire community.

Milwaukee County offers a wide variety of interesting jobs for people who want to make a difference in our community. Milwaukee County provides a competitive benefit package and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If disability related accommodations are needed, please contact 414-278-3936.

We are searching for Changemakers to come and join our team and discover our diverse and versatile community of independent spirits and unique talents, we are redefining the way you think about Milwaukee County!

Closing Date: November 14, 2024 @ 11:00pm CST, or upon the receipt of 50 application submissions.

Assistant Curator – Family Farm

Department: Zoo

Full-time, Salary

Salary Range: $52,873.60 – $60,964.80/yr

Job Summary

This role manages a dynamic team of animal care professionals, ensuring high standards of animal care, health and safety, quality control, and respectful workplace behavior. Responsible for the coordination and quality control of daily husbandry routines, team dynamics, animal well-being, public engagement, and tidiness of assigned facilities. Program oversight includes training and enrichment programs, education ambassador animals, animal encounters, goat feeding, dairy production and public milking demos. This is a working management role over a single Animal Division sub-department which may oversee Zookeepers, Heritage Farm Attendants, seasonal employees, interns and volunteers.

Job Responsibilities

• Animal Care & Health – Supervise, coordinate and participate in the daily care of assigned zoo animals ensuring high standards of animal care, health and safety, and quality control. Order, prepare and present approved diets. Observe, evaluate, record and report animal activities, behavior and physical condition with consideration of patterns and natural history. Collaborate with veterinary team to promote animal health and nutrition. Train, manually restrain, capture and/or transport animals to facilitate medical procedures. Administer approved medications and treatments as prescribed.
• Behavioral Husbandry & Welfare – Facilitate and participate in animal training and enrichment programs in alignment with established targets for species behavior and wellbeing. Coordinate welfare assessments for assigned animal population in accordance with established standards.
• Leadership & Human Resources – Supervise the work and performance of the Family Farm team, providing leadership through motivation, engagement, feedback, support and development. Maximize employee and team effectiveness. Schedule and direct work assignments and authorize time recording. Coordinate the recruitment, hiring, orientation, training, and evaluation of the team. Train animal care professionals, seasonal employees, and education staff in ambassador animal care and handling. Maintain a positive culture of collaboration, accountability, and respectful behavior.
• Operational Oversight – Coordinate and direct Family Farm contractors including the farrier, milk hauler, field representatives, equipment techs, beekeeper, and animal vendors. Serve as animal area liaison for assigned sub-department. Support the curators with feedback for collection planning, budgets, facility design, husbandry programs, and employee performance evaluation. Procure supplies and maintain supply inventory to operate and service the farm milking equipment and animal collection. Coordinate the acquisition and disposition of the Family Farm animal population in accordance with established standards. 
• Facilities Management – Coordinate the tidiness, hygiene, and maintenance of animal enclosures, service areas, milking equipment and surrounding facilities. Operate and maintain animal life-support systems and environmental controls. Identify and report maintenance and pest control needs.
• Administration & Records – Report and maintain daily records (e.g., animal feeding habits, diets, breeding behavior, health status, physical conditions, enrichment and training) for quality control and preservation in the Zoo Information Management System (ZIMS). Complete and maintain copies of work orders and other records regarding the operation and use of the animal area facilities.
• Public Engagement – Proactively engage with volunteers and visitors to enhance their experience. Conduct formal and informal public presentations including: animal care, natural history, conservation and research. Assist in the training of educators, tour guides and volunteers. Maintain positive, collaborative relationships with maintenance, grounds, creative, and all other Zoo departments.
• Ability to properly or safely operate: County vehicles, snow blowers, incubators, waterers, milking equipment, hand tools, power tools, laboratory equipment, computers and general office equipment.
• Ability to push and pull up to 25 lbs.; ability to carry and lift up to 75 lbs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education, License/Certification and Experience

• Valid Driver’s License required and must be maintained throughout employment
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Biology, Animal Science, Zoology, Wildlife Conservation/Management, Marine Biology or a closely related field required
• Five (5) years or more of Animal Care work experience at an accredited Zoo facility required
• One (1) year or more of Leadership, Supervision or Management experience required
• Intermediate knowledge of Zoological Information Management Systems (ZIMS) required
• Intermediate knowledge of all related computer and software applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Teams required

Preferred Education, License/Certification and Experiences

• Previous experience using InTime, Dayforce, Cityworks and Infor preferred

NOTE: This Original application is open to qualified residents of the United States. Appointee must establish Wisconsin State residency within six (6) months of starting date. Candidates need to submit a full account of their training and experience (i.e., by submitting an up-to-date resume or by fully completing the application) during the application process and may also be asked to take additional written or performance tests as part of the selection process. APPLICANTS MUST POSSESS THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AT THE TIME OF FILING AN APPLICATION.

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Milwaukee County is committed to fostering an equitable working environment, free from discrimination and harassment, on the basis of any characteristic protected by law. We prohibit any form of discrimination, harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, pregnancy related condition, national origin, age, disability, FMLA status, sexual orientation, military status, marital status, or any other category or status that is now or in the future protected by federal, state, and local law. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing, background checks and pre-employment physicals subject to job requirements. If special accommodations are needed, please contact 414-278-3936.

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