Temporary Hiring List – Animal Care Specialists - Birds

Submit your on-line application for this opportunity no later than March 17, 2024!
Preferred animal experience: Prior experience working with birds in a captive setting.
The Brookfield Zoo bird collection is focused on population sustainability and the continued development and improvement of avian husbandry standards. Being a northern institution where a large portion of our birds are housed indoors much of our collection is comprised of passerines. We maintain a large number of off exhibit breeding aviaries where we work with multiple pairs of many of the species housed at the Zoo. We have a strong presence in the AZA bird community, managing the SSP’s for the red-capped cardinal, blue-grey tanager, silver-beaked tanager, snowy owl, crested guineafowl, and red-billed hornbill. We also have strong involvement in the PACCT (Passeriformes, Apodiformes, Coliiformes, Caprimulgiformes, and Trogoniformes) TAG.
The Chicago Zoological Society, which operates the Brookfield Zoo, is currently soliciting on-line applications from qualified and experienced Animal Care professionals for placement on our Hiring List for temporary (aide) positions. The list will be used to select candidates for temporary full-time Animal Care specialist aide positions which arise due to employee absences, leaves, and position vacancies. These temporary assignments may range from several days or weeks to several months, or more, depending on the particular assignment. Placement on the Temporary Hiring List does not guarantee employment.
Qualified individuals selected for consideration will be placed on the list for a period of up to 6 months, covering June through November, 2024. These individuals may be contacted for temporary positions as they become available during that time. Individuals wishing to be considered for a longer period of time must reapply to be considered!
Placement on the list will be based on the Society’s assessment of each candidate’s skills, experience, ability, training, availability, and other job-related criteria. The pay rate, effective 4/1/24, for these union positions, is $26.38 per hour. Fringe benefits include only 401K and paid time off. Temporary full-time Animal Care Specialist Aides receive valuable hands-on zookeeping experience and may apply and be considered for regular, full-time Animal Care positions as they become available.

Temporary Animal Care specialist aides generally must be available to being within 14 days or less of receiving notice and must be able to work rotating schedules, which includes weekends and holidays. A Bachelor’s Degree in zoology, animal science, or other biological field is preferred; a practical understanding of the principles of animal behavior; good interpersonal, communication, and decision-making skills; and a valid driver’s license are required. Prior experience as a zookeeper or in an Animal Care facility, farm, kennel or other relevant experience is required. Additional qualification and experience may be preferred or required depending upon the specific animals and work area. Generally, previous experience working with those animals will be preferred.
All candidates selected to the Temporary Hiring Lists must undergo a complete background and professional reference check to be included on the list, following interviews.

In order to be considered, submit your on-line application for this opportunity, and each animal area of interest, no later than March 17th, 2024.
The Chicago Zoological Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Temporary Animal Care Specialist Aides generally must be able to work rotating schedules, which includes weekends and holidays.

Chicago Zoological Society-Brookfield Zoo

60513

Animal Care and Programs

Animal Programs

Union

Rotating Schedule