ANIMAL TECHNICIAN

Salary : $13.35 Hourly

Location : LA 70807, LA

Job Type : Full Time Non-Exempt

Job Number : AT2024

Department : Zoo

Opening Date : 06 / 28 / 2024

Closing Date : 7 / 19 / 2024 4 : 59 PM Central

FLSA : Non-Exempt

General Summary

General Summary : The Animal Technician performs animal husbandry which includes feeding animals and cleaning animal facilities.

Requirements and Job Specifications

Education Required : High School Diploma or equivalent

License(s) Required : Valid LA driver's license in good standing. Must be able to obtain a LA driver's license within 60 days of hire.

Years of Relevant Work Experience : 1 year experience in animal care. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

• Knowledge of animal care and basic husbandry skills
• Knowledge of techniques to work with dangerous wild and exotic animals in a controlled environment
• Ability to explicitly follow instructions.
• Ability to recognize abnormal behavior / physical condition of animals.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision
• Ability to work in close proximity to dangerous animals.
• Ability to work outdoors in hot or inclement weather
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in emergency situations
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with management, other employees, volunteers, and zoo guests.

Functions and Duties

Essential Functions and Duties :

• Feeds and handles animals and cleans the exhibits.
• Assures security.
• Recognizes and reports abnormal behavior or physical condition of animals.
• Unloads feed trucks.
• Keeps grounds free of litter.
• Interacts with public.
• Performs oral and written reports.
• Provides enrichment and maintains exhibit furniture.

Secondary Job Duties

• Assists veterinarians.
• Performs public relation duties.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. He or she will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties as requested by his or her supervisor.

Supplemental Information

Full-time position; schedules vary, within the framework of 8 hours / 5 days per week, lunch break daily; Overtime as required.

Must be able to work holidays and weekends, irregular hours and weekends as required.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. If you do not complete each section of this application (i.

e. work experience, education, or etc.) to demonstrate that you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements described in this announcement, your application will be deemed incomplete and you will be ineligible for further consideration for this vacancy.

An offer of employment is contingent on passing a pre-employment criminal background check, Motor Vehicle Records check, drug screen and physical.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email HAdmin@brec.org or call (225) 273-6430.

2024 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

HEALTH INSURANCE : Comprehensive medical benefits including HMO, PPO, and Blue Saver (Qualified High Deductible High Savings Account) and options are provided through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana.

Coverage is effective the first of the month, following two months of employment, a (2 month waiting period). Employee cost per month for HMO : $175.

43 - employee only; $597.45 - employee & spouse or employee & dependent children; $962.52 - family. Employee cost per month for PPO : $375.

23 - employee only; $975.50 - employee & spouse or employee & dependent 162.68.57 - employee & spouse or employee & dependent children;

$290.49 - family. BREC also offers voluntary insurance plans : Dental, Vision, and Supplemental Insurance (Accident, Cancer / Critical Care, Long and Short-term Disability, Term and Whole Life).

LIFE INSURANCE : All full-time employees are insured under a Group Term-Life Insurance policy through Equitable Life Insurance Company a subsidiary of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana.

Coverage is subject to decrease at age 65 and 70. There is no cost to the employee except for salaries more than $50,000 which are subject to the imputed income clause under the IRS regulations.

Coverage is effective immediately.

RETIREMENT SYSTEM : BREC contributions to the City-Parish Employees' Retirement System for each employee amount to 40.32% of salary.

Employees contribute at the rate of 9.5%. Retirement contributions are tax deferred. Personal contributions are kept on account and refunded if employees leave BREC before their retirement.

Additional benefit opportunities are available after 25 years through the DROP program. BREC also offers a Supplemental Retirement DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN through payroll deduction.

HOLIDAYS : BREC employees receive twelve (12) paid holidays per year.

SICK LEAVE : BREC employees accumulate sick leave at the rate of 100 hours per year the first five years they are employed;

accrual of hours will increase based on the number of years of service, thereafter, up to 192 hours for 15 or more years.

Employee is eligible to utilize leave after 30 days of continuous employment.

ANNUAL LEAVE : BREC employees earn annual leave at the rate of 100 hours per year the first five years they are employed;

accrual of hours will increased based on the number of years of service, thereafter, up to 192 hours for 15 or more years.

Employee is eligible to utilize leave after 90 days of continuous employment.

FULL-TIME STATUS : Upon completion of a six-month probationary periods and approval of supervisor, full-time status will be achieved.

EMPLOYEE DISCOUNTS : BREC full-time employees can take advantage of a generous discount. Some restrictions may apply. See the discount policy for more details.

EAP : BREC's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is administered by Hidalgo Health Associates. They EAP helps employees and their family members resolve personal or work-related problems.

CREDIT UNION : BREC employees are eligible to join the City Federal Credit Union and / or Pelican State Credit Union and enlist in payroll deduction plan.

Direct deposit to the Credit Union is also available.

FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS : BREC is a qualifying employer for public service loan forgiveness. Employees who have Federal Direct Loans and have made 120 payments on the Federal Direct Loans (after October 1, 2007) may be eligible for the remaining loan balance to be forgiven.

LA START : This 529 Qualified Tuition savings plan may be open on behalf of a named Beneficiary by anyone, including legal entities, provided that the Account Owner or the Beneficiary is a resident of Louisiana.

Account Owners may save at their own pace, in amounts they can afford.

FSA : BREC offers an FSA that allows employees to contribute a portion of their regular earnings before taxes. Distributions from the account must be used to reimburse the employee for qualified expenses related to medical and dental services.

SUPPLEMENT BENEFITS : BREC offers voluntary benefits through AFLAC or Colonial Life. Those benefits include accident insurance, critical care, life, LTD and STD.

BREC reserves the right to at any time and from time to time to modify or amend, in whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of the benefit package.

Commissioned Approved Benefits Effective January 1, 2024*

Are you 18 or older?

Do you have a valid Louisiana driver's license?

Have you ever volunteered for BREC? Yes or No. If so, in what capacity and what location?

Do you have previous experience working in a close proximity of dangerous animals

if so, what kind of dangerous animals have you worked with?

How many years of experience do you have caring for animals?

Required Question