Head Of Reptiles, Amphibians, And Ambassador Animals

65014893

Recruitment Range: $34,936 - $53,202

This position will be located at:  
11 W. Jones Street

Raleigh, NC

Primary Purpose of Position: 

The Head of Reptiles, Amphibians, and Ambassador Animals is essential to the animal care, animal exhibit, and educational activities of the museum's Living Collections section. This position is an animal care professional supervising the operations of the Reptiles, Amphibians, and Ambassador Animals unit. Operational responsibilities include performing and directing the performance of daily animal care, animal habitat and facility upkeep; supervising staff; and inventorying and purchasing supplies and equipment. This position is a subject matter expert in animal care and modern zoological practices, especially as those topics pertain to reptiles and amphibians. This position applies technical knowledge and skill to lead or facilitate a range of specialized functions, such as venomous reptile handling, restraint, and safety.

This position serves in the section leadership team. This position directly supervises a team of three Museum Curator I permanent positions and a varying number of year-round and seasonal temporary positions. This position reports to the Director of Living Collections.

Key Responsibilities:

• Performing and directing the performance of daily animal care operations, coordinating scheduled animal care shifts, and assessing and responding to day-to-day issues.

• Recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, supervising, and developing staff in the Reptiles, Amphibians, and Ambassador Animals unit all aspects of daily operations.

• Coordinating the use and upkeep of animal habitats and animal care facilities including cleaning, maintaining, troubleshooting, installing, and upgrading animal habitats and life support systems.

• Identifying and communicating signs of animal wellbeing and disease and assisting veterinary staff in the medical management of museum animals.

• Creating, reviewing, and maintaining animal records including care logs and animal censuses.

• Using strong verbal and written communication skills to work effectively in a variety of formats and platforms including in person, office software, and an animal records database.

• Working closely with members of Living Collections, museum veterinarians, and other museum staff to carry out animal welfare evaluations and pursue progressive standards of animal care.

• Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to carry out animal transactions necessary to meet the museum's collection planning goals.

• Leading or facilitating a range of important Living Collections functions, including Ambassador Animal handling, training, and use; venomous reptile handling and safety; inventory and purchasing for animal food, bedding, and other section resources.

• Cross-training staff from other Living Collections units in the core unit operations of the Reptiles, Amphibians, and Ambassador Animals unit and coordinating the reciprocal cross-training of supervised staff.

• Designing, coordinating, and delivering a range of educational programs and guest experiences such as keeper talks, live animal presentations, and animal care internships.

• Working on-site and in person, including frequent weekends, some holidays, and inclement weather as required.

• Responding to after-hours and emergency calls on a 24-hour, 365-day basis to ensure the wellbeing of Museum animals.

Position/Physical Requirements:

• Ability to obtain certification in first aid and CPR within 90 days of employment.

• Valid N.C. driver's license or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of employment.

• Regularly lift over 40 pounds.

• Climb stairs and ladders.

• Work in tight spaces.

• Operate motor vehicles during the day and night.

• Endure outdoor field conditions at any time of year.

• Negotiate uneven terrain on foot.

• Eligible to apply for and receive relevant permits and licenses from state and federal agencies.

To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must provide the information on the application form. Any information omitted from the application form, listed as general statements, listed under the text resume section, or on an attachment will not be considered for qualifying credit. 

Qualified candidates must have or be able to:

• Demonstrated experience providing animal care in a professional setting including the housing, nutrition, husbandry, or health management of a range of animals.

• Demonstrated knowledge of modern practices for animal care and welfare, including the practices and standards used by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and other professional bodies.

• Demonstrated experience recognizing and monitoring signs of health and wellbeing in animals under human care.

• Demonstrated experience in handling live animals, including venomous reptiles.

• Demonstrated experience in the supervision and direction of staff members.

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an "equivalent combination of education and experience." If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See of oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details. 

Bachelor's degree in Art History, Biology, Botany, Conservation, Education, History or Zoology from an appropriately accredited institution and four years of museum or related work,

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience.The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) takes care of the things that people love about North Carolina, literally from A to Z. The Arts to the Zoo, and so much else - parks, aquariums, historic sites, archaeology, African American Heritage Commission, science and history museums, the state Symphony, Library and Archives, historic preservation, land and water stewardship, and more. These places, and the ideas they represent, create a shared identity in North Carolina. They provide common ground. Everyone is welcome. The Department's vision is to be the leader in using the state's natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational, and economic future of North Carolina. Our goal is to promote equity and inclusion among our employees and our programming to reflect and celebrate our state's diverse population, culture, and history. We encourage you to apply to become a part of our team. Check out this amazing video about our Department.  

Section/Unit Description: 

The Living Collections Section is responsible for the daily care of more than one thousand live animals representing 200 species, including many arthropods, freshwater and marine fish, reptiles and amphibians, as well as a few species of birds and mammals. Animal exhibits feature species from North Carolina and around the world. We deliver a range of guest-facing programs, curate a substantial collection of Ambassador Animals, care for live plants, and collaborate with other museum sections to celebrate nature and advance science.

The Reptiles, Amphibians, and Ambassador Animals Unit cares for a wide range of live animals, from arthropods to birds and mammals but especially amphibians and reptiles. The unit maintains self-guided live animal exhibits of North Carolina's native species - from salamanders to rattlesnakes - and exhibits on the global biodiversity of amphibians and reptiles. The unit cares for the Ambassador Animal collection and facilitates the use of ambassadors in educational programs and other staff-guided animal experiences.

Division Description: 

The State's Museum devoted to science and nature, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in central Raleigh, is the largest institution of its kind in the Southeastern United States and, with over a million visitors a year, the state's most visited museum. Its 300,000 square foot downtown campus is augmented by Prairie Ridge Ecostation and branch facilities in Whiteville, Greenville, and Contentnea Creek. Together, they provide a variety of curriculum-focused classes onsite, offsite, outdoors, and online for pre-kindergarten through graduate students across the state.

As a museum of nature, we integrate the dual concepts of illumination and inspiration with the work we do and the many stories we tell. In a time of unprecedented environmental challenges, nothing could be more critical. This nexus of ideas makes us unique. Across three vibrant floors of laboratories and exhibitions, our Nature Research Center provides an unparalleled opportunity to see science in action by watching museum researchers studying the natural world in real time. In the Nature Exploration Center, exhibits and live animal displays reveal North Carolina's rich natural habitats, wildlife, and geology from the Appalachian Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean.

Our programs and activities impact people in all the state's one hundred counties. We develop a variety of exhibits to share with institutions across North Carolina and support other museums by administering the North Carolina Science Museums Grant Program. We also engage the state's students indirectly by providing professional development training for teachers, research opportunities for classrooms, and outdoor learning environments on school campuses.

DNCR selects applicants for employment based on required education and experience and job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age (40 or older), disability, National Guard or veteran status, genetic information, political affiliation, or political influence.

Please be sure to complete the application in full. Resumes may be uploaded with your application but will not be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application and will not be considered for qualifying credit. "See Resume" or "See Attachment" will NOT be accepted.

Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.

Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions, you must provide supporting information within the "Work Experience" section of the application, to support your answers.

Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.? Transcripts, and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application.

To obtain veterans preference, you must scan and upload a copy of your DD-214 or discharge orders.

Applicants requesting and receiving an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are eligible to submit paper applications via mail or by fax. Please call the human resources office for assistance.

If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM on the closing date.

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for the qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks. 

It is the policy of the State of North Carolina and the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources that all employees provide proof of employment eligibility (immigration and naturalization) on the first day of employment. We participate in E-Verify (Employment Eligibility Verification System).

CONTACT INFORMATION: 

N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

Division of Human Resources

Melissa Riley

109 E Jones Street

Phone:  919-814-6670 

employment@dncr.nc.gov

Technical issues submitting your application, please call the NeoGov Help Line at 855-524-5627.