Ambassador Animal Keeper III in Draper, Utah at The Living Planet Aquarium
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Job Description
Position: Keeper III – Ambassador Programs
Reports To: Curator of Ambassador Programs
Salary starting at: $20.00/hr
Why Utah?
Utah is home to five national parks, world-class skiing and snowboarding, hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, and stunning deserts, mountains, and lakes, all within easy driving distance. Outdoor adventure is part of everyday life. The Salt Lake Valley consistently ranks high for safety, clean communities, short commute times, and family-friendly amenities. Draper offers a balance of suburban comfort and urban access, with downtown Salt Lake City just 15 minutes away. Enjoy all four seasons without extremes—sunny summers, colorful falls, snowy winters, and mild springs, perfect for both outdoor recreation and city living. Utah’s communities are known for being engaged, supportive, and service-oriented, making it easy for newcomers to feel at home.
About Loveland Living Planet Aquarium:
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (LLPA) is a mission-driven institution dedicated to inspiring people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems. Founded in 1997, the Aquarium provides impactful educational experiences for guests of all ages and backgrounds.
Since opening its Draper, Utah facility in 2014, LLPA has welcomed more than 10 million visitors and delivered over 650,000 educational experiences to students. Home to over 4,000 animals representing 650 species, the Aquarium features immersive habitats from around the world, including coral reefs, kelp forests, the deep ocean, Antarctic waters, tropical rainforests, Asian cloud forests, and Utah’s freshwater ecosystems.
Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2019, LLPA is in an exciting phase of growth. With the opening of the Sam and Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center, the Aquarium became the largest in the Mountain West and the fifth largest aquarium in the continental United States, offering expanded opportunities for education, research, and professional impact.
Position Summary:
The LLPA is expanding! With the upcoming expansion set to open in Spring 2025 we are excited to seek candidates with a background in ambassador animal and bird of prey care to join our team to head our new bird show program. The position includes all aspects of animal care under the direction of the Curator of Ambassador Programs.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Cleaning and maintenance of equipment, supplies, animal habitats, and support spaces associated with the ambassador animal collections.
- Monitoring and maintaining appropriate environmental parameters for the ambassador animal collection.
- Providing high level animal care and nutrition to all animals within the ambassador animal collection.
- Monitoring and assisting in responding to signs of illness/injury, stress, or other factors that may impact animal health and wellbeing.
- Maintaining all necessary records and reviewing those records regularly in support of ensuring excellent animal care.
- Responsible for supporting institutional and industry best practice standards and procedures.
- Supports excellent animal wellbeing through providing enriching environments interactions and behaviors supporting animal health.
- Mentoring and training colleagues in areas of expertise to expand team skillsets.
- Working closely with the Education Team to train and maintain best practice animal handling behaviors in support of the Aquarium’s mission to inspire.
Experience and Qualifications:
- Two or four-year degree in zoological or biological sciences. Candidates with a suitable combined equivalent of education and hands-on experience will be considered.
- 4+ years of paid experience in the field of ambassador animal care at a zoological facility.
- Experience with the husbandry and care of bird of prey species, ideally in a show setting.
Critical Competencies:
- Demonstrated expertise in the following fields: Flighted bird shows, experience with training non-releasable rehab raptors, and experience caring for a variety of invertebrate and herptile species is highly preferred.
- Good interpersonal verbal and written communication skills, and ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
- Good public speaking and presenting skills, while displaying animals in a manner that inspires and connects with guests.
- Ability to troubleshoot issues with a high attention to detail.
- Maintain a consistent professional attitude, high motivation, and ability to accept feedback.
- Interest in developing efficiency, good time management, and demonstrated desire for growth.
- Knowledge of ZIMS software is a plus.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
- Valid driver’s license.
- Must possess current, negative TB test results or obtain prior to start.
Special Working Conditions:
- Outdoor and indoor environments in varying weather conditions including: elevated platforms, uneven surfaces, enclosed spaces, noisy workspaces, seasonal heat and cold.
- Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs, ability to stand for long periods of time, ability to walk up and down ladders, ability to work with various cleaning chemicals, ability to operate power tools or heavy machinery, ability to drive aquarium vehicles.
While this job description attempts to describe the essential functions of the position, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. It does not restrict management’s right to assign or reassign duties or responsibilities to this job at any time. The overall work environment while performing this job includes exposure to weather conditions and the noise level is usually moderate. The employee is expected to adhere to all policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies.