THIS IS A NON-CIVIL SERVICE POSITION
 

Salary Range:    

$15.00 - $54.60 Hourly
 

Starting Pay:    

$18.00 - $20.00 Hourly

Get to Know Us   
Welcome to the City of Baltimore! Experience the reward of a fulfilling career and enjoy the added element of excitement in a vibrant, diverse atmosphere. The City of Baltimore offers limitless opportunities to help drive social impact, both on the job and in the community, while serving its citizens. Join us in making Baltimore a great place to live and work. In the City of Baltimore, we hire great people and provide them with the skills and opportunities to grow toward their career aspirations. If you are looking for a career change or are interested in learning more, explore our opportunities and benefits programs. We are excited to have you as a part of the City of Baltimore Team! The city offers medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, optional life, AD&D, and FSA plans. This office also supplies wellness programs, support groups, and workshops. You can learn about our benefits here: https://humanresources.baltimorecity.gov/hr-divisions/benefits

Job Summary    
The Animal Care Naturalist at Carrie Murray Nature Center is a professional position with primary responsibility for assisting in the care and maintenance of our animal collection under the guidance of senior staff members. The successful candidate will contribute to the well-being of the animals, assist in educational programs, and ensure that visitors have an engaging and informative experience. Carrie Murray Nature Center is a Baltimore City Recreation and Parks facility located in Gwynns Falls Leakin Park. This position reports to Parks Administrator/Director of Carrie Murray Nature Center. While performing essential functions, the Education Naturalist is regularly required to walk, stand, see, speak, and hear; frequently required to hike, sit, reach, use hands to manipulate objects or tools, and work in all weather conditions; and often required are the abilities to lift, carry, bend, and stoop.

Essential Functions     

• Animal Husbandry: Assist with daily care and cleaning of animal enclosures, including scrubbing, disinfecting, and maintaining appropriate habitats for our diverse collection of animals.
• Health and Behavior Monitoring, Enrichment Implementation: Observe animal behavior and health, reporting any abnormalities to senior staff and taking appropriate action under their guidance. Assist in the development and implementation of enrichment activities to promote the mental and physical well-being of the animals in our care.
• Diet Preparation: Assist in the preparation and delivery of appropriate diets for animals, ensuring proper nutritional standards are met.
• Data Entry: Assist in maintaining accurate records of animal care, including behavior observations, feeding, and health status, in our database.
• Facility Maintenance: Participate in the routine maintenance of animal habitats and general facility upkeep, ensuring that all exhibits are safe and well-maintained for both animals and visitors.
• General Grounds Maintenance: mulching, weeding, weed whacking, trash pickup.
• Cleaning and organization of outdoor spaces: compost area, aviary, outdoor classroom, fire circle, etc., gazebos, etc.
• General cleaning of indoor spaces: kitchen, animal room, bathrooms, lodge, hallways, office
• Public Engagement: Lead or assist with educational programming, including interactive presentations and animal encounters for visitors, both on-site and in outreach programs.
• Assisting in Animal Handling: Work with a variety of animals, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. This includes safely handling animals during educational presentations and ensuring their welfare during off-site outreach events.
• Team Collaboration: Work alongside animal care staff, volunteers, education naturalists, and other departments to ensure a seamless and positive experience for both animals and visitors. Participate in team meetings to discuss care protocols, program development, and animal welfare.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Preference is at least 2 years of college or equivalent.
 

AND
 

Experience: Have two (2) years of related work experience, experience working with animals is preferred, ideally in a zoo, wildlife rehabilitation center, or similar setting. Experience in animal care, wildlife management, or biology is beneficial. A basic understanding of animal behavior, feeding practices, and environmental enrichment techniques.

OR
 

Equivalency Notes: Have an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Licenses, Registrations, and Certificates: Pediatric First Aid/CPR, can be obtained after hire

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities     

• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to develop and implement dynamic educational programs
• Ability to learn new approaches, philosophies, and best practices in environmental education
• Ability to promote and respect diversity of ethnic, cultural, linguistic backgrounds and, physical and mental abilities
• Possession of and ability to transmit enthusiasm about nature and education
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong problem analysis and problem-solving skills
• Ability to build, develop, and maintain strong teams among a variety of constituents
• Ability to work independently
• Proven ability to think creatively, recommend and implement resourceful strategies
• Facility with Microsoft Office Suite, e-mail, and standard office equipment
• Reliable transportation

Additional Information

Background Check    
Eligible candidates under final consideration for appointment to positions identified as positions of trust will be required to complete authorization for a Criminal Background Check and/or Fingerprint screening, and must be successfully completed.

Probation    
All persons, including current City employees, selected for this position must complete a 6-month mandatory probation.

Baltimore City Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. The City of Baltimore prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, ancestry, creed, national origin, disability status, genetics, marital status, military service, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.  Applicants requiring accommodation during the hiring process should contact the Department of Human Resources directly. Requests for accommodation should not be attached to the application.

BALTIMORE CITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER