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Animal Care Naturalist

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Animal Care Naturalist

Salary

$24.76 Hourly

Location

Asheville, NC

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

2025-01642

Department

Community and Regional Entertainment Facilities

Division

WNC Nature Center

Opening Date

07/24/2025

Closing Date

8/14/2025 5:00 PM Eastern

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Summary

About our opportunity:

The City of Asheville is seeking qualified applicants for a full-time position of Animal Care Naturalist in the Western North Carolina Nature Center. The primary purpose of this position is to provide daily husbandry of a collection of animals as it relates to their physiological and psychological well-being as well as providing general maintenance of enclosures and habitats within an assigned exhibit. They are also responsible for ensuring a positive guest experience at the WNC Nature Center.

What you’ll be doing:

+ Provides daily animal care, including feeding, preparing food, evaluating animal welfare, and developing enrichment programs for a variety of animals.

+ Implements and ensures adherence to safety protocols for staff, animals, and guests, covering emergencies, hazardous chemicals, and zoonotic diseases.

+ Maintains a continuously safe working environment around potentially dangerous animals.

+ Assists with veterinary care, including medication administration, animal capture and restraint, and monitoring vital signs.

+ Performs routine habitat maintenance, including cleaning, waste removal, tree trimming, mowing, and maintaining perimeters and equipment.

+ Maintains animal records and documentation, recording observations, diet, enrichment, training, medications, and health changes.

+ Supervises volunteers, implements community education and outreach, and operates various tools and equipment.

Benefits:

+ Salary: $24.76 Hourly

+ 13 paid holidays, plus you will earn paid sick and vacation hours.

+ Full access to the City of Asheville's benefit suite including Medical, Dental, and Life insurance options.

+ Enrollment in the North Carolina State Pension Plan and NC State 401K with company matching funds.

About you:

We know your time is valuable. Applicants who meet the following minimum requirements or have comparable experience and/or education will be considered:

+ Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science or a related field required.

+ Minimum of one year of work experience in the animal care field.

+ Experience with animal care and operant conditioning in a zoological setting (AZA accredited zoo preferred).

+ Experience working around Class 1 animals such as bears, big cats, large canid.

+ Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

+ Possess a current CPR/First Aid Certification is preferred or the ability to obtain within one (1) month of hire.

Persons of all genders and races are encouraged to apply.

Other things to know:

Work Schedule: 40 hours a week, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Application Details: Applications will be accepted until August 14, 2025 at 5:00 pm.

About us: The City of Asheville is dedicated to providing quality service for the residents and visitors of our beautiful city, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. Asheville, NC is a thriving mountain city that has a culture enriched by its diversity. The City of Asheville values and respects a diverse community, workforce and ideas, and is committed to promoting an equitable, fair, and just employment environment. Our organization seeks to create and provide access and opportunities to employees, residents and visitors to fulfill their potential through inclusive engagement practices, relationship building and an authentic sense of belonging. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status. The City of Asheville is proud to be a second chance employer. The City of Asheville is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

To view our comprehensive benefits package, click here (https://www.ashevillenc.gov/department/human-resources/compensation-and-benefits/) .

01

Select your highest level of education:

+ High School/GED

+ Associates Degree

+ Bachelors Degree

+ Masters Degree

+ Doctorate

02

Do you have a valid driver's license?

+ I do not have a current driving license of any kind.

+ I do possess a current valid driver's license (Standard License)

+ I do possess a current valid Class B CDL driver's license with endorsements

+ I do possess a current valid Class A CDL driver's license with endorsements

+ I do not have a current CDL license, but I can attain one in the next 6 months.

03

Do you have a Bachelor's degree or higher in Animal Science or a related field?

+ Yes

+ No

04

Indicate your work experience in the animal care field.

+ 3 years or more

+ 2 years

+ 1 year

+ less than one year

05

Do you have previous experience working around Class 1 animals such as bears, big cats, large canid?

+ Yes

+ No

06

Describe your experience with animal care and operant conditioning in a zoological setting, specify if the setting was AZA accredited.

07

Do you possess a current CPR/First Aid Certification, or are you able to obtain one within one (1) month of hire?

+ Yes

+ No

Required Question

Employer

City of Asheville

Address

City of Asheville PO Box 7148 Asheville, North Carolina, 28802

Phone

828-259-5690 - Apply Online! - EOE

Website

http://www.ashevillenc.gov/jobs