Animal Keeper Associate

About The Role & Team

At Walt Disney World, caring for animals and the environment is integral to our mission. The Animals, Science and Environment team aims to lead our parks in animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and fostering connections to nature. We seek an Animal Keeper Associate to join the Elephant team at Disney's Animal Kingdom. This full-time position involves partnering with zoological managers and fellow keepers to support the care, health, management, behavior training, and enrichment activities of a mixed-sex, multi-generational African elephant herd.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform daily tasks such as cleaning enclosures, observing animals, preparing diets, and administering medications, and report any abnormalities to zoological managers.
• Maintain accurate daily records, logging observations and data, communicating findings to management, and updating the central record system at Animal Kingdom.
• Collaborate within a multidisciplinary team including maintenance, horticulture, veterinary, operations, educators, and scientists, and possibly develop skills in caring for other animal species.
• Engage with guests and cast members to share animal information and promote conservation messages.
• Work conditions involve physical labor outdoors in Central Florida weather, including heat and humidity.
• Work various shifts including early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays as required.

Qualifications & Skills

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds as necessary in the work environment.
• Skilled in animal observation, assessment, and data collection.
• Strong guest service and interpersonal communication abilities.
• Educational and experience requirements (minimum of one of the following):
  • At least 1 year paid keeper experience at an AZA-accredited or equivalent institution along with two years of college coursework focused on zoology, animal science, biology, or related fields.
  • Or 2 years of paid keeper experience in a similar accredited institution plus 1 year (30 semester hours) of relevant college coursework.
• Preferred qualifications include an Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Biology or related discipline, experience working with large terrestrial mammals especially elephants, practical experience with operant conditioning, and computer literacy.

Compensation and Benefits

The hourly pay range for this role in Lake Buena Vista, Florida is $20.60 to $25.75. Actual pay is influenced by factors such as location, knowledge, skills, and experience. Benefits may include health coverage, financial plans, education opportunities, and exclusive perks provided by Disney.

Additional Information

Disney's benefits package supports workforce wellness and development. The role demands readiness for physical outdoor work and varied schedules including weekends and holidays.