Temporary Hiring List - Animal Care Specialists Aides - Aquatics

Submit your on-line application for this opportunity no later than March 24, 2025!

This is a union, full-time, temporary aide position, grade U651. The hourly rate for this position is $27.17/hour (effective 4/1/25). Our Benefits Summary Information (for this position, please refer to the union temporary aide employee section): Benefits Table Or copy and paste this link in your browser: www.brookfieldzoo.org/custom.czs/files/06/06337b2c-b3db-45a2-8eb2-f8362486bd0e.pdf

Preferred animal experience: Prior experience working with marine fish, invertebrates, and corals in a captive setting preferred as is experience building and maintaining small aquatic systems. Good understanding of water quality parameters. SCUBA certification preferred.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago is currently soliciting on-line applications from qualified and experienced animal care professionals for placement on our hiring list for temporary (aide) positions. The list will be used to select candidates for temporary full-time animal care specialist aide positions which arise due to employee absences, leaves, and position vacancies. These temporary assignments may range from several days or weeks to several months, or more, depending on the particular assignment. Placement on the temporary hiring list does not guarantee employment.

Qualified individuals selected for consideration will be placed on the list for a period of up to 6 months, covering June 2025 through November 2025. These individuals may be contacted for temporary positions as they become available during that time. Individuals wishing to be considered for a longer period of time must reapply to be considered!

Placement on the list will be based on Brookfield Zoo Chicago's assessment of each candidate's skills, experience, ability, training, availability, and other job-related criteria. Temporary full-time Animal Care Specialist Aides receive valuable hands-on zookeeping experience and may apply and be considered for regular, full-time animal care positions, as they become available.

Temporary animal care specialist aides generally must be available to being within 14 days or less of receiving notice and must be able to work rotating schedules, which includes weekends and holidays. A Bachelor's Degree in zoology, animal science, or other biological field is preferred; a practical understanding of the principles of animal behavior; good interpersonal, communication, and decision-making skills; and a valid driver's license are required. Prior experience as a zookeeper or in an animal care facility, farm, kennel or other relevant experience is required. Additional qualification and experience may be preferred or required depending upon the specific animals and work area. Generally, previous experience working with those animals will be preferred.

All candidates selected to the Temporary Hiring Lists must undergo a complete background and professional reference check to be included on the list, following interviews.

In order to be considered, submit your on-line application for this opportunity, and each animal area of interest, no later than March 24, 2025.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

If interested in being considered for this opportunity, please visit our Career Center to obtain more details about the position and to apply by submitting your profile. Please visit our website at www.brookfieldzoo.org/careers.

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We are pleased that you are considering joining our temporary hiring list at this time. If you join us in an aide role, below is a summary of Brookfield Zoo Chicago's generous employee benefits.

Union Temporary Aide-level Employees

Union Temporary Aide employees are considered full-time employees and are eligible for coverage under the Teamster's Health and Welfare Benefits Plan.

Time away from work

Personal days:

Union employees receive three (3) personal days per year. Personal days are pro-rated for the first year of employment based on date of hire. All personal days must be used by December 31 of the calendar year or by the end of the employee's temporary assignment, whichever comes first.

Sick time:

Employees who work 8-hour or 10-hour days accrue based on the equivalent of 80 hours (10 days) of sick time per year. Sick time is accrued on a per pay-period basis. For an employee who works an 8-hour day, they earn 3.08 hours of sick time each pay period. There is no maximum accrual of sick time. Employees who have perfect attendance during a calendar year are awarded two additional sick days.

Holidays: Union employees are eligible for 10 paid holidays per year:

New Year's Day

Martin Luther King Jr Day

President's Day

Memorial Day

Juneteenth

Independence Day

Labor Day

Veteran's Day

Thanksgiving Day

Christmas Day

Medical Insurance: BZC pays 100% of the cost of benefits for bargaining unit employees. There is no cost to the employee. Medical insurance is provided through the Teamsters union. One plan is available. A waiver credit is provided for employees who waive enrollment in medical insurance. Coverage begins following a 90-day waiting period. Coverage continues for 90 days after the employee's date of separation. Employees can also cover their spouse and child(ren) under age 27.

Retirement Savings: A 401(k) savings plan is available for all employees. Choose either pre-tax and/or Roth after-tax contributions. First of the quarter following one year of service, eligible employees receive matching contributions of 50% of the first 6% you contribute.

Other Benefits & Perks for All Employees (unless otherwise noted)

Advanced Inquiry Degree Program

Brookfield Zoo Chicago has partnered with Project Dragonfly at Miami University of Ohio to bring an exciting Master's degree program to the Chicagoland area. The Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) is an inquiry-driven learning experience, allowing participants to take classes from Miami University faculty. Enrollment is open to applicants with a bachelor's degree, regardless of academic major or profession. This program is designed for teachers and other education professionals.

BZC University

The Zoo offers a variety of training, both on-site and via virtual classes and e-learning through Brookfield Zoo Chicago University at no cost to employees, including professional development, skill-building courses, conservation topics, zoo and animal-related topics, safety, leadership development, wellness, and much more. Instructors include guest speakers, staff presenters, and outside trainers.

Access Credit Union

Employees are eligible immediately upon employment to participate in the credit union. The minimum balance is $5. Savings are insured up to $100,000, and savings accounts, new and used car loans, personal loans, student loans, and much more are available.

Blackhawk Work Perks

Special offers on Chicago Blackhawks games. Tickets start at $30.

Discounted Membership at Loyola Center for Fitness

Corporate discount members receive $0 enrollment and 25% off individual dues. Monthly pricing is subject to the number of people on the membership.

Discounted Day Care

Discounted day care is available through a partnership with KinderCare Education to provide discounted childcare benefits for employees. Covered brands include KinderCare Learning Centers, Children's Creative Learning Center, Inc. (CCLC), and Champions before and after-school care programs. Employees with children enrolled at a participating center save 10% on childcare tuition for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years available at over 100 locations throughout the greater Chicago metropolitan area.

Employee Discounts

Employees may benefit from "Working Advantage," an employee discount program, which offers a wide variety of discounts to staff.

Enterprise-Rent-A-Car

Discounts are available to staff members through Enterprise-Rent-A-Care for their personal use.

Free Flu Vaccines

Each year the Zoo offers free, on-site flu vaccinations to all full-time and regular part-time employees.

Free Admission and Parking

Free admission and parking privileges are provided to Non-Union Full-Time Employees and Union Full-Time Employees only and their immediate family members of BZC employees who have completed the required paperwork.

Free Admission to Other Cultural Institutions

The Zoo has reciprocal agreements with other major Chicagoland cultural institutions which allow employees and certain guests to receive free admission and/or parking pursuant to BZC's policy.

Free Notary Public Service

Several staff are commissioned Notary Publics and provide free notary services to BZC staff.

Freebie Table

Consistent with our conservation ethic, we have a "Freebie" table where staff can place unused/unwanted items that still have value for other staff members to claim. This has been a great way to recycle/upcycle by making unused items available to others.

Little Free Library: Take a Book. Share a Book.

The Zoo has a "Little Free Library" book exchange. If an employee sees a book they would like to read, they can take it, or they may donate a book they have finished. When they are done, they can return it to the Little Free Library or leave it at another Little Free Library location for others to enjoy.

Zoo Day Camp Discount

Zoo staff who register their child(ren) for Summer Camp at Brookfield Zoo Chicago receive a discounted price for a week of camp for each child registered. The discount is limited to immediate family members only (grandchildren included). Lunch and T-shirts are not discounted.

Zoo Discounts

Employee discounts are available on BZC gift shop and restaurant purchases, including 25 cent drinks when the Zoo-issued drink cup is used.

• Chicago Zoological Society | Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Rd, Brookfield, Illinois, United States of America