Seasonal Primate Keeper

The Indianapolis Zoo is hiring a Seasonal Primate Keeper to care for various primates, including chimpanzees and orangutans. Responsibilities include cleaning habitats, preparing enrichment, observing behaviors, and educating visitors. Candidates should have animal care experience, preferably with primates, and must be able to work outdoors under various conditions. This is a temporary 40-hour per week position requiring weekend and holiday availability, with a pay rate of $13.00/hr.
The Indianapolis Zoo’s Primate Department is searching for a seasonal keeper to join our team. This position will primarily care for our chimpanzee, orangutan, baboon, gibbon, and tamarin residents. Duties include cleaning and maintaining animal environments, preparing and distributing daily enrichment, observing animal behavior, ensuring optimal animal welfare, supporting a variety of research activities, and educating zoo guests.


Ideal candidates are committed to advancing the Zoo’s mission to protect nature and inspire people to care for our world. Having a professional attitude and appearance to visitors, volunteers, and co-workers is vital to the position as well as being a team-oriented individual that is temperamentally suited to work with the public and animals. Prior experience working with primates is highly desired. This is a seasonal, 40 hours per week position that requires availability to work weekends, holidays and overtime as needed. Seasonal assignments are temporary in nature and are expected to last approximately six (6) months with a pay rate of $13.00/ hr.


Position Requirements and Experience (Note: there are strenuous physical requirements to this position including but not limited to):



Minimum of one (1) year animal care experience, preferably with primates, is preferred. College course work in a suitable animal-related field may be substituted for work experience.
Demonstrates patience, gentleness, respect, and consistency with animals in their care.
Displays a professional attitude and appearance to visitors, volunteers, and co-workers.
Completes daily husbandry tasks and recordkeeping.
Ability to work outdoors and indoors under all environmental conditions and temperatures.
Ability to transport and move items, exerting at least 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/ or up to 50 pounds of force frequently.
Ability to ascend/ descend ladders, steps, and uneven terrain, while maintaining body equilibrium while performing various jobs.
Ability to crouch, bend, kneel for prolonged periods of time.
Exceptional visual acuity is required, along with the ability to communicate, comprehend, and decipher information accurately, using a two-way radio.
Possible occupational exposure (Category B employee) to human bloodborne pathogens. Possible exposure to dangerous chemicals (e.g. chlorine bleach, cleaning agents, etc.) Must follow Universal Protection Precautions and Bloodborne Pathogens Guidelines.
High school diploma or equivalent is required. Bachelor’s degree in a Life Science area from an accredited college/university in life sciences is strongly preferred.