Back to jobs
New

Living Collections Animal Keeper – Part time

Boston, MA

Museum of Science, Boston

www.mos.org

Innovation and creativity come from the unique perspectives of a diverse staff. We value your perspective.


 

Who We Are

As science and technology increasingly shape our lives, the Museum of Science strives to equip and inspire everyone to use science for the global good while keeping up with the pace of change.   Among the world’s largest science centers and New England’s most attended cultural institution, we engage nearly five million people a year – at Science Park and in museums around the world, in classrooms, and online.

The Museum’s singular location connecting Boston and Cambridge puts us at the junction of some of the world’s most influential academic institutions and industries, local and state government, schools, and the public. Trusted by each sector, we are ideally positioned to convene, inspire, and create meaningful experiences for all.  Come join us on our mission to inspire a lifelong love of science in everyone and living our vision for a world where science belongs to each of us for the good of all of us.

Why We Need You

This part-time position (working every Friday & Saturday) is critical to maintain the care and upkeep for a diverse collection of animals living here at the Museum of Science.

What You’ll Accomplish

  • Performs a full range of animal care duties, in a professional manner necessary to ensure the health and welfare of a diverse collection of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish and invertebrates and to further ensure all animal husbandry conforms to Museum protocols, meets government regulations and the AZA accreditation standards.
  • Performs routine cleaning and maintenance related to animal exhibits, public spaces and off exhibit spaces to ensure these are kept in a neat, well organized and in a safe manner.
  • Actively work to enhance animal welfare through assessments, training, and enrichment projects to ensure world class animal care that meets or exceeds Museum protocols, USDA requirements and AZA standards.
  • Actively engage visitors in life science/conservation subjects by the development and presentation of living collections programs and interpretations in support of the Museum’s mission and overall guest experience.
  • Assists in monitoring animal use and animal spaces to ensure all activities are carried out in a safe manner and that we are consistently meeting the Museum standards, USDA policies, and AZA best practices.
  • Provide routine care of live plants within animal enclosures and public spaces as needed in assigned work areas.

What We’re Looking For (Competencies)

  • Looking for an individual with great observation skills to notice changes in animal behavior and body language that can lead to solutions to challenges the individual animal faces in a timely manner.
  • Must be physically able to meet the needs of the job including but not limited to hand and eye coordination for preparing diets and handling medication, the ability to kneel, squat, and crawl trough enclosures when needed for cleaning and servicing, the ability to carry supplies and animals, climb up and down a ladder/stool, and work in warm humid environments,
  • Have a comfort level and drive to create unique conservation themed programing for our guests. This includes assisting with formal programming on the Science Live Stage and informal encounters on the Museum floor utilizing our living collection.
  • Should be able to work independently when needed but be an active member of our team. This includes giving and receiving constructive feedback, taking responsibility for actions and communicating during conservations and team meetings
  • Basic understanding of animal husbandry and welfare needs with a desire and willingness to continually learn and grow through professional development.

 

How We Work-Our Values

Everyone: We are everyone’s museum.  We pursue equity and celebrate every person for who they are.  We foster an inclusive environment in which we value and respect diversity.

Service: We serve our colleagues and community.  We hold ourselves accountable to be a trustworthy public resource, and to support a sustainable, just and evidence-based future.

Learning: We love learning.  We are curious about the world and want to share our joy and wonder with others.  We value open minds and recognize that everyone has more to explore, discover and create.

Connection: We find strength in connections.  We collaborate across communities, organizations and disciplines to make science relevant and accessible to all.

Boldness: We dream big.  We boldly push ourselves forward, pursuing new ideas and challenges.  We experiment and learn from our failures as we seek to inspire purpose, spark imagination and encourage hope.

Salary Range

$17 - $21 USD

 
The Museum of Science is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and where employees are treated with respect and dignity.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf


Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Museum of Science’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.