Butterfly/ Insect Keeper

**: The Butterfly House Attendant position is critical and unique to the new Butterfly Pavilion. While in the Butterfly Pavilion, the important duties are making the visitors feel welcome, answering questions, and, of course, making sure the butterflies don’t get out This is one of our most popular positions because of the tranquility of the Butterfly House. Attendants are encouraged to develop their butterfly knowledge and species identification skills as they work with us.

**Specific Responsibilities**:
**Animal Care and Welfare**:

- Provide daily care and husbandry for a variety of butterfly and insect species, ensuring their physical and psychological well-being.
- Monitor and maintain appropriate habitat conditions, including temperature, humidity, lighting, and ventilation, to support the health of the insects.
- Monitor the insects' behavior, eating habits, and overall appearance to identify any signs of illness or distress.
- Administer appropriate diets, supplements, and medications as directed by the veterinarian or supervisor.

**Habitat Maintenance**:

- Clean and sanitize enclosures, habitats, and equipment regularly to maintain a safe and hygienic environment for the insects.
- Set up and arrange habitats with appropriate plants, substrates, and enrichment items to stimulate natural behaviors and ensure a visually appealing exhibit.

**Breeding and Reproduction**:

- Assist in the management of breeding programs for select species, including egg collection, mating observations, and rearing of larvae.
- Maintain detailed records of breeding activities, development stages, and other relevant data for record-keeping and research purposes.

**Educational Programming**:

- Engage with visitors by providing informative and engaging presentations about butterflies and insects, their ecological importance, and their role in the environment.
- Answer questions from visitors, schools, and tour groups, sharing your expertise and passion for entomology.
- Greet visitors, provide general information, and answer questions before and during their visit to the Butterfly Pavilion
- Assist and Orient school groups and other parties.
- Ensure that all areas are properly staffed.
- Escort visitors while maintaining a friendly, smiling, and interactive attitude.
- Assist with rotation schedule
- Ensure visitors are familiar with the rules and guidelines of the Butterfly Pavilion
- Control the flow of guests in the exhibits.
- Maintain record keeping for departmental activities.
- Assist in planning and execution of special events including classes and programs.
- Ensure that the program animals and enclosures are properly cleaned and maintained, and they receive proper health care and proper handling and behavior training by all staff.
- Ensure a safe visitor experience.
- Maintain exhibit protocols.
- Responsible for opening and closing procedures.
- Maintain and care for live animals and/or educational displays at exhibit when needed.
- Answer questions and provide information regarding other exhibits as required.
- Work closely with the Project Manager, Operations Manager and Exhibit Coordinator to communicate exhibit needs, including service and maintenance issues.
- Responsible for learning the life cycle of the butterfly and specific characteristics of each species to conduct a 20-minute tour for guests of the Butterfly Garden.
- Search for butterfly eggs/caterpillars daily.
- Maintain butterfly displays (cleaning, replenishing food and pinning up new pupae)
- Dusting and cleaning the butterfly house.
- General garden maintenance (watering, pruning, repotting, weeding, dusting etc.)
- General building maintenance (Taking out garbage etc.)
- Other duties as assigned.

**Essential Requirements**:

- General sales and Customer Service experience
- Strong communication skills (verbal & written)
- Strong organizational skills
- Working Flexibility and Ability to multi-task
- Excellent Interpersonal Skills with a friendly, outgoing, and good-humored demeanor
- Ability to work independently with mínimal supervision.
- Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality in all areas of work.
- Dependable and punctual
- Ability to work in various environments, including working outdoors and with insects both alive and dead.
- Provide daily care for butterfly house animals. Including cleaning of habitats in exhibit area and behind the scenes.
- Provide daily husbandry for butterfly house animals and monitor their health.
- Record keeping of daily husbandry, maintenance actions and animal health.
- Maintain compliance for USDA regulated animals.
- Communicate daily with the other members of the curatorial team.
- Staff public contact positions in exhibit areas and answer questions from the public.
- Present on-site public education programs ('Spineless Spotlights' to visitors)

**Work Environment**:

- Extensive interaction with the public
- Frequent standing, and walking with occasional stair climbing, bending/l