Commissary Technician

Zoo New England • Boston, MA

10d • $17 • Onsite

About The Position

As a Commissary Technician, you will support animal care by performing a variety of essential tasks, including preparing diets according to established formulas and feeding schedules for our animal collection. Additional responsibilities include inventory management, ordering, stocking, and delivering produce, grains, hay, and other food items to various locations throughout the zoo. While this role does not involve direct animal contact, Commissary Technicians play a vital role in ensuring the health and welfare of the animals. This position follows a 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. schedule, with two days off during the week. Availability to work weekends, holidays, and occasional overtime is required

Zoo New England's mission is to inspire people to protect and sustain the natural world for future generations by creating fun and engaging experiences that integrate wildlife and conservation programs, research, and education. We operate both Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, founded in 1912, and Stone Zoo in Stoneham, founded in 1905. Together, our zoos attract over 1 million guests annually and are currently in an exciting phase of growth, with new exhibits, major events, and impactful projects on the horizon. As part of the Commissary Team within our Animal Health Department, you’ll play a critical role in supporting the wellbeing of thousands of animals across hundreds of species—many of which are endangered in the wild. Zoo New England is home to a passionate and diverse team, and we are committed to making a real difference in animal care and wildlife conservation.

Requirements

• High School diploma or GED.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products, particularly Word, Outlook, Excel and Teams.
• Must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver's license with a safe driving history.
• Must be physically able to work on their feet for long periods and lift over 50lbs.
• Must have a valid drivers' license in good standing and be able to drive a full-size vehicle on public roads
• Must be able and willing to work weekends, holidays, and overtime.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with food preparation, either in an animal care or human food service setting
• Familiarity with animal nutrition or prior experience working with or around animals
• Experience with inventory systems, food stock management, and rotation best practices
• Previous experience in a zoo, aquarium, wildlife facility, or similar setting is a plus

Responsibilities

• Prepares animal diets as directed by veterinarians and animal care staff, using techniques such as thawing, chopping, washing, peeling, boiling, shredding, and weighing.
• Ensures compliance with all safety and sanitation regulations, including those set by OSHA, USDA, AZA, and local health authorities.
• Receives and inspects deliveries for quality, freshness, and accuracy; rejects items that do not meet standards and maintains records of inventory and issues, reporting concerns to the supervisor.
• Makes food deliveries to animal areas and prepares diet items for pick-up; transports Animal Care department's mail and packages; loads and transports heavy objects (including, but not limited to crates, bags of grain and bales of hay); collects and makes deliveries of food stuffs and packages within or between the zoos, or from vendors.
• Works safely in proximity to all taxa, which includes being near mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates, without touching, feeding, engaging, or entering enclosures.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision HMO plans for you and eligible dependents
• 9 paid holidays and 6 personal holidays annually
• Accrual of 10 vacation days and 12 sick days in your first year
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for wellness and mental health support
• Free Zoo New England membership after 90 days, including admission and in-zoo discounts
• Discounts and perks at Zoo New England and partner organizations across Massachusetts
• Free on-site staff parking
• 401(k) retirement plan available after 6 months of employment

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED