Thursday, June 27, 2019

Animal Keeper – Primates

Based in the heart of England, Twycross Zoo (TZ) is an award-winning conservation charity and rapidly growing visitor attraction. We’re committed to supporting global welfare and conservation efforts in the captive breeding of endangered species whilst supporting projects from many different countries around the world, including Ape Action Africa, Lola Ya Bonobo and the FFI Cao Vit Gibbon Project.

In 2014, we launched our 20-year, £55million Masterplan. Since this time, new habitats which have opened to the public include Giraffe Savannah and Gibbon Forest. Recently, we’ve opened a new

£3.5 million world-class chimpanzee habitat, Chimpanzee Eden, and are looking forward to building on this continued growth and success. Renowned as a specialist primate zoo, we care for a wide variety of monkeys and apes, and we are the only zoo in the UK to accommodate all four Great Apes.

What will this role of Animal Keeper entail?

As a Primates Animal Keeper, you’ll play a key role in caring for the animals in the Primates section of Twycross Zoo working with everything from Gibbons through to Marmosets, ensuring that animal keeping is carried out to the Zoo’s required standards. Your duties will include but not be limited to;

· Preparing and distributing food and water to animals

· Assisting with the capture and restraint of animals when required

· Learning about the animals and reporting any animal health concerns to the Section Head

· Assisting with maintaining enclosures, food preparation and public viewing areas to a high standard of hygiene, cleanliness and exhibition

· Motivating and encouraging colleagues, and assisting with the development of Trainee Keepers and providing guidance to work experience students and apprentices

· Answering enquiries from the public in a helpful and polite manner

What will I need to be considered for this Animal Keeper vacancy?

· At least 5 years’ experience of animal keeping, along with an appropriate animal related qualification (or willing to work towards)

· Superb knowledge of animals and all responsible work practices relevant to zoonotic diseases

· A passion for the Zoo’s work and purpose

· Willing to be trained as a first aider and to be on call as part of the Zoo's first aid duty rota

· A flexible approach to duties and working hours

Please note, whilst Twycross Zoo is an equal opportunities employer, the successful applicant will need to be physically fit due to the nature and demands of the role.

What will I receive in return?

As an Animal Keeper you’ll receive a salary of £20,089 per annum, along with fantastic additional benefits including 31 days holiday per annum (inclusive of bank holidays), along with the benefit of a staff membership card, giving you free entry to the Zoo on your days off and discounts in our retail and food outlets. Free onsite parking.

Contract: Permanent, working average of 43 hours over 5 days out of 7 between the hours of 8am to 5pm during the winter months, and 8am to 6pm for the remainder of the year.

More about us:

You’ll be part of an evolving and progressive organisation, with staff engagement at its very core. Our team strives to educate and inspire everyone to care about, and therefore contribute to saving, the other species with which we share our planet.

With our dedicated and enthusiastic team of colleagues at the heart of everything we do, we aim to become a recognised “Centre of Excellence” that continues to make a significant contribution to the welfare and conservation of animals, especially primates, and remain at the heart of conservation.

Location: Atherstone, Warwickshire (on the A444, which is easily accessed via the A5 and the M42 Junction 11).

To apply for this position, please head over to http://jobs.twycrosszoo.org, where you will be able to select this role and submit your CV for consideration.

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