BEHAVIOURAL MANAGEMENT
VOLUNTARY
WORKER (TRAINING PLACEMENT)
from
1st September 2019
We currently have an
opportunity for a Voluntary Worker for a period of 6 months (including a
one-month evaluation period and the opportunity, when 5 months into your placement,
to extend to a maximum of one year) within our Field Conservation and Research Department.
Voluntary Worker
(Training Placement) roles are not for current students as we are unable to
support you with a college or University placement whilst you volunteer with
us.
Our
own training agreement will be completed and reviewed regularly with you
throughout your training placement and you will take away a completed training
record and certificate on the successful end of your placement.
Our
Voluntary Worker training placement program has resulted in a high percentage
of participants finding employment within the zoological sector and it is our
aim, along with your support, to provide you with the experience necessary to
go on to be considered for a position within the zoo industry. As such, our
Voluntary Worker roles are for those looking for valuable experience within the
zoo sector.
Mission
Statement
Paignton
Zoo is an education, scientific and conservation charity dedicated to
protecting our global wildlife heritage and inspiring in people a respect for
animals, plants and the environment.
Aim
of voluntary worker role:
The main aim of the
placement will be to continue to develop and evaluate the work of the Behavioural
Management Committee (BMC) at all 3 zoo sites – Paignton Zoo, Newquay Zoo and
Living Coasts; monitor, improve and evaluate current environmental enrichment
practises, animal training programmes, conduct welfare assessments and organise
BMC meetings. The Voluntary Worker will focus on all of our animal sections at
all 3 zoo sites, and is based at Paignton Zoo.
The
objectives of the voluntary worker role are to:
Gain experience and
understanding of the application and importance of behavioural husbandry in
improving captive animal welfare; Apply own personal skills and take ownership
of a series of tasks and/or a research project; monitoring and evaluating the
effectiveness of the BMC and the programmes it involves; Publish on the
progress of the BMC’s work; Gain experience on all animal sections (you will be
asked to volunteer wherever the relevant Curator or BMC member requires you to).
Tasks:
Coordinate and communicate
information between BMC representatives from all departments within the Trust; Conduct
welfare assessments for species at all 3 zoo sites, write audit reports,
recommend actions to improve welfare and monitor action completion; Design species-appropriate
enrichment items and schedules for all animal sections and monitor the
effectiveness of enrichment programmes; Manage animal training protocols and
monitor programme progress; Input behavioural data into ZIMS global animal
record system; Write and submit publications on the work of the BMC; Organise
quarterly BMC meetings and attend taxon-specific welfare meetings; Coordinate
the Wild Planet Trust Amazon wish lists and keep records of donations.
Time:
Paignton Zoo is open
every day and Voluntary Workers are full time i.e. a five-day volunteering
week, including some weekends. This will be discussed as part of your Informal
Discussion, which you will be invited to attend if shortlisted from your
Interest Form / CV / covering letter.
Place
of duty:
Field Conservation
Department; enclosures / areas around the zoos with some travel to Living
Coasts (Torquay) and Newquay Zoo.
Department
manager:
Zoo Research Officer
Skills
required:
An MSc or equivalent
qualification from an animal science related discipline; experience of
undertaking zoo-based research projects and publications; previous
animal-related work experience or volunteering; good communication skills (both
of these are desirable but not essential); competency in Microsoft Office
programmes; adaptability to different environments; able to volunteer in a team
and independently; must be reliable; able to follow strict instructions.
Materials
required:
A polo shirt,
sweatshirt, combat trousers, fleece, waterproof coat and steel-toe capped
wellies or boots are provided for a small deposit (£20) as part of your
induction.
Any
health and safety requirements:
Keepers will talk you
through all relevant health and safety requirements and risk assessments for
the duties that you will be carrying out. You will need to ensure your tetanus
injection is valid and will be kept up-to-date throughout your placement.
Please
note
All Voluntary Workers
for this role must be aged 18 years or over.
All Voluntary Workers
are purely voluntary, and as such, Paignton Zoo does not provide any financial
support or expenses to those wishing to register their interest in or take on
these positions with us. If you are successful in becoming a Voluntary Worker
with us, two references will be taken up before you are able to start and, for
identification purposes, you will be required to bring your passport and your
National Insurance card (or number NI printed on a document) with you to your
induction meeting.
To
register your interest for this Behavioural Management Voluntary Worker role
Please
complete the Interest Form at https://www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/support-us/volunteer/volunteer-register
stating Voluntary Worker: Behavioural Management in the role choice and then
email a CV and covering letter to pzvolunteering@wildplanettrust.org.uk
by
Sunday 30th June 2019.
If you have picked up
a paper version of our Volunteer Interest Form, please send your completed form
to Volunteers’ Co-ordinator, Paignton Zoo, Totnes Road, Paignton TQ4 7EU, along
with your CV and covering letter.
If the items shown
above are not received, we will be unable to take your interest further.
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