Zoo Jobs: Animal Keeper

Animal Keeper

The role

Perform all duties to ensure the smooth running of the allocated animal section within Living Collections, aiming to optimise the quality of animal welfare and visitor experience in support of RZSS’ vision and mission.

This is a full time permanent role, where the working hours are 37.5 hours per week and will include regular weekend and occasional evening working.

Some of the things you’ll do:

Ensure animal welfare, husbandry and management is of the highest standard, taking into account relevant legislation and best practice animal management.
Contribute to the display of the animal collection to ensure suitable for animal’s needs and presentable to the public, e.g. positive visitor engagement and suggest ideas for development to relevant departments, e.g. Property & Estates and Interpretation.
Engage with and support visitors, ensuring your message is consistent with team objectives and in line with RZSS’ mission and vision whilst providing first-class customer care and service, e.g. answering visitor queries and undertaking public talks, tours and Keeper for a Day experiences.
Collate and record detailed and accurate animal records via daily record sheets in relation to the good management of the animal collection and animal training, and to ensure accurate data (e.g. weights, behaviours, births, deaths and treatments received) can be input to the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS).

What we’re looking for:

You’ll have a Diploma in Management of Zoo and Aquarium Animals (DMZAA) or equivalent accredited zoo vocational qualification and knowledge and understanding of Zoological legislation and best practice
Confident presentations skills, e.g. about animals, their welfare and care
First-class customer service, e.g. interpersonal skills and ability to engage with the public
Significant practical experience in a zoo or animal-related environment
A practical understanding of current conservation science, zoo biology and animal welfare ethics.
Experience of practically managing a range of exotic animal taxonomic groups

For further information on what the role involves and essential/desirable criteria – please see the ‘related documents’ section under the site location map.

Please click HERE

We offer a range of great benefits which can be found at: www.rzss.org.uk/about-rzss/staff-benefits

CLICK HERE TO READ THE LATEST ZOONEWS DIGEST AND POSTS BACK TO 1998