Zoo Jobs: Carnivore Keeper

Carnivore Keeper

Based on the Carnivore Section

Salary £17,992.00 to £19,344.00 per annum DOE

plus a living out allowance of £2600 p.a. or possibly, on-site accommodation

Howletts Wild Animal Park, based in Kent, is seeking a passionate, experienced, hardworking and motivated animal keeper to work with a small team of enthusiastic and likeminded keepers on our carnivore section. Howletts works in conjunction with The Aspinall Foundation, a charity committed to the conservation of rare and endangered animals through breeding and reintroduction programmes. This position offers a fantastic opportunity to work with a wide range of species from honey badgers to Sumatran tigers and contribute to in-situ conservation programmes.

The Role

This is a physically demanding role and the successful applicant will be expected to undertake all duties on the section from butchering carcasses, to enclosure maintenance as well as general husbandry tasks and record keeping. You must have significant experience in animal keeping gained in a mainstream zoological collection or equivalent environment, which includes working with carnivores. A full valid driving licence is essential.

Conservation education plays a big role in the park so there will be plenty of opportunities for talks and encounters with the public. The company encourages succession planning and therefore, looking to the future, supervisory experience would be advantageous in this role. We provide extensive staff training and will offer the opportunity to develop your professional skills and abilities.

The Person

We are looking for an individual who is hardworking, passionate and committed with knowledge of current conservation issues. You will be a good communicator with experience in presenting talks to the public. You will need a hands-on approach to the restraint and handling of animals and, ideally, the ability to run the section for short periods in the absence of the section manager. You will be a team player who is also confident to work alone. You will have gained DMZAA or an equivalent qualification or be prepared to undertake this which the company will support. You will also need to be comfortable working at height to perform enclosure maintenance duties.

The position is full time, working 40 hours over a five day week and will include weekends and bank holidays. A flexible approach to working hours is essential in any animal job.

All applicants must have right to work in the UK

Closing Date: Friday 31 January 2020

To Apply: Please email your full C.V. and covering letter to – personnel@aspinallfoundation.org

or post to Human Resources, Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, Aldington Road, Hythe, Kent CT21 4PD.

Please visit our website: www.aspinallfoundation.org to find out more about us.

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