Animal Keeper - Elephant Section

Noah's Ark Zoo Farm

Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm is an award-winning zoo set in 100 acres of open countryside just outside Bristol. We are home to the UK’s largest Elephant enclosure with one of the best equipped facilities in Europe and a progressive protected contact philosophy.

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced, motivated individual to join our committed and friendly team of animal keepers. We are looking to recruit an experienced animal keeper with at least one year of keeping elephants into our progressive PC Elephant Section which is acting as Europe’s premier African Elephant Bull facility. This is a full-time position working a 40-hour week on a flexible rota (including weekends and bank holidays).

This is a key role within the team of keepers covering a variety of duties. The position will take a proactive role in the daily management of the Elephant section as well as helping with other sections when required.

We expect applicants to have a sound knowledge of Elephants, a strong work ethic and good team working skills as well as the ability to maintain high levels of hygiene.

Typical aspects of the role include:

Assist in the daily management and care of the elephants on section.
Deliver talks and experiences to visiting guests.
Drive the company vehicle for collection of resources, e.g. feed, medication.
Assist in the management PC training of the animals.

Applicant Requirements:

At least 1 full year paid work as an Elephant Keeper.
Animal-based qualification.
Full driving licence.
Working knowledge of a protected contact management system.
Experience with bull elephants preferable but not essential.
Applicants must be able to handle the physical nature of the role. Typically able to lift at least 20kg regularly as part of the working day.

Other Job Holder Expectations:

Ensure effective quality control and continuous improvement in all aspects of the work and responsibilities.
Mindful of the visitor experience in all aspects of your work and in your contact with.
Demonstrate professionalism towards sensitive and confidential information.
Comply with and promote Health and Safety Policies and procedures and to undertake recommend Health and Safety training as and when required.
Undertake such other duties as are relevant with the position.
Willingness to work with the Christian ethos of the zoo.

To apply send a CV and covering letter to careers@noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk and the “subject” of emails should read “Application for Elephant Keeper role”.

Your covering letter should include an accurate summary of your relevant experience with Elephants. Covering letters should be no longer than 1 side of A4.

We are looking to recruit an experienced candidate for this role as this is not an entry level position, as such applicants with no previous professional experience will not be considered at this point.

Final closing date for applications will be the 21st of January 2021.

The first round of interviews will be conducted via Zoom with the second stage conducted here at the zoo.

FYI

This vacancy has been posted out to the many thousands who read the popular Zoo Jobs Blog Page and then on to the 129,400 plus followers of the ZooNews Digest Facebook Page. It is then immediately forwarded on to Twitter and then to Pinterest and Linkedin (8,000+ connections). Many vacancies are shared to individuals and groups. In short your vacancy will have the potential of reaching something in the region of some 80,000 plus people within 24 hours. Most of these people are working in a zoo environment, Keepers, Curators, Vets, Zoo Directors, Trainers, Aquarists and more.

ZooNews Digest has subscribers in over 1200 Zoos in 150+ countries. Zoo professionals are International.

The number of people who will actually read the posted vacancy will actually be considerably less. Usually this will be between two hundred and three thousand. This will depend on the type of post, the time of the year and where it is located…of course not all will apply. I wish you the very best of luck in finding the right candidate for your post.

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