Keeper – Elephants

1 x Permanent and 1 x Temporary (15 month maternity cover)

We are Chester Zoo, and for nearly 90 years we have been a leading conservation and education charity, and an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction.

We’re also a team of passionate, talented, enthusiastic and expert people, doing everything we can to prevent extinction, from caring for animals to discovering new conservation ideas, and giving our visitors an inspirational day out.

We work hard because we love animals, we care about nature, we love Chester Zoo and, despite all the recent challenges thrown at us, we still want to be the best zoo in the world! If you think you can help us to achieve that, then we’d love to hear from you.

We currently have an exciting opportunity for two Keepers to join us on the Elephant section, one permanent position and one temporary for 15 months (maternity cover). For the right candidates, these posts offer a fantastic opportunity to work with a breeding family unit of Asian elephants.

The successful candidates will have:

· A HND or degree level qualification in a zoological related science or equivalent experience

· Proven experience in the care and management of large mammal species that may include Giraffe, Rhinos and Elephants, in a zoo or safari park setting, as well as the highest standards of exhibitry

· Outstanding observational skills with excellent attention to detail

· Experience creating positive environments for animals

· Experience of working within strict Safe Working Practices

· Experience of operant conditioning in a zoo setting

Competency in the use of computers and basic software packages, including ZIMS software, would be advantageous for this role in order to maintain accurate records.

Hours of work are 40 hours per week, worked 10 days out of 14, including weekends and Bank Holidays as rostered.

The salary for these positions is £21,934.33 per annum and in addition, we offer a range of amazing benefits, which can be found at www.chesterzoo.org/work-with-us/staff-benefits/

To apply for this position, please go to www.chesterzoo.org/work-with-us/, select the vacancy and click ‘Apply Now’ to provide your current CV and complete the application form highlighting your skills and experience including why you believe you should be considered for our Keeper – Elephants role.

Please specify at the start of the application form whether you are applying for the permanent or temporary position, or if you would like to be considered for both.

We anticipate the permanent position starting immediately and the temporary position starting in early May 2021.

Closing date for applications is noon on 22 February 2021

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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