Animal Team Leader, Small Mammals Section
Position: Animal Team
Leader, Small Mammals Section (Full-Time / Permanent)
Salary:
£39,281 per annum
(inclusive of London Weighting and Weekend Enhancement)
Location: ZSL London
Zoo, Regents Park, Camden, NW1 4RY
Overview
We’re ZSL, an international
conservation charity. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re
working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing
animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are
committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction. Through the
work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists and our
unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos, our purpose is to inspire, inform
and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct.
Role Profile:
To be responsible for the daily management of
the Small Mammals section, which includes; In
with the lemurs, Nightlife, Rainforest and Outback exhibits. They will set best
practice protocols and procedures in relation to animal husbandry and welfare.
Main duties and
key responsibilities:
- Organising
the daily operations of the section, setting rosters, allocating duties
and dealing with the associated administration to enable the smooth
running of the team.
- Maintaining
the highest standards of animal care and management, reporting and
advising on the health and welfare of the animals.
- Presenting
the animals and the exhibits to the highest standards.
- Supporting
the preparation and regular review of risk assessments and safe systems of
work, ensuring they are understood and adhered to.
- Evaluate
equipment needs, order equipment and other operational supplies.
- Supporting
the Mammals Curators in the delivery of the Small Mammal Section strategy
and collection plan.
- Ensuring
that staff receive the necessary personal development
- Advising on
the interface with visitors, ensuring positive visitor experiences by good
customer service and professional visitor engagement.
- Working with
other ZSL departments and external organisations to increase awareness of
ZSL’s work, including working commercial events.
- Record
keeping via a Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS)
Person Specification:
- Vast and evolving knowledge of small mammal
husbandry and experience working with a range of small mammalian species.
- Ability to
demonstrate initiative and a pro-active approach to completing tasks and
to maximise productivity.
- Proven
experience in leadership and the ability to motivate and develop a team.
- Have excellent
communication and organisation skills with the ability to multi-task.
Please note: Hours
are an average 37.5 per week worked within an annual roster, which includes
bank holidays and weekends.
What's on
Offer:
This role offers a
competitive salary plus a comprehensive benefits package including 25 days
holiday, stakeholder pension where the employer minimum contribution is 7%,
complimentary zoo tickets and more!
To Apply:
Applicants will need to upload their
CV and covering letter (detailing relevant experience and skills, stating why
they want the position and including details of availability) and can do this
by clicking the "Apply for this job online" button on the ZSL
website. If you have any queries regarding this position or when applying
through the system, please contact Human Resources at hr@zsl.org.
Closing date for applications:
Midnight Sunday 9th June
The Zoological Society of London
is a charity registered in England and Wales: no. 208728.
Job Description
Key Purpose of the Job
To
operationally manage the staff and animals on the allocated section. Under the
instruction of the Animal Operations Manager, to train staff and adhere to the
section specific best practice protocols and procedures in relation to animal
husbandry.
To
work closely with the Animal Operations Manager, to liaise with other
departments on maintenance requests, projects, animal encounters, recruitment,
risk assessments and commercial activities etc. for the section.
Responsibility for Resources
People
This
role is responsible for the daily management of the Deputy Team Leader, Lead
Keeper, Senior Keepers, Qualified Keepers, Trainee Keepers, Seasonal Keepers,
Volunteer Keepers and students on section, allocating rotas and workload and
priorities.
Appropriate
delegation of some management responsibilities can be disseminated to the
Deputy Team Leader. These may include, but not be exclusive to, return from
sickness meetings and Performance Development Reviews etc.
Other
· The role requires the Team Leader to step up into covering animal duty
manager responsibilities for specific periods of time in the absence of the Animal
Operations Manager. The Team Leader must undertake training to ensure that they
are fully compliant with all emergency procedures and the tasks and
circumstances that are involved in taking responsibility for the zoological
collection.
- Plant, machinery, equipment, materials and
products
- Responsible for all equipment, tools and
materials required to manage the section, ensuring that they are regularly
checked correctly and that staff are appropriately trained to use them.
- Financial resources
- Some responsibility for section specific
budget under the guidance of the Animal Operations Manager.
- Confidentiality
- Responsibility for confidential knowledge
about employees, animal moves and animal welfare.
- Animals
- Direct responsibility for the day to day
management of animals to include all aspects of modern husbandry. This
includes enclosure design and insuring that the appropriate checks are
made to animal housing in terms of health and safety and welfare.
- Responsible alongside curators and animal
managers for researching and developing husbandry, conservation breeding
and exhibit development.
- Responsible for following and disseminating
appropriate diets and storing animal food appropriately on section.
· Public
o Responsible for demonstrating the collection in an informative and
educational way to our visitors.
o Responsible for ensuring the team support commercial activities without
compromising the welfare of the collection.
Main duties and key responsibilities
- Setting
rotas for the section (taking into consideration annual leave, lieu days,
firearms cover and sickness), ensuring that overtime is kept to a minimum
and agreed in advance with the Animal Operations Manager.
- In
consultation with keeping staff, Health & Safety and Animal
Management, write and implement safe systems of work; training processes; risk
assessments; animal husbandry best practice protocols and procedures.
- Mentoring
and training staff in the above systems and ensure that high standards of welfare,
maintenance, enrichment and cleaning and is kept a top priority for the
keeping staff on section. Ensuring that training needs are assessed and
actioned or highlighted to the appropriate teams.
- Working
with the appropriate teams (Evidence Based Animal Care Team, Wildlife
Health Services, Zoological Services etc.) to report on the health and
welfare of the animals and advising on future improvements which can be
made.
- Undertaking
performance development reviews for all staff on section and ensuring that
objectives are suitable and met.
- Recording
sickness absence for staff on the section and conducting return to work
interviews.
- Conduct
Qualified Keeper and Senior Keeper competency interviews and manage
underperformers in the team with the guidance of the Animal Operations
Manager and HR.
·
Ensure that the relevant systems (ZIMS etc.) are kept up to date
and accurate. Delegating section management and administrative tasks to the
Deputy Team Leader as required.
·
Ensure that reports are written, edited and submitted on time to
the relevant departments
·
Attend Team Leader meetings with animal management contributing to
the meeting and ensuring that the section is appropriately represented.
- Working
on the section as a member of the keeper team to train, supervise and
cover staff shortages as required.
- Ensuring
that the health & safety of the keeping team, visitors and animals is
a priority by regularly reviewing and updating risk assessments and safe
systems of work; regularly highlighting health & safety training needs
for keeping staff; undertaking regular inspections of all public areas in
the section.
- Supporting
and implementing the collection plan with curators. Advising on, enclosure
design requirements, developments, new projects and resources required.
- Ensuring
staff understand the role of a modern zoo, the importance of ensuring that
visitors have an enjoyable, educational and informative day and instilling
that the keeping staff are an important factor in ZSL meeting its
strategic aims.
- Liaise
with other departments as required to achieve ZSL’s aims and objectives,
including Development, Commercial, Marketing, PR, CP, IOZ, Engagement, Wildlife
Health Services, Zoological Services, Supporter Services etc.
- To ensure
that the section supports research as requested by the Evidence Based
Animal Care team, and to advice on new projects which may assist the
management of species on the section, and participate in EEP’s as required.
Building relationships
- Diplomacy and sensitivity are required to
persuade or change the views of senior management and junior staff on a
course of action.
- To
be able to effectively and respectfully communicate to staff of all levels
regardless of their position.
- Familiarity
with other ZSL departments and an awareness of department protocol when
needing to contact other teams.
- An
understanding and supportive approach to the commercial nature of the
Zoological collection whilst maintaining the highest standards of
husbandry and welfare to the living collection.
- Some media work may be required which will involve
speaking confidently and comprehensively in a range of situations to
represent the department.
Mental Demands
- Accountable for decisions made on section in
terms of animal care and staff management. High level problems are solved
independently, in consultation with the Animal Operations Manager /
Curators.
Flexibility
- Flexibility is needed in animal care
emergencies. This may mean long hours are sometimes a necessity and coming
into work on days off. Ensuring that keeping staff are trained, available
and appropriately supported for these emergencies.
- Willingness to aid with call-outs and
emergencies outside of normal working hours.
Working Conditions
- This post may require extensive outside
working with direct exposure to the weather or indoors in artificially
high temperatures & or humid conditions. You will have direct and
indirect contact with animals.
Expectations of job holder
- To ensure that the policy for equality and
diversity is adhered to and promoted in all aspects of the post holder’s
work.
- To ensure effective quality control and
continuous improvement in all aspects of the work and responsibilities
attached to this post.
- To adopt an evidence based approach to animal
husbandry
- To be committed to the conservation of animals
- Can demonstrate professionalism towards
sensitive and confidential information.
- Able To comply with and promote Health and
Safety policies and procedures and to undertake recommended Health and
Safety training as and when necessary.
- To be committed to professional
self-development, through participation in in-service training as
necessary for the successful carrying out of the job.
- Willing To undertake such other duties as are
commensurate with the grade of the post.
NB: This job
description is designed to outline a range of main duties that may be
encountered. It is not designed to be an
exhaustive list of tasks and can be varied in consultation with the post holder
in order to reflect changes in the job or the organisation.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Experience
· Extensive practical experience of working with
animals within a zoological collection.
· Qualified to the Diploma in the Management of Zoo and
Aquarium Animals (DMZAA) level or equivalent qualification. Higher
qualifications in a related subject an advantage.
·
Experience supervising or managing a large team of varied
experience.
Knowledge
· Broad taxonomic knowledge of a range of species
managed within zoological collections and particular expertise to the taxa on
section.
· Taxonomic or husbandry specialism desirable, with experience
in publishing or presenting at conferences and advantage.
· Willingness to continually learn about and lead evolving husbandry
management within zoological collections to include positive re-enforcement
training for behavioural management and varied methods of enrichment for a
range of species.
· Extensive knowledge of life support systems, husbandry
parameters and requirements for specific species within their section.
· Extensive knowledge and experience in proven techniques
or initiating new techniques to handle specific animals for training, catch ups
and veterinary procedures. Experience with husbandry training or a willingness
to learn is required.
·
Understands health & safety requirements for staff, visitors
and animals and able to implement processes and procedures.
·
Knowledge of how to manage pathogens in a zoological setting through the
implementation of biosecurity protocols and quarantine.
Skills & Abilities
· Ability to motivate, manage and train a team of
keepers, with a variety of specialisms, interests and experience.
· Ability to demonstrate initiative and a pro-active
approach to developing tasks beneficial to the section/department.
· Innovation skills and ability to put new ideas into
practice.
·
Strong observational
and problem-solving skills.
·
Ability to manage, prioritise and delegate a diverse
workload.
· Ability to apply appropriate judgement when discussing ZSL
· Computer literate and working knowledge of Microsoft
Programmes
Interpersonal
Skills
· An ability to work as part of a team as well as an individual
to complete section tasks, respectively supporting senior management decisions
and ensuring that decisions are communicated to the team.
· The ability to communicate positively, clearly and
comprehensively with all staff
· Capable of supporting trainee Keepers and colleagues
as requested
- Build positive relationships with staff in
other departments.
Other Requirements
· Animal work frequently requires individuals to work
outside of normal working hours if for example specific levels of care are
required. Therefore, a flexible approach in terms of working hours is required.
· Working indoors in artificially high temperature
&/or humid conditions.
· This post requires weekend and bank holiday working.
· Ability to travel and attend conferences, assist with
field projects and visit other zoos as the position requires, in order to
exchange knowledge beneficial to the collection and or direct input into the
conservation of species.
· Willingness to consult to other zoo’s or other
organisations as required.
· An ability to talk confidently and professionally to
visitors or present ‘keeper talks’ or ‘keeper for a day experiences” to groups
of visitors. To train and supervise staff in these talks.
- This role may, on occasion, require the post
holder to work from the other zoo (London or Whipsnade) to which the post
holder is based.
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Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant
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