Zoo Keeper
Ventura Wildlife
Park
Closing Date: Until
sufficient applicants have been received
Contract: Full time
Overview:
The role involves
the day to day husbandry of a large and diverse collection focusing on animal
welfare, record keeping, ensuring that exhibits are maintained to the highest
standards, and delivering talks and presentations daily.
Some of our animals
include: Cuban hutia, red-rumped agouti, Grants zebra, fossa, raccoon dog,
meerkat, armadillo, skunk, coati, raccoon dog, various bird, reptile, and
amphibian species. The zoo keeper role will also include animal encounter
outreach events like school visits, home visits, events, which include
birthdays and corporate functions, and more.
The successful
candidate will need to be engaging, confident talking to large groups, have
experience performing projecting their voice, be approachable, keen to learn
animal information and have an interest in animals.
Main Duties:
• Day
to day husbandry of the animals at VWP.
• Excellent
observational and note keeping skills when working with the animals at the
park.
• Ability
to prep diets for all animals.
• Experience
using methods of operant conditioning would be advantageous.
• Must
be in good physical condition – activities include bending, kneeling, standing,
carrying and lifting.
• Having
excellent presentation skills and having the ability to adapt to all audiences
to achieve the enjoyable and educational experiences which are regularly
evaluated.
• Being
able to vary presentation techniques between different audiences, e.g.
large-scale talks to big audiences as well as smaller story and enrichment
making workshops.
• Strict
adherence to safe working practices.
• Maintaining
high standards around the park including emptying bins, weeding and window
cleaning.
Essential to have one or more of the following:
• Excellent
written and oral communication skills
• Good
organisation/planning skills with the ability to work within strict deadlines
• Experience
working with a range of animals.
• Experience
and knowledge of working with children and adults with a range of learning
difficulties and/or physical and mental disabilities
• Operating
the opening and closing of animal enclosures during animal experiences at the
Zoological Gardens and be responsible for the welfare of visitors and animals
in those exhibits.
• Occasionally
being responsible and handling money raised during fundraising events
Flexibility:
• High
levels of flexibility required in order to respond to daily problems across a
wide range of areas (staff absence, change or cancellation of events, equipment
failure, visitor queries and other situations)
• The
job is varied and requires a practical and creative mind-set
Working Conditions:
• This
post involves spending a large amount of time outdoors in all weather
conditions as events continue to be held in all conditions
• Occasional
early and late working will be required to accommodate deadlines or special
events
• Weekend
working is a regular feature of this job
• Working
bank holidays and other holiday time is a regular feature of the job
• We
operate a non-smoking working environment
• A
full UK or EU driving license is essential
How to apply:
Please send your CV
and a cover letter to Sam Bullock at keepingteam@venturawildlife.co.uk
detailing what role you have applied for and your suitability for the
position.
Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant        |
No comments:
Post a Comment