Zoo Jobs: Senior Animal Keeper

Senior Animal Keeper

Battersea Park Children’s Zoo

Position: Senior Keeper (Full-time / Permanent)

Salary: Dependant on experience

About Us:

Battersea Park Children’s Zoo is a well-established and expanding family run business and one of two BIAZA accredited zoos in the company.

We strive for the highest standards in animal husbandry, conservation and education.

Our mission is to promote and achieve the conservation of animals and their habitats through engagement and interaction with our visitors particularly children.

Battersea Park Children’s Zoo is a small, friendly, dynamic zoo with a wide range of exotic and domestic species for its size. Species diversity is the key to any keeper position here and also passion to work with smaller domestic and exotic zoo animals.

Overview of Role:

The successful candidate will be expected to maintain the highest and current standards of animal welfare and husbandry. Completing daily checks and records of animals and birds. The role demands the candidate to be capable of supervising and encouraging junior staff.

This position welcomes new ideas etc which can be discussed with the Animal Manager and the Curator of Animals.

Working hours are 40hrs per week on a roster including weekends and Bank Holidays. A flexible attitude to hours is required.

The role is physically demanding and the candidate should enjoy working outdoors in all weather conditions.

The candidate will be working with a variety of animals within a Zoo environment. A working experience with small primates including cebids and callatrichids is necessary.

Good communication skills and an ability to connect with our young visitors is an important part of this job.

A minimum of three years paid employment within a zoological related position required in a senior keeper position or above.

Main Duties:

• Assisting and directing the cleaning of all areas within the zoo.

• Assisting and directing enclosure/paddock servicing, maintenance and refurbishment.

• A good working knowledge of current zoo diets for a range of species and the preparation of approved diets, nutrition and enrichment.

• Assisting/supervising the carrying out of correct feeding procedures, and ensuring all zoo keeping staff follow correct diet and enrichment protocols.

• Ensuring that safety and emergency procedures are followed at all times.

• Assisting where appropriate with the movement and/or training of animals, “Meet the Animals” etc. as directed by senior staff.

• Maintaining courteous and helpful relations with visitors.

• Reporting defects and repairs required to the Animal Manager or more senior staff.

• Assisting in various projects related to animal management as directed by senior animal management staff.

• Covering the animal manager while they are off duty or not on site.

• Staff training in relation to keeper husbandry, best practise and all aspects of zoo welfare and licensing in order to implement the standards required.

Person Specification:

• Practical experience of animal management with a range of domestic and exotic species.

• Broad taxonomic knowledge on a range of species managed within zoological collections. Particular advantage would be small carnivore, rodent, primate and domestic stock husbandry.

• Willingness to work on and learn about 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.

• Knowledge of techniques used to handle specific animals e.g. catch ups for for veterinary procedures.

• Be able to demonstrate initiative and a pro-active approach to completing tasks beneficial to the section/department without always waiting to be asked.

• You will be expected to carry out Keeper Experiences and Meet the Animal sessions etc.

• Recognised qualifications will be taken into consideration, but personal drive, passion for the job, initiative, common sense and a sense of humour will also be vitally important.

Please note*

• A full clean manual driving licence is required.

• Accommodation is not be provided on site.

• London public transport is an viable option

• No telephone or Skype interviews, interviews will be held at the Zoo in March 2018.

To Apply:

Applicants should send their C.V., application form and covering letter (detailing relevant experience and skills and why they are applying for this position and details of availability).

Email : Zoe hr@chestnutcentre.co.uk

Closing Date: Midnight Friday 23rd February 2018.