Zoo Jobs: Curator of Living Collections (Animals / Life Sciences)

Curator of Living Collections (Animals / Life Sciences)

Based in the heart of England, Twycross Zoo (TZ) is an award- winning conservation charity and rapidly growing visitor attraction.

The Zoo is committed to supporting global welfare and conservation efforts in the captive breeding of endangered species whilst supporting projects from many different countries around the world, including Ape Action Africa, Lola Ya Bonobo and the FFI Cao Vit Gibbon Project.

In 2014, the Zoo launched its 20-year, £55million Masterplan. Since this time, new habitats which have opened to the public include Giraffe Savannah and Gibbon Forest. Recently TZ have opened a £3.5 million new world-class chimpanzee habitat, Chimpanzee Eden, and are looking forward to building on this continued growth and success. As part of the Zoo’s Masterplan development programme, other investments have also included new habitats and renovations such as Lorikeet Landing, a Lemur walk-through and Butterfly Forest, all of which offer visitors an immersive and inspiring experience with the animals.

At TZ you’ll be part of an evolving and progressive organisation, with staff engagement at its very core by ensuring inclusion through superb communication. TZ offers a diverse range of roles and is committed to the fundamental approach of equal opportunities in employment. The Zoo’s team strives to educate and inspire everyone to care about, and therefore contribute to saving, the other species with which we share our planet. With a dedicated and enthusiastic team of colleagues at its heart, the Zoo aims to become a recognised “Centre of Excellence” that continues to make a significant contribution to the welfare and conservation of animals, especially primates, by being at the heart of conservation.

What will this role of Curator of Living Collections entail?

Working as part of the Senior Management Team, you’ll be responsible for managing the Animal Department at Twycross Zoo, ensuring the team have the required resources and support to maintain a high standard of animal husbandry and welfare. You’ll also contribute to the future development of the department with your duties to include, although not be limited to:

• Ensuring the requirements for animal welfare and the presentation of the collections are met

• Producing and implementing the operational objectives, and managing the budget for the Animal Department

• Representing the Zoo on appropriate professional and scientific bodies, and promoting its profile and reputation

• Ensuring that effective line management of the Animal team is met, providing motivational support and drive, whilst also ensuring good communication with line managers

• Providing input to the Animal Collection Plan, liaising with internal and external partners

• Contributing to the overall management and organisational development of the Zoo

• Ensuring up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the animal species within the collections, with an emphasis on primates

• Undertaking training as a first aider and being on call as part of the Zoo's first aid duty rota

• Participating in the management of the emergency response team

• Undertaking Duty Zoo Manager shifts on a rota basis, including weekends

What will I need to be considered for this Curator of Living Collections vacancy?

• Significant experience at senior level within Zoo animal management, with a working knowledge of all taxa within the animal collection, with an emphasis on primates / Great Apes

• Superb leadership skills, with the ability to effectively motivate colleagues

• A passion for the Zoo’s work and purpose

• Good IT literacy with working knowledge of Microsoft Office and ZIMS (Zoological Information Management Software)

• Superb communication and decision-making skills, with the ability to remain calm under pressure

• A positive and flexible approach to duties and working hours

What will I receive in return?

Salary: £40,000 per annum

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, usually working Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm (1 hour unpaid lunch break), however flexibility will be required to meet business needs including some weekend work

Benefits: 31 days holiday per annum (inclusive of bank holidays), along with the benefit of a staff membership card giving you free entry to the Zoo on your days off and discounts in our retail and food outlets. Free onsite parking.

Location: Atherstone, Warwickshire (on the A444, which is easily accessed via the A5 and the M42 Junction 11).

To apply for this position, please head over to https://jobs.twycrosszoo.org/twycrosszoo/Search , where you will be able to select this role and submit your CV for consideration.