Animal Presenter – Trainees

Animal Presenter – Trainees

Location: RZSS, Edinburgh Zoo
Salary: Competitive

The role
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Animal Presenter - Trainee to work within the Living Collections team at Edinburgh Zoo. This physical hands-on role in a busy zoological park will involve bending and lifting, feeding, cleaning, maintaining and presenting the enclosures and general care and welfare of the animals and associated tasks, including record keeping. The successful candidate will be required to deliver public engagement activities such as the Keeper Experience program, the daily talks programme, shows and animal encounters to a high standard and in a fun and engaging way meeting the needs of our visitors whilst ensuring high animal welfare and the delivery of our key messages.

Who we are looking for
To operate effectively in this role, it is desirable you hold the Diploma in the Management of Zoo and Aquarium Animals or equivalent qualification or experience at SVQ 3 or equivalent level. Practical experience in a zoo or animal-related environment is also desirable and experience of working with a range of animal taxon groups would be advantageous.
You should also have up-to-date basic knowledge and understanding of zoo legislation and best practice, along with a sound basis of practical knowledge and skills about good animal management including dietary knowledge. Proven success in animal training or an appropriate qualification in the use of positive reinforcement training would be beneficial. You will be an excellent communicator, with strong presentation skills. You will be comfortable working as part of a team and will build effective relationships across the organisation. Customer service will be key to this role and you must have an excellent understanding of the principals involved and how to interact with the public to ensure a memorable experience.

This is a 35 hours per week, fixed Term position for 12 weeks available for an immediate start, until approx. end Feb 2019

Our Offer
As a Charity, first and foremost, we work hard to make sure our benefits package is competitive and attractive. As well as the fundamental benefits like salary and pension, we offer other rewards that can help you financially, can make work a bit easier and make life outside of work a lot more fun! As well as our wonderful animals we have a highly professional, diverse and friendly staff community too. So, in working for RZSS you've not only got a great job in a very interesting organisation - you are also part of an amazing cause too!

For full information on how to apply, please visit the RZSS vacancy page and follow the instructions. The closing date: Thursday 6th December 2018
Invitation to interview will be by email/phone and interviews will take place on Friday 14th December 2018

We are the Royal Zoological Society for Scotland (RZSS), and for over 100 years we’ve been a leading conservation and education charity as well as an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction. Through our two sites, RZSS Edinburgh Zoo and RZSS Highland Wildlife Park, we provide unique and memorable experiences and engage with nearly 750,000 visitors per year in the wonders of the natural world, taking care of over 1,000 rare and endangered animals in safe and stimulating surroundings.

Our Mission: Connecting people with nature. Safeguarding species from extinction. Registered Charity No: SC004064

Peter Dickinson Independent International Zoo Consultant +66 (0)93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com | Skype: peter.dickinson48

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Animal Intern

Animal Intern

The Living Rainforest is inviting applications for an unpaid voluntary work placement with the Animal Department. Our internship programme has been running successfully for over four years and we are now offering the vacancy to external candidates.

The Trust for Sustainable Living is a registered charity based near Newbury, Berkshire. At our visitor centre, The Living Rainforest, the animal collection is contained within three tropical glasshouses and consists of more than 60 species. These include callitrichids, dasyproctidae, turacos, snakes, chelonia, stingrays, dendrobatids, and invertebrates.

Role and Responsibilities:

·        The primary role of the intern will be to participate in the daily husbandry and daily routines of the animal department. This includes feeding animals, maintaining enclosures, daily record keeping and animal health checks.

·        As an intern, you will also help with the daily supervision of existing volunteers and participate in the training of new volunteers and work experience students.

·        You will also receive training and be expected to participate in keeper talks and keeper experience days which run through holidays and at weekends. 

·        You will have the opportunity to gain knowledge of the different aspects of the department such as veterinary treatment, enclosure design and record keeping.       

·        Where suitable, there may also be opportunities for research projects to be undertaken.

Terms of placement:

·        This is a six - twelve month voluntary work placement for a registered charity, from November 2018.

·        It is preferred that interns are able to work from 9am to 5.30pm five days a week on a rota basis. This will include some weekends and bank holidays as necessary. 

The applicant

·        Preference will be given to applicants with an Animal related qualification or working towards an Animal related qualification, who want to partake in this voluntary work placement in order to seek further industry experience.

·        Some experience within the zoo industry or with exotics would be desirable but not essential.

·        Applicants should be enthusiastic, hard-working and have a willingness to learn new skills.

·        We recommended that you have your own form of transport to get to and from The Living Rainforest each day as public transport is infrequent in this area.

·        Please note that there is no accommodation available with this position, but some assistance can be given towards moderate travel expenses.

To Apply

The vacancy will remain open until the position has been filled. Interviews will be held as soon as possible after applications are received, on a first come first served basis. To apply for this position please send your CV and cover letter, including a contact telephone number to Paula Rhoads, Human Resources:

Email: finance@livingrainforest.org.

Post: The Living Rainforest

Hampstead Norreys

Berkshire

RG18 0TN

www.livingrainforest.org

Peter Dickinson Independent International Zoo Consultant +66 (0)93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com | Skype: peter.dickinson48

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Bristol Aquarium - Interim Aquarist

Bristol Aquarium - Interim Aquarist

Bristol Aquarium seeks an Interim Aquarist

Full Time, 6 month fixed term contract – immediate start

£16,286.40 per annum pro rated

About Bristol Aquarium

Situated directly on Bristol’s Harbourside, Bristol Aquarium takes visitors on a journey of underwater discovery through 40 living displays featuring over 400 aquatic species. Key features of the aquarium include the immense Sunken Shipwreck native species display and the underwater tunnel through the coral seas zone. Bristol Aquarium is also the UKs only aquarium with its own ‘Urban Jungle’ - a large botanical house home to an array of plant species.

About the Role

Alongside offering excellent customer service, you will be responsible for maintaining and developing displays and exhibits (including those within our Botanical House Garden), promoting public education and awareness in relation to conservation and delivering a memorable and entertaining experience to visitors. Experience in animal husbandry is essential. In addition you will also clean, tidy and ensure safe standards of all plant rooms, tool rooms, laboratories and quarantine facilities.

The role will also include delivering talks, presentations, tours and birthday parties ensuring all our visitors have an enjoyable experience.

This is a full time 6 month interim position for which it is essential that you are available to work during weekends, bank holidays and school holidays.

About You

Ideally you will already have relevant experience in the visitor attractions sector working with marine fish and invertebrates and have knowledge of aquarium life, support systems and enjoy working in a fast paced environment.

You will have an infectious enthusiasm for creating stunning and innovative displays and be keen to share knowledge with colleagues and guests. A degree or equivalent in a relevant biological science is advantageous.

You will have a positive attitude and thrive in a customer focused environment. You need to adapt to a variety of situations and be able to respond to customers needs while promoting all aspects of our aquarium. You will have excellent communication skills having the ability to retain and present key and interesting information about our attraction.

About Aspro Parks

Bristol Aquarium is part of Aspro Parks, a Spanish multinational company with its headquarters based in Madrid. Aspro owns and operates over 65 leisure attractions across Europe, 10 of which are located in the UK.

If interested, please send your CV & covering letter to: Janeen Yates, Aspro UK Group HR Manager, c/o Blue Planet Aquarium, Cheshire Oaks, Cheshire, CH65 9LF. Or email us at: recruitment@asprouk.com . Your application letter should highlight why you would be able to fulfil this key role within the organisation and clearly demonstrate how you meet our requirements.

Bristol Aquarium is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

We do recognize the time and effort it takes to apply for a position, but as an employer of choice we receive a high volume of applications and in the interests of economy, Aspro UK does not notify candidates who have been unsuccessful in their application; consequently if you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.

Work Location: Bristol Aquarium, Anchor Road, Bristol BS1 5TT

Anchor Road, Bristol, BS1 5, United Kingdom

Peter Dickinson Independent International Zoo Consultant +66 (0)93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com | Skype: peter.dickinson48

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Experienced Animal Keeper

Experienced Animal Keeper

Experienced Animal Keeper – Full time, Permanent, Paid

Manor Wildlife Park is searching for an ambitious, highly motivated individual who is passionate about their quality of work and would like the chance to develop their skills within an EAZA accredited zoological collection. This opening is aimed at those who would like to work alongside a wide range of species whilst, at the same time, having the opportunity to specialise in the areas or species of your choice.

Your roles and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, all elements of animal husbandry, positive reinforcement training, environmental enrichment, animal behaviour research, elements of enclosure design and the delivery of public talks and VIP animal experiences.

The ideal applicant should have;

•        Excellent communication and observational skills

•        An ability to work to your own initiative

•        The DMZAA or equivalent qualification

•        At least 2 years of paid experience within the animal sector

•        Experience working with large carnivores and/or hoof-stock

•        Experience with ZIMs (Desirable)

•        A full UK driving license (Desirable)

•        Firearms license (Desirable)

The position is available for an immediate start, with successful applicants required to perform a trial day as well as part of the interview process.

Interested in this position? Then please send in your CV and covering letter by email to:

hr@manorwildlifepark.co.uk

The closing date for this position is 14th January 2019.

Peter Dickinson Independent International Zoo Consultant +66 (0)93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com | Skype: peter.dickinson48

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Animal Keeper

Animal Keeper

Animal Keeper – Full time, Permanent, Paid

Manor Wildlife Park is searching for an ambitious, highly motivated individual who is passionate about their quality of work and would like the chance to develop their skills within an EAZA accredited zoological collection. This opening is aimed at those who would like to work alongside a wide range of species whilst, at the same time, having the opportunity to specialise in the areas or species of your choice.

Your roles and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, all elements of animal husbandry, positive reinforcement training, environmental enrichment and the delivery of public talks and VIP animal experiences.

The ideal applicant should have;

•        Excellent written and verbal communication skills

•        An ability to work to your own initiative

•        The DMZAA or equivalent qualification

•        At least 1 year of paid or voluntary experience working within the animal sector

•        Experience in visitor engagement and public speaking

•        A full UK driving license (Desirable)

•        Firearms license (Desirable)

This is an entry level position, with full training being given to the successful candidate.

The position is available for an immediate start, with successful applicants required to perform a trial day as well as part of the interview process.

Interested in this position? Then please send in your CV and covering letter by email to:

hr@manorwildlifepark.co.uk

The closing date for this position is 14th January 2019.

Peter Dickinson Independent International Zoo Consultant +66 (0)93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com | Skype: peter.dickinson48

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Primate Care Staff

Primate Care Staff

After a recent restructure we are excited to be expanding our Primate Care Team.

Location - Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre, Dorset

This internationally-acclaimed rescue centre, in 65 acres of beautiful Dorset woodland, is home to over 250 primates.  Many have been neglected, kept in unnatural conditions, or experienced unbelievable cruelty.  At Monkey World, we strive to provide them company of their own kind in a safe and natural environment. Monkey World was set up in 1987 by Jim Cronin to provide a permanent, stable home for abused Spanish chimps.  Today, his wife, Dr Alison Cronin and the primate care staff continue to rescue and rehabilitate primates from all over the world.

The Role

The successful candidate will train on at least one of our six primate sections: orang-utans, chimpanzees, gibbons, capuchins, woolly monkeys and ‘small monkeys’. They will be involved in the day to day care of the primates including cleaning, diet preparation, health monitoring, enrichment, and operant conditioning. They will also be involved in record keeping and interacting with visitors in both formal and informal contexts.

Job Description

•        A minimum of 2 years’ experience in an animal care role – ideally this will include working with primates (Any applications with less than this experience will not be shortlisted).

•        Enthusiastic, high performing and motivated.

•        Good team worker with a positive outlook and excellent communication skills at all levels.

•        Commitment to continued professional development

•        Have a sound basis of practical knowledge and skill regarding a high level of animal care including dietary knowledge and husbandry.

•        Strong observation skills

•        Experience of public speaking

•        Full clean driving licence essential due to location

Condition of appointment

This position will be subject to a six-month probationary period

Desirable

•        A relevant animal-related qualification

•        Proven success or knowledge of operant conditioning.

The role is full time and includes weekend duties as part of the current rolling roster system. Salary is paid monthly. 28 days holiday per annum (including bank holidays). Staff accommodation dependant on availability.

Please send covering letter and current CV to: - hradmin@monkeyworld.org

Or alternatively post to:-

Jayne Gray

HR Manager

Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre

Longthorns

Wareham

Dorset

BH20 6HH

Closing Date 31st December 2018

Peter Dickinson Independent International Zoo Consultant +66 (0)93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com | Skype: peter.dickinson48

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