Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Seasonal Animal Presenter - Trainee



Seasonal Animal Presenter - Trainee

Location:           Edinburgh Zoo
Contract:           14 hours per week (FTC for 20 weeks)

Are you passionate about animals and have experience of working within a zoo presentations role? We’re looking for a Seasonal Animal Presenter – Trainees to join our dynamic team at Edinburgh Zoo

As the busy Summer period approaches, we are currently seeking a pro-active and enthusiastic Seasonal Animal Presenter – Trainee to join our team during this busy period. If you are passionate about animals and have experience of working within a zoo presentations role then we would like to hear from you.

What you’ll be doing…
There are all sorts of jobs to be done at Edinburgh Zoo to help keep this unique and wonderful place going.  Our Seasonal Animal Presenter – Trainee, in this physical hands-on role in a busy zoological park,  can enjoy a wide range of fun and exciting responsibilities, and these include:

·       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:
·       Feeding, cleaning, maintaining and presenting the enclosures and general care and welfare of the animals and these tasks will involve bending and lifting.
·       Carry out or assist with associated tasks, including record keeping and interacting with our visitors.
·       A working knowledge of ZIMS, SPARKS and other zoo management systems would be desirable.

We’re looking for positive team players with excellent communication skills, who are able to demonstrate a quality approach to their work. 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 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 20-week fixed term roles where the working hours are 14 hours per week and the posts will involve weekend and occasional evening work. Any offer of employment is subject to satisfactory references, evidence of qualifications, right to work in the UK and Basic Disclosure Scotland check prior to commencement.

We care for our people just as much as we look after our animals and visitors. As well as the fundamental benefits like salary and a Work Place 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!  We offer more than everyday job satisfaction - 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're also part of an amazing cause too!




Interested?
To apply, please complete a RZSS application form and recruitment monitoring form and email it to recruitment@rzss.org.uk. Postal applications may also be sent to:  The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh Zoo, HR Team, 134 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, EH12 6TS.

Closing date:     Wednesday 15th May 2019, with interviews likely to take place week 22nd May 2019.

Due to the level of interest in these positions, we are not able to contact each unsuccessful applicant individually. Therefore, if you have not been contacted by Friday 17 May 2019, please assume that you have been unsuccessful this time.

Connecting people with nature. Safeguarding species from extinction. 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. We’ve been a charity since our founding in 1909 and maintain a keen commercial edge to ensure a sustainable, bright and exciting future. Through our two sites, RZSS Edinburgh Zoo and RZSS Highland Wildlife Park, we provide unique and memorable experiences and engage over 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.  The RZSS strives to be an equal opportunities employer. Registered Charity SC004064









photo 
Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

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