Saturday, August 31, 2019

Senior Animal Keeper


Senior Animal Keeper

Colchester Zoo

Colchester Zoo is home to over 240 species in 60 acres of parkland and lakes. The Zoo’s mission is to provide a first class experience for all its visitors at the same time as furthering understanding and respect for animals through education and research. Through visitors’ funds Colchester Zoo undertakes breeding programmes for endangered species and supports numerous in-situ conservation projects via the Zoo’s charitable arm, Action for the Wild and it’s very own UmPhafa Private Nature Reserve in South Africa.

An exciting position has arisen for a senior animal Keeper to join our team and contribute to our mission at Colchester Zoo in a full-time role working with a range of Carnivore, primate, bird and hoofstock species.

The successful applicant will be part of a team entrusted with the care of a range of animals and will be required to work with dangerous species in a safe and secure manner, input ideas for the continual progression and development of animal husbandry and enclosure design and carry out talks and presentations to the public as well as maintain high standards of animal care and breeding management. As a senior keeper they will be expected to oversee the daily supervision of junior staff, student keepers and work experience, ensure safe working protocols and practices, have a good understanding of risk assessments and on occasions manage the section in the absence of the Head and Deputy.

We are looking for an individual who is highly motivated and hardworking, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience working in a zoological collection. Excellent customer service, communication and animal husbandry skills are essential and some experience of supervising staff and managing risk in a zoo environment would be preferable.

Applicants should have the Diploma in the Management of Zoo Animals and Aquaria or an equivalent qualification and have a full valid driving licence.

This is a permanent position with a start date as soon as is possible and Salary is dependent on qualifications and experience.

Please send a completed application form which can be found here -


Along with a copy of your CV and a covering letter by email.

 Closing date for applications is: 9th Sep 2019











photo 
Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant
at No comments:

Experienced Animal Keeper



Experienced Animal Keeper

Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park

The Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park (AWCP) Gibraltar has a vacancy for an experienced animal keeper to join our small team.

An exciting opportunity to help the park to achieve its objectives: Excellent husbandry standards, partaking in conservation projects relevant to our collection and to provide excellent conservation education.

Keepers are required to be involved in a full range of husbandry duties including general enclosure cleaning, food provisions, husbandry training, and enrichment programmes across all sections of the park. Experience with enclosure furnishing and maintenance would be a distinct advantage. Keepers will also be encouraged to take on other important roles within the park.

The successful applicant must have previous experience employed within a zoo environment for at least 2 years.

The applicant must have excellent communication skills and able to communicate well with visitors and staff. In a small team attitude is everything, we are looking for a team player with an ability to work with a range of people from different backgrounds. Reception duties and educational talks and tours are also a requirement. The successful applicant will be enthusiastic, personable and also have the ability to work independently.


Position requirements:

•    Full time; Permanent position

•    Reports to; Senior keeper & Manager

•    Hours; 37 hrs/wk, 9am-5pm. Includes weekend and Bank Holiday work on a rotated basis. Due to a small staff base, flexibility is required.


Roles and Responsibilities:

•    Carrying out and enforcing high standards of welfare and animal husbandry routines e.g. food    prep, feeding, cleaning, enrichment provision etc.

•    Undertake and record animal observations. ZIMS or ARKS experience would be desirable.

•    Deliver high standards of visitor interaction in the form of; keeper talks, experiences, tours and education and charity events.

•    Liaise and assist in general duties and requirements as directed by senior management

•    Other duties to support effective and efficient site maintenance may include: First Aider, supervising volunteer schedules and tasks, pruning, gardening and general cleaning in order to maintain high standards.

Applicant Requirements:

•    An animal science related qualification

•    2 years experience in a zoological collection preferable

•    Excellent communication skills

•    Adaptable for a flexible rota

•    Physically fit for the demands of this role

•    Full driving licence


If you would like the opportunity to join our expanding and proactive team please send your CV and cover letter to: info@awcp.gi








photo 
Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant
at No comments:

Elephant Keeper



Elephant Keeper

Woburn Safari Park

Woburn Safari Park is currently looking to recruit an experienced Animal Keeper to join the Elephant team.

The Elephant Herd consists of 4 Adult Asian elephants and our juvenile, which are managed primarily in free contact.

Duties will include daily husbandry and management of the elephants including training, washing and exercising.  The successful applicant will be required to work as part of a close knit team and will be able to demonstrate the good communication skills required for regular elephant presentations and special experiences.

The ideal candidate would be required to have the following;

  • Experience working in free contact with elephants preferable but not essential.
  • Experience working with animals in a zoo environment or similar.
  • Work well within a team and be able to supervise and develop work experience students.
  • Flexible approach to work and working hours.
  • Current full driving licence.

The position is full time working 5 days out of 7.  As this will include regular weekend working, a flexible approach to days / hours will be required.

For further information and to apply, please visit:










photo 
Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant
at No comments:

Zoo Director



Director

Dublin Zoo


On the retirement of the current Director, The Zoological Society of Ireland invites applications for the above position.

Dublin Zoo’s mission is to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature through involvement in conservation and by inspiring passion through education and engaging visitor experiences.

Dublin Zoo has transformed beyond recognition in the last decade and is now considered to be one of the world’s best Zoos. Renowned for creating world-class habitats, providing animal care to the highest standard, and producing engaging conservation education and recreation programmes, Dublin Zoo is a benchmark for what a modern-day world-class Zoo can be.

Dublin Zoo is looking for an inspirational visionary leader with excellent operational and people management skills, an innovator and strategic leader who can create a vision of the future and lead and motivate the teams to achieve that vision. He/she will continue to build on the successes of Dublin Zoo’s transformation and will play a major role in realising the long-term vision of Dublin Zoo.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record and extensive leadership and management experience in an accredited Zoological Garden and/or Wildlife Park. They will hold a Bachelor’s degree, ideally in a field related to the position. An advanced degree is preferred.


Letters of application, including CV, should be made via email to:

David Casey, Recruitment Director, Management Support Services,

david@mssirl.ie no later than the 30th September 2019.

 A full job description is available on request.


Dublin Zoo is an Equal Opportunities Employer.













photo 
Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant
at No comments:

Friday, August 30, 2019

Animal Keeper – Primates



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Animal Keeper – Primates 

Based in the heart of England, Twycross Zoo (TZ) is an award-winning conservation charity and rapidly growing visitor attraction. We’re 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, we launched our 20-year, £55million Masterplan. Since this time, new habitats which have opened to the public include Giraffe Savannah and Gibbon Forest. Recently, we’ve opened a new £3.5 million world-class chimpanzee habitat, Chimpanzee Eden, and are looking forward to building on this continued growth and success. Renowned as a specialist primate zoo, we care for a wide variety of monkeys and apes, and we are the only zoo in the UK to accommodate all four Great Apes.

What will this role of Animal Keeper entail?

As a Primates Animal Keeper, you’ll play a key role in caring for the animals in the Primates section of Twycross Zoo working with everything from Gibbons through to Marmosets, ensuring that animal keeping is carried out to the Zoo’s required standards. Your duties will include but not be limited to;

•        Preparing and distributing food and water to animals
•        Assisting with the capture and restraint of animals when required
•        Learning about the animals and reporting any animal health concerns to the Section Head
•        Assisting with maintaining enclosures, food preparation and public viewing areas to a high standard of hygiene, cleanliness and exhibition
•        Motivating and encouraging colleagues, and assisting with the development of Trainee Keepers and providing guidance to work experience students and apprentices
•        Answering enquiries from the public in a helpful and polite manner

What will I need to be considered for this Animal Keeper vacancy?

•        At least 3 years’ experience of animal keeping, along with an appropriate animal related qualification (or willing to work towards)
•        Superb knowledge of animals and all responsible work practices relevant to zoonotic diseases
•        A passion for the Zoo’s work and purpose
•        Willing to be trained as a first aider and to be on call as part of the Zoo's first aid duty rota
•        A flexible approach to duties and working hours

Please note, whilst Twycross Zoo is an equal opportunities employer, the successful applicant will need to be physically fit due to the nature and demands of the role.

What will I receive in return?

As an Animal Keeper you’ll receive a salary of £20,089 per annum, along with fantastic additional benefits including 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.

Contract: Permanent, working average of 43 hours over 5 days out of 7 between the hours of 8am to 5pm during the winter months, and 8am to 6pm for the remainder of the year.

More about us:

You’ll be part of an evolving and progressive organisation, with staff engagement at its very core. Our 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 our dedicated and enthusiastic team of colleagues at the heart of everything we do, we aim to become a recognised “Centre of Excellence” that continues to make a significant contribution to the welfare and conservation of animals, especially primates, and remain at the heart of conservation.

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


All applications for this Animal Keeper vacancy are to be submitted online, and strictly no agency calls or agency CV submissions.













photo 
Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant
at No comments:

Cover Keeper



Cover Keeper

We are looking for an ambitious individual to join our animal care team. If you want to be part of one of the UK's fastest growing zoos and are excited about the prospect of being part of something new, this position might be for you!

Wingham Wildlife Park is a family run wildlife park with big emphasis on animal husbandry, conservation, education and safety for our animals, staff and visitors. We are looking for a like minded “team player” who would fit in amongst our team. This position will cover our Birds, Mammals, Primates, Carnivores and Reptiles sections at Wingham Wildlife Park.

The Candidate Will:
•        Be able to communicate on a one-to-one basis as well as leading public talks to large crowds.
•        Have experience working with exotic species in a zoo setting (preferably at least 3 years and with Cat 1 species).
•        Be able to work as part of a team and on their own.
•        Have exceptional time keeping skills.
•        Show good practical animal husbandry skills.
•        Have relevant animal husbandry qualifications or equivalent experience.
•        Demonstrate a working knowledge of positive reinforcement training.
•        Be flexible and adjust to different sections quickly.
•        Have a valid UK driving licence or good access to public transport.

The Role Involves:
•        Day to day husbandry of animals in our park.
•        Good observational and note keeping skills when working with the animals at our park.
•        Giving talks to visitors about some of the species in the park.
•        Conducting visitor experiences either on a one to one basis or small groups.
•        Strict adherence to safe working practices.
•        Maintaining high standards around the park including emptying bins, weeding and window cleaning.
About Employment with WWP:

This full time position (winter; 40 hours per week, summer; 45 hours per week) requires people to be comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions, including working on weekends, during school holidays and on bank holidays.

We give statutory holiday entitlement.

This position will start pay at the rate of the national minimum wage. On the successful completion of a 6 month probationary period a wage increase will occur. 

All applications to be addressed for the attention of Ruth Wilder to headkeeper@winghamwildlifepark.co.uk along with a covering letter and CV. For applications to this particular job please use reference Cover Keeper in the email title. Any applications through other channels will be disregarded.
Closing date for applications:- 27th September 2019

Successful applicants may be contacted before the closing date for applications via email to arrange interviews.







photo 
Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant
at No comments: