Zoo Jobs: Senior Keeper

Senior Keeper – Carnivores

Banham Zoo

About the role

• Fixed term contract for maternity cover, up to 1 year initially, but may lead to a permanent role.
• With support from line manager the successful candidate will perform all duties to ensure the smooth daily management of the park, ensuring that your department operates efficiently and safely.
• Assist in motivating and leading a team to deliver high standards of animal care and customer care to optimise the quality of animal welfare and visitor experience in support of ZSEAs’ vision and mission.
Some of the tasks you will do:
• Assist with the management and supervision of the daily operations of your respective team so that the highest level of husbandry according to the needs and requirements of the animals in your care and their enclosures and surroundings are maintained. Ensure that they are kept in the best physical and mental health possible, with consideration to budgetary constraints.
• Assist in the supervision and development of staff responsible to the role to address staff learning and development needs and promote a positive working environment.
• Prepare, carry out and monitor a full range of minor veterinary procedures/treatments as directed by the Vet and team leader.
• Engage with and support visitors, ensuring your message is consistent with team objectives and in line with ZSEAs’ mission and vision whist providing first class customer care and service.
• Monitor and report on all aspects within the dietary process from food delivery/storage through to the animal’s intake. As a result offer suggestions formodification and/or development of a dietary programme and improvements to the dietary process.
• Provide an appropriate diet, in terms of quantity, selection and presentation according to the relevant diet sheets.
• Establish and maintain, in consultation with the Team Leader or more senior, suitable environmental conditions giving thought to items such as climate, bedding, substrate and cage decoration.
• Maintain and improve enclosures and their surroundings for the benefit of animals and to enhance the visual presentation of the park to visitors in consultation with the Team Leader or more senior.
• Identify and seek to rectify in consultation with the Team Leader or more senior any potential hazards and breaches of security within animal enclosures.
• Introduce animals to accommodation in a way that maintains their health and welfare.
• Collate and record detailed and accurate animal records via the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS). As well as complying with department policies in relation to administration and health & safety to ensure they are appropriately followed.
• Continuously develop yourself through appropriate learning and development activities as agreed by line management in order to deliver excellence.

What we are looking for:

• Zoo relevant animal management qualification with 6 years+ experience of zoo animal management.
• Firearm licence if required.
• Comprehensive knowledge of animal husbandry in a range of species.
• Detailed knowledge/familiarity with applicable statutory laws and regulations.
• Detailed experience and knowledge of health & safety issues.
• Ability to assess risk and carry out basic logistical aspects of animal transportation of a variety of species.
• Positive attitude to personal growth, always keep abreast of current developments and trends in area of expertise.
• Full clean driving licence.

Unless specifically mentioned our vacancies are normally full time however we will consider, flexible working hours which will include weekends, bank holidays and occasional evenings.

In return we offer: Competitive pay and guaranteed hours, a contributory pension, 28 days paid holiday including bank holidays (pro-rata).

If you would like an opportunity to join our fantastic team, please download an application form from our website and then send it with a covering email explaining which role you are applying for and at which site and why you would be a suitable candidate for this position to:

HR mailbox: hr@zsea.org

Closing date for applications is 27th June 2021. Emails sent after this date will not be considered and due to the expected volume of applicants, unfortunately, we will not be able to advise if they were unsuccessful or provide feedback on their applications.

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