Zoo Jobs

Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Animal Keeper Team Leader - Great Apes

A unique career opportunity to lead the team caring for all 4 Great Apes!

East Midland Zoological Society has been running Twycross Zoo for almost 60 years in the heart of England in Atherstone. We are an award-winning conservation and science-led zoo which is rapidly growing, and pre-Covid, were welcoming over 600,000 people every year to our 100-acre rural site.

We are an ambitious organisation keen to drive the conservation and scientific aspects of the zoo to new heights as well as optimising on commercial advantages. We are the only zoo in the UK to house all 4 great apes - Gorilla, Orangutan, Bonobo and Chimpanzee - and we care for some of the most endangered animals to the highest welfare standards, including an extensive primate collection plus tiger, leopard, giraffe, rhino, penguin, flamingo and giant tortoise represented.

The Role - Animal Keeper Team Leader - Great Apes

Reporting to the Curator of Living Collections, you’ll play a key role in leading the team of around 14 colleagues caring for our Great Apes. Your role will require you to:

· Motivate and manage a team of Deputy Team Leaders and Keepers

· Ensure that the team are adequately trained and new employees are properly inducted

· Ensure that all departmental colleagues consistently demonstrate best customer service practice

· Carry out performance management of direct reports

· Liaise with the HR to ensure appropriate handling of people management issues

· Ensure that the day-to-day responsibilities for animal welfare and the presentation of the collection is met, while ensuring continued improvement of standards in line with best practice and being involved in making ethical decisions

· Work closely with the zoo’s animal health/veterinary department regarding all aspects of animal health care, including assisting with the capture and restraint of all species and being involved with implementation of preventative medicine programmes as required

· Maintain up-to-date knowledge and understanding, relevant to area of responsibility, utilising all available resources and making recommendations for change

· Ensure that budgeting guidelines and responsibilities are adhered to

· Represent the zoo on appropriate professional and scientific bodies and promote its profile and reputation as an outstanding centre of animal management, education and conservation

· Be part of the team ensuring the security of the zoo premises and grounds at all times, and handle emergencies as required

· Be part of the rota covering Duty Animal Manager role

Our Requirements – Animal Keeper Team Leader - Great Apes

· Proven relevant experience of zoological animal management, which must have included working with Great Apes

· Experience managing and motivating a team of animal keepers

· Flexible and calm working style to effectively handle a variety of issues at once

· IT competence, and good communication skills including ability to produce written documents as required

· A passion for the Zoo’s work and purpose

· Willingness to be trained as a first aider and to be on call as part of the zoo’s first aid duty rota

Although not essential, an appropriate animal related qualification or willingness to work towards, would be preferable.

The Package

Staff engagement is at the very core of what we do. We are committed to the fundamental approach of equal opportunities in employment.

You will benefit from:

· A salary of £26,520

· 31 days annual leave

· A staff membership card giving you free entry to the Zoo on your days off and discounts in our retail and food outlets, and

· Free onsite parking

· Permanent contract, working an average of 43 hours per week on a rota. You’ll work 5 days out of 7 between the hours of 8am to 6pm during the summer and 8am to 5pm during the winter months.

More about Twycross Zoo:

Over the last 8 years we have opened a new gibbon island complex, a multi-million-pound chimpanzee area, built a new tiger habitat and a new rhino area and welcomed our largest visitor numbers ever in 2019. We launched our Tz2030Vision in late 2019 which sets out the developments for the next 10 years including a National Science and Conservation Centre.

Covid has hit us hard but with great teamwork and restructuring only put development plans on hold for a year so we are emerging with a renewed energy to restart and continue our growth and success.

You’ll be part of an evolving and progressive organisation at Twycross Zoo East Midland Zoological Society. We can promise a challenging and supportive workplace where your expertise is valued, and change is a constant! Our organisation strives to educate and inspire everyone to care about, and therefore help save, the other species with which we share our planet.

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

Please apply via this link: https://jobs.twycrosszoo.org/twycrosszoo/search/vacancy/all/1/4283198/animal%20keeper%20tea m%20leader%20-%20great%20apes%20atherstone%20england.html?keywords=animal%20keeper

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Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

Qualified Animal Keeper

Qualified Animal Keeper

Based at Africa Alive!

About the role

The successful candidate will perform all duties to ensure the smooth running of the allocated animal section to optimise the quality of animal welfare and visitor experience in support of ZSEAs’ vision and mission.

Some of the tasks you will do:

· Help to ensure animal welfare, husbandry and management is of the highest standard, taking into account relevant legislation and best practice animal management.

· Contribute to the display of the animal collection to ensure suitable for animals needs and presentable to the public.

· 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.

· 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:

· You are expected to have worked in a zoo environment for approximately 4 years and possess the Advanced National Certificate in the Management of Zoo Animals (ANCMZA) or Diploma in the Management of Zoo and Aquarium Animals (DMZAA) - Essential.

· Can demonstrate excellent communication skills and have an understanding and interest in modern zoo animal management, including animal enrichment and training using operant conditioning methods.

· Experience of Taxa include primates, felids, canids, large hoofstock (including giraffe), small mammals and birds.

About us: 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 6th August 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.

ZSEA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All staff appointments are subject to satisfactory references and Right to Work in the UK. We are an equal opportunities employer

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Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

https://www.sparsholt.ac.uk/college/jobs/

Sunday, July 25, 2021

Lecturer – HE Applied Animal / Zoo Science

Lecturer – HE Applied Animal / Zoo Science

UNIVERSITY CENTRE SPARSHOLT HAMPSHIRE

Lecturer – HE Applied Animal / Zoo Science and Access to HE
£21,368 - £32,563 (depending on qualifications and experience)

University Centre Sparsholt is looking to appoint a lecturer and tutor in Applied Animal / Zoo Science to join the HE team. The successful candidate will be part of a team ensuring the quality of Sparsholt‘s Higher Education provision and will teach on a range of courses which may include Animal Science, Zoo Science and Access to HE. The role will involve lecturing, practical instruction, demonstration, and other appropriate work relating to students’ learning programmes. The post holder should be qualified to at least Level 6 and with post graduate qualifications in a relevant subject desirable. Significant work experience in the animal or zoo sector is essential. The post holder should also possess, or be willing to work towards, an appropriate teaching qualification.

This post will be based at the Sparsholt Campus.

Closing Date: 12 August 2021

College Benefits:

· Eligibility to join the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (a defined benefit pension scheme)

· Death benefit grant of 3 X salary if in the pension scheme

· Free on- site parking

· Occupational Sick Pay Scheme

· Occupational Maternity Pay Scheme

· Flexible Working Policy

· Holiday entitlement of 42 days plus bank holidays

· Access to an Employee Assistance Scheme

· On-site gym at the Sparsholt campus (membership £100 per year)

· Facility to purchase Sparsholt produce including: plants, fruit & vegetables, fish and game

· Ability to access a range of CPD events and support with undertaking professional qualifications.

· Various food outlets and eateries offering good value food and drink at competitive prices

There is a nursery on the Sparsholt campus operated by a commercial provider

Application packs are available from the HR Department

01962 797309

HR@sparsholt.ac.uk

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Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant