Zoo Jobs: Animal Keeper - Birds of Prey

Animal Keeper - Birds of Prey

Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park

Job title: Animal Keeper – Birds of Prey

Location: Blair Drummond Safari & Adventure Park, FK9 4UR

Salary: From £20,500 p.a.

Benefits: Company Pension, Life Insurance, Staff Family Passes, EAP, 20% Staff discount in Park, free parking, uniform.

Working hours: 40 hours per week (10 days in 14)

The Company

Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park was opened to the public in 1970 and was, at the time, one of Britain’s first safari parks. We are now one of the most popular visitor attractions in Scotland. The Park has a strong focus on conservation, education and the local community. We also run a successful fundraising program for conservation “link to the wild”.

We are currently looking for an experienced and confident animal keeper to join our team working with our Birds of Prey. This position is offered on a full time, permanent basis.

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity working as part of a small team, you will deliver high quality educational and entertaining displays of natural behaviours to large groups of the public in our daily presentations.

The position involves husbandry tasks, such as feeding, cleaning, health monitoring and some enclosure maintenance all delivered to a high standard.

The successful applicant must be highly motivated, flexible and hard-working and have a minimum of 2 years’ experience of delivering flying demonstrations. You will be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of operant conditioning training methods for educational presentations, health checks, and general husbandry.

You will be responsible for maintaining a safe environment for both yourself and the visitors by adhering to associated risk assessments and protocols without exception.

Applicant Requirements

This person must be a pro-active individual that will take a hands-on approach within the department with an eye for detail and presentation.

The candidate must have experience of handling various bird of prey species and delivering engaging and educational talks to large audiences.

The successful candidate will be able to work well as part of a team, have the ability to use their initiative, display an interest in and commitment to animal welfare, environmental enrichment and conservation,

Weekend, bank holiday working and flexibility in working hours is essential to this role. Some evening work will be required during special events throughout the year.

Ensuring the safety of our visitors, staff and animals is of key importance and ensuring that health & safety protocols are followed at all times.

Applicant Essentials

Experience of working with various bird of prey species. Minimum 2 + years.
Experience working/training medium to large eagle species
Experience working/training (lure swinging) different falcon species
Good observation and communication skills.
Self-motivated and enthusiastic
High understanding of following safe working protocols
A current full driving licence.
Animal related qualification to HND level or above.
The zoo animal management qualification (DMZAA) is desirable but not essential for this position.

Email recruitment@blairdrummond.com with a short covering letter and CV before 30th September 2021. Please use ‘Animal Keeper – Birds of Prey’ in the subject line of your email so that your application can be identified.

This vacancy was NOT sent directly to ZooNews Digest but has

been copied across as a service to the zoo community and to

ensure it reaches the 130,000+ zoo and aquarium staff...

some of whom may be looking for a new challenge.

You know it makes sense. To post directly please use

email in the signature file below.