Senior Animal Keeper – Familiar Friends Section

Department
Animal Care team

Location
Colchester Zoo

Employment Type
Full time

Hours Per Week
40 hours per week

If you are interested in applying, please complete the Application Form below and send the completed form along with your CV to Mrs Liz Butcher, Living Collections Manager, by email to vacancies@colchesterzoo.org

Apply Now

Introduction to the Department

An exciting position has arisen for a Senior Keeper to join our team and contribute to our mission at Colchester Zoo in a full-time role working within our Familiar Friends department; a mixed taxa section responsible for meerkats, skunks, armadillos, wallabies, rainbow lorikeets, tortoise species, koi carp, invertebrate species, and domestic and companion animals.

Role Responsibilities

The candidate will work within the Animal Department to carry out husbandry duties and maintain high standards of welfare for the animal species in their care.

As a senior keeper, the candidate will be required to input ideas for the continual progression and development of animal husbandry, breeding management and enclosure design on the section

Alongside more senior members of staff, the job holder will be responsible for mentoring and allocating work duties to junior employed staff members; qualified keepers and volunteers; student keepers and work experience students.

The candidate will ensure safe working protocols and practices and have a good understanding of risk assessments.

The job holder will deliver enclosure encounters and experiences to zoo visitors for a range of species across the section.

• Provide excellent husbandry standards and welfare to a range of species
• Mentor and allocate work duties to junior members of staff and volunteers
• Ensure safe working practices across the animal section
• Deliver enclosure encounters and experiences to zoo visitors

• Demonstrate commitment to continuous personal development.
• Perform other duties as reasonably directed by the senior members of the Familiar Friends Department (Team Leader and Lead Keeper) and the Animal Management Team (Zoological Director, Curator of Living Collections, Manager of Living Collections and Head Keeper)

Role Requirements

	Essential	Desirable
Husbandry Skills & Experience	4-7 years’ experience in a zoological collection High standard of practical skill in animal husbandry, including training and enrichment High standard of animal observation skills High ability to develop animal husbandry, breeding management and enclosure design on the section Knowledge of ZIMS Knowledge of zoo licencing and legislation	Skills in handling and restraint of various species Confidence and ability in dealing with medical issues Knowledge of water quality parameters and management for a range of species Experience in operating filtration systems and life support systems Knowledge of uv requirements for a range of species
Team Work & Ability to Follow Instruction	Ability to work in a team and contribute to team goals Ability to harness positive relationships with all other team members regardless of level / section Ability to follow instruction and carryout tasks at manager’s / senior staff member’s request
Leadership & Mentoring		Ability to mentor and allocate work duties to more junior employed staff members and volunteers
Health & Safety	Good understanding of risk assessments Ability to ensure safe working practices at Senior Keeper level Good understanding of zoo emergency procedures	Ability to manage risk in a zoo environment Ability to develop safe working protocols
Communication & Presentation Skills	Proficient communication and presentation skills to deliver animal encounters and experiences Good communication and presentation skills to deliver education sessions and media
Skills & Experience	Trained in manual handling Computer literate with proficient knowledge of the major Microsoft Office programmes Proficient written skills, including record keeping	Trained in working at height Written skills, including proposals and protocols
Other	DMZAA or equivalent qualification Full driving licence Ability to use own initiative to solve problems Hard working and highly-motivated Excellent punctuality and time keeping Dependable and trustworthy Flexible and adaptable Warm, open-minded and professional Commitment to employment at Colchester Zoo	Firearms certificate Ability and willingness to represent Colchester Zoo at external conferences Ability and willingness to present at external conferences and lead internal training at Colchester Zoo

Working Hours

This is a full-time position. An average of 40 hours a week (5 days) which will include regular weekend work and will increase in busy periods.

Uniform

Full uniform (including boots) will be provided. Full uniform must be worn at all times.

Evaluation

For the first five months of employment, the jobholder will be asked to complete a one month, three month and five month self-assessment. This will gauge their feelings of the job and assess their progress towards meeting targets.

Working Environment

Colchester Zoo is a non-smoking environment and smoking is not permitted by members of staff whilst on the premises.
Colchester Zoo is an equal opportunities employer.
You may be required to work offsite on animal transfers on occasion.