Job Description

Animal Keeper (Grade One) – Mammals

Twycross Zoo is an award-winning conservation and science-led zoo in the heart of England. This year we are celebrating our 60th birthday! We are rapidly growing and welcoming over 600,000 people every year to our 100-acre rural site near Atherstone.

We are home to 400 animals, including one of the largest chimpanzee families in the UK, and our primate collection is up there with the best in the world! We’re the only zoo in the UK to house all four great apes and we care for many other endangered species to the highest welfare standards, including Eastern black rhino, Sumatran tigers, Amur leopards and snow leopards.

The Role – Animal Keeper (Grade One)

As an Animal Keeper, you’ll play a key role in caring for the animals in our mammals section, which includes the large and small hoofstock, carnivores and small mammals (for example: Giraffes, Rhinos, Meerkats, Tigers, Snow Leopard, Goats, Vicuna etc.).

You will help to ensure that animal keeping is carried out to the Zoo’s required standards, with duties that will include although not be limited to:

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

Our Requirements - Animal Keeper (Grade One)

• Experience as an Animal Keeper in a zoo environment, which must have included working with category one mammals
• Superb knowledge of animals that will be within your regular care and all responsible work practices relevant to zoonotic diseases
• A passion for Twycross Zoo’s work and purpose
• Self-motivated and with ability to work independently and as part of a team
• A flexible approach to duties and working hours
• Whilst we are an equal opportunities employer, you will need to be physically fit due to the nature and demands of the role

Although not essential, an appropriate animal related qualification would be highly advantageous.

The Package

• 12 month fixed term contract
• Salary of £23,839
• 31 days annual leave
• Staff membership card giving you free entry to the zoo on your days off
• Complimentary Twycross Zoo ticket allowance for friends and family
• 25% discount in the Twycross Zoo gift shop
• 20% discount in Twycross Zoo food and beverage outlets
• Free onsite parking
• Star of the month award scheme
• Access to work counselling services

You’ll work 43 hours per week on average 5 days out of 7 on a three-week rolling rota between the hours of 8am to 6pm during the summer and 8am to 5pm during the winter months.

More About Us

Twycross Zoo is at the forefront of conservation, education and research. We have a strong commitment to our award-winning education programme, aiming to increase the level of awareness, knowledge and understanding of visitors about our animals. We aim to inspire visitors to support biodiversity conservation in any way they can.

This is an exciting time to join Twycross Zoo following £19m grant funding to develop the National Science and Conservation Centre (NSCC) on the Twycross Zoo site. The NSCC will support vital work around species conservation. It will bring together experts in conservation science and train the next generation of conservationists, whilst offering researchers from around the world the opportunity to study the four great apes and other endangered species, in naturalistic complex environments. The facilities will include a lecture theatre, classrooms, and laboratories, all planned to open in 2025.

How to Apply

Shortlisting and interviews for this Animal Keeper (Grade One) role will take place while the advert is live; the vacancy will be closed as soon as the successful candidate is appointed. Applicants are therefore encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible.

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

Job Tags

Full time, Apprenticeship, Fixed term contract, Traineeship, Summer work, Online, No agency, Flexible hours, Rotating shift,

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