Senior Keeper

**Senior Keeper - Job Description Salary £26,000**

A new and exciting opportunity has arisen at Hogshaw Farm & Wildlife Park. This growing collection supports the work of the RBST and native European species. We are looking for a dedicated and passionate Senior Keeper to join our wonderful small team of animal keepers.

You will assist the Head of Farm & Wildlife in running all sections, ensuring high standards and helping develop the customer experience and business offering.

**Main Responsibilities**:

- Mentoring the team of keepers, work experience students and volunteers.
- Ability to contribute to a team environment, be a team player and add value to that team when required.
- Maintain excellent communication with all staff. Good communication skills (both oral and written).
- Promotion of excellent communication within the farm and wildlife team across all platforms.
- Must have good observation and deduction skills and the ability to act appropriately when situations arise which require intervention.
- Assist with supervision and training of all staff in maintaining high standards of hygiene, equipment care, and husbandry as a routine part of daily duties.
- Be able to manage the section in the Head of Farm and Wildlife’s absence and report handovers that are clear to ensure information is not lost.
- Manage and record medication use in animals effectively and deliver medication when required via veterinary advise.
- Familiarity, compliance and monitoring of all Health and Safety protocols and documentation. This includes emergency procedures, risk assessments and safe working practices. Ability to instruct others in the above and monitor compliance.
- Be responsible for stock control of animal feed, bedding, medication and other supplies. Must be well acquainted with the seasonal feed requirements of the key classes of stock in terms of animal health requirements and the ever-changing feeding priorities.
- Assist with record keeping for all aspects of livestock husbandry - ensuring that all records are up to date, sufficient and accurate. This is to include daily animal records, breeding plans and health records.
- Be competent to work on all animal sections and pay an integral role in training and enrichment for all species.
- Ensure that all animal enclosures and surrounds are maintained to a high standard for the safety and well-being of the animals and aesthetics for visiting public.
- Communicate with outside agencies such as the veterinary practice and be prepared to assist in routine or emergency medical treatment or any other procedure when necessary.
- Assist with the capture and restraint of animals when needed, whilst minimising the stress on the animal.
- To ensure that all animal experiences, VIP experiences, daily animal encounters are planned, well organised, conducted on time and to a high standard providing outstanding customer service.
- Deliver and show a high standard of public interaction in our daily shows and encounters.

**Essential qualities**:

- Be a supportive team worker and offer mentoring, training, support and motivation to others.
- Demonstrate excellent time management in all aspects of work.
- Be a positive role model for other staff, volunteers and work experience students.
- Show initiative and have a positive outlook.
- Engaging with social media content and other marketing materials.
- Have a minimum of 5 years employed experience within a zoological establishment.
- Have a minimum of 3 years training birds of prey.
- Hold the DMZAA or equivalent qualification.
- Have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Have an up-to-date knowledge of current practices in animal husbandry and welfare and undertake development activities to maintain this.
- Experience with ZIMs.
- Have basic competence in DIY and be willing to learn.
- Full driving licence and have own transportation due to remote location.
- Be a consistent and professional representative of Hogshaw Farm and Wildlife Park.

**Salary**: £26,000.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking

Ability to commute/relocate:

- Buckingham: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

**Education**:

- Bachelor's (preferred)

**Experience**:

- zoo keeping: 5 years (required)
- bird of prey: 3 years (required)

Work Location: In person