Keeper - Carnivores

Chester Zoo
- Chester**Contact**:
**Sector**:

- Animal Care**Type**:

- Paid**Contract type**:

- Part-time**Salary**:

- £24,632.63 per annum pro rata (based on a 40 hour week)**What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?**
Well, where do we start? Here goes
We’re a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal welfare experts, marketeers, visitor experience professionals, environmental policy influencers; the list goes on. Each and every one of us is on a mission to make Chester Zoo the best in the world, and our planet a better place.
As the UK’s biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans, and there’s always lots going on here. We’re an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of nearly 500 permanent and 500 seasonal team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us for the long term on our exciting journey.
Our working environment could not be more different from a typical office - where else can you see critically endangered orangutans from your office window, or stroll among rare giraffes and tigers on your lunch break?

**As a Keeper on our carnivore section you will**:

- Maintain excellent husbandry, health and welfare of a wide variety of species which have specialised requirements and needs. Train, restrain and capture animals, assisting veterinary staff with procedures and administering medication with relevant after care.
- Contribute to and ensure risk assessments and safe operating procedures are adhered to when working with all animals.
- Promote Chester Zoo’s mission through daily interactions with our visitors on site and externally through a variety of media and specialised conferences.
- Keep and update daily records of their teams’ animals, which are then uploaded onto the global online animal records system, ZIMS (Zoological Information Management System).
- A HND or degree level qualification in a zoological related science or equivalent experience
- Proven experience in the care and management of a variety of carnivore species in a zoo or safari park setting
- Knowledge and experience in modern zoo animal husbandry
- Outstanding observational skills with excellent attention to detail
- Experience of working within strict Safe Working Practices
- A full driving licence valid in the UK
- Competency in the use of computers and basic software packages, including ZIMS software, would be advantageous for this role in order to maintain accurate records

**The package**:

- Permanent 24 hour per week contract
- £24,632.63 per annum pro rata (based on a 40 hour week)
- Hours of work are 24 hours per week, including weekends and Bank Holidays as rostered.
- 33 days annual leave per annum pro rata
- Staff pass so that you can visit the zoo during your time off plus multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family
- Cycle to work scheme
- Healthcare plan and employee assistance programme
- Discounted gym membership
- Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks
- Pension scheme with generous employer contributions of up to 9%
- Excellent training and career progression opportunities

**More About Us**
We’re not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that’s home to 20,000 incredible animals. We’re not just the UK’s most popular zoo. We’re a major wildlife charity that’s committed to the recovery of endangered species, globally. And, as the world faces an extinction crisis, we’re making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it’s needed most. We are Chester Zoo and we prevent extinction.