Senior Keeper

**Closing date**: 15th March 2024
**Department**: Animal Care Team
**Location**: Colchester Zoo
**Employment type**: Full time
**Hours Per Week**: 40 hours per week
**Salary**: £24,024 per annum

**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 carnivore department; a mixed taxa section responsible for Malayan Sun Bear, Amur Leopard, African Lion, Fennec Fox, Giant Anteater, Asian Short-clawed Otter, Binturong, Red Panda, Pileated Gibbon, Wreathed Hornbill and Lion-tailed Macaque.

**Role Responsibilities**:

- Provide excellent husbandry standards and welfare to a range of species.
- Input ideas for the continual progression and development of animal husbandry, breeding management and enclosure design.
- Mentor and allocate work duties to junior staff members; qualified keepers and volunteers; student keepers and work experience students.
- Ensure safe working protocols and practices across the animal section.
- Deliver enclosure encounters and experiences to zoo visitors for a range of species across the section.
- Demonstrate commitment to continuous personal development.
- Perform other duties as reasonably directed by the senior members of the Carnivore Department and Animal Management Team.

**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 carry out 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 with a name badge.

**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.
- Whilst doing this job, the employee is likely to be exposed to: outside weather conditions, tropical exhibits with high temperatures, moving mechanical parts, toxic or caustic chemicals, lifting heavy loads.

**Benefits**:

- FREE Zoo visits*
- FREE onsite parking
- Work place pension scheme
- Staff events