Zoo Team Leader

Hobbledown Heath
- South West**Contact**:
**Sector**:

- Animal Care**Type**:

- Paid**Contract type**:

- Full-time**Salary**:

- 22KHobbledown Heath Adventure Farm Park & Zoo is now open and is recruiting for a Zoo Team Leader to support the Zoo and Education manager in overseeing a small team and managing the animal collection.

**About the Company**

Escapade Group Limited operate the ultimate indoor and outdoor adventure parks. Currently operating three popular brands across five sites, the business has ambitious plans to continue growing and expanding. At present, there is an established Hobbledown Adventure Farm Park & Zoo at Epsom and two Kidspace indoor play and children’s party venues at Croydon and Romford. Hobbledown Heath Adventure Farm Park & Zoo and Gripped London have both just recently opened in Hounslow, West London. We welcome over 700,000 people a year through our doors and host over 3000 birthday parties a year.

**About the Role**

The Zoo Team Leader is responsible for supporting the Zoo and Education manager in overseeing a small team and managing the animal collection, and will also play a key role in terms of educational visits, content and delivering educational talks, and guest experiences.

As well as ensuring the day-to-day operation runs smoothly, the Zoo Team Leader is responsible for health and safety, the visitor and school group experience, the animal team, animal welfare, specific elements of cost control and the cleanliness and presentation of the site. The Zoo Team Leader is responsible to ensure the site’s compliance to zoo licencing and BIAZA/NFAN requirements.

The main responsibilities for this role include but are not limited to:

- Maintain animal department safe systems of work in line with the standard operating procedures.
- Responsible for animal department health and safety, including daily, weekly, and monthly health and safety audits and checklists of all enclosures and animal team.
- Ensure full compliance in relation to animal welfare, hygiene standards, zoo licencing, BIAZA (_British Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums_), and NFAN (_National Farm Attractions Network) _requirements.
- Create and oversee animal department maintenance scheduling, routine and as needed.
- Support the Zoo and Education manager in overseeing zoo licencing and BIAZA inspections and compliance.
- Support the Zoo and Education manager in overseeing NFAN inspections and compliance.
- Participate in annual ethics meetings.
- Work with the Zoo and Education manager to schedule routine health checks, testing, vaccination schedules etc. with the site veterinarian(s).
- Work with site veterinarian(s), Zoo and Education manager, and the Curator to ensure animal welfare standards are maintained and site audits are routinely conducted.
- Ensure animal team is trained, signed off and in full compliance of all company policies.
- Oversee delivery of animal experiences to include scheduled feedings and zookeeper talk times, meet
- and - greets, birthday party add-ons, school group curriculum and tours.
- Duty Manager shifts for the whole site at Hobbledown Heath Adventure Farm Park & Zoo.
- Lead the animal team to deliver a fantastic visitor experience.
- Drive positive visitor feedback on all online social media channels.
- Deal with guest enquiries, feedback, and complaints regarding animal department and education programming in a timely manner.
- Resolve complaints and address any underlying and/or ongoing issues.
- Ensure the site is clean, tidy, and well presented.
- Complete all daily, weekly, and monthly administration and reporting as directed and required by the Zoo and Education manager, Curator, and General manager. Additionally ensure DSR (Daily Specimen Reports) are completed.
- Deliver educational programming content and curriculum per zoo licencing requirements.
- Assist Zoo and Education manager to create, maintain, introduce conservation initiatives per zoo licencing requirements.

Support the Zoo and Education manager in overseeing a small team, this role will motivate and lead a team to ensure they are fully engaged and attend to any issues in a timely manner.

Based in Hounslow, West London, this is a full-time permanent position and will work any five days out of seven.

This position will be based at Hobbledown Heath:
Staines Road, Hounslow, TW4 5DL

The nearest tube station is Hounslow Central station.

**About You**

We are looking for a strong Zoo Team Leader who is:

- A proven people manager who leads by example and is happy to be very hands on.
- Knowledgeable and experienced in terms of handling animals and dealing with a variety of hoofstock and livestock species.
- Knowledgeable and aware of relevant legislation, rules and regulations in relation to the animal and zoo industry.
- Passionate about delivering the best visitor experience.
- Passionate about the wellbeing of our animals.
- Focussed on health and safety, employee engagement, the visitor exp