Animal Keeper

**Who we are**:
Activate Learning is a pioneering education group with a global reach, committed to transforming lives through our approach to learning.

We see our employees as individuals, empowering them to make the right choices for their ambitions and careers. We value our people as vital to our continued success and aspire to a diverse, open and inclusive environment that provides the motivation for everyone to pursue their career goals and flourish.

When you work for Activate Learning, you’re working for an organisation that provides you with the advantages of a large employer, a trusted partner in your career development, and a transformational way of working whilst also investing in building a community environment for everyone.

**_ Together, we will bring out the best version of yourself._**

You will be working within a state-of-the-art £4 million animal management centre that is home to a wide range of species, on a 400-acre campus. Merrist Wood has a national and international reputation amongst employers and industry specialists and a long history of providing unrivalled education in the land-based sectors. You would be joining a well-established teaching and events team and will have the opportunity to help support study tours worldwide.

**About the role**:
You will be working within a state-of-the-art £4 million animal management centre that is home to a wide range of species, on a 400-acre campus. Merrist Wood has a national and international reputation amongst employers and industry specialists and a long history of providing unrivalled education in the land-based sectors. You would be joining a well-established teaching and events team and will have the opportunity to help support study tours worldwide.

We are currently recruiting a Animal Keeper to join our Landbased team at Merrist Wood College.

The role will involve both day to day animal keeping and assisting with commercial events such as children’s parties, experience days, education tours and more. You will also support project based learning sessions to develop learners' wider skillsets within industry and assist with the supervision of external work experience students undertaking practical exercises in the facility, ensuring the development of industry standard safety practice, animal related skills and attributes.

This is a permanent, full time (37 hours per week) contract.

**What do you need to be successful in this role?**

You will have experience of working within the animal industry, with an animal related qualification at Level 3 or above. This would include experience with the captive husbandry, health and nutrition of a variety of animal species and evidence of managing health and safety in the workplace. You will need to be competent with exotic animal husbandry, small animal and production livestock, including the ability to safely capture, handle and restrain.

**Why work with the Activate Learning Group?**

**Here are some of our benefits**:

- Enrolment into generous pensions schemes
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Excellent on-site facilities including free onsite parking, refectory facilities, Hair and Beauty salons
- An extensive Learning and Development programme with a range of CPD opportunities
- Access to qualified coaches for all staff
- Leadership and Management development programmes
- Flexible working opportunities, where appropriate
- A comprehensive wellbeing programme including access to Westfield Health Cash Plan and Everymind app
- Mental Health support including access to Mental Health First Aiders
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Employee resource groups
- Cycle to work scheme
- Refer a friend vacancy incentive
- Access to student discount programmes

**Applications are reviewed and shortlisted on a rolling basis, we reserve the right to interview, appoint and close adverts.**
- Activate Learning is committed to safeguarding and expect all our staff to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to undergo a DBS check at the appropriate level._
- Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK, we do not sponsor work permits. Work permits from other organisations are unacceptable as proof of right to work in the UK._
- Recruitment agencies who submit unsolicited CVs to any partner or employee at Activate Learning, have no authority to enter into an arrangement. Recruitment agencies engaging with Activate Learning Talent Team will be on our PSL._