Job opportunities

Conservation Social Science Voluntary Work Placement

Conservation Social Science Voluntary Work Placement – Full-time 12 month voluntary industrial placement commencing September 2024

Are you excited by the prospect of gaining invaluable work experience with one of Europe’s leading Zoological collections?  

Global biodiversity conservation is a multi-disciplinary endeavour, with research in the social sciences playing an increasingly central role. As such, this Voluntary Work Placement will provide valuable training and experience that will be essential for all aspiring conservationists.

What you’ll be doing… 

Working with the Lead Conservation Scientist and Conservation Scientist – Social Science in a team environment, the social science placement will include:

•    Conducting a specific social science research project. This could include diverse areas such as educational impact, human/ animal interactions, connectedness to nature, or human behaviour change, either related to zoo visitors or as part of our field conservation programmes. 
•    Potential opportunities to attend conferences to present your project.
•    Opportunity to report findings and write summary articles and documents for a range of stakeholders, potentially including the opportunity to be part of peer-reviewed publications.

The Work Placement 

•    Voluntary Work Placement for 12 months commencing in September 2024
•    Full Training with the Conservation & Science Teams
•    Full uniform provided, along with lunch vouchers for the days you attend 
•    Monthly stipends of up to £120 per month may be payable based on appropriate expenses
•    Full Time Hours - 40 hours per week

Our Requirements 

•    A passion for biodiversity conservation and an interest in the human dimensions that influence it.
•    Being highly organised and proactive in your approach to work.
•    The ability to write and deliver oral presentations in a clear, concise and engaging manner. 
•    A desire to learn how science can be used to help support and inform conservation in a zoo setting.
•    Experience of using Microsoft Office software such as Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. 
•    Some data handling and analysis experience is desirable.

This opportunity is only available to those studying at a UK university on a degree programme with an industrial year. 

All industrial placements are full-time voluntary positions for 12 months, commencing September 2024. Although no direct animal contact takes place in this role, you will attend monthly workshops to gain wider knowledge of modern zoo management. 

We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse organisation and encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Interviews are anticipated to take place in January 2024