Job opportunities

Trainee Cover Keeper

Trainee Animal Keeper Vacancy (Casual Hours)
We are pleased to announce that we have a new opportunity for a Trainee Cover Keeper to join our dedicated and skilled team here at Hertfordshire Zoo (previously known as Paradise Wildlife Park), with the opportunity of working with a wide range of taxa.
If you’re friendly, keen to learn, a hard worker, adaptable and excited by the idea of working with a variety of species, as well as interacting daily with our wonderful visitors, this could be the perfect job for you!
As one of our Cover Keepers, you will undertake a full range of husbandry duties, including enclosure maintenance, food provision, husbandry training and enrichment programmes over the five sections of our zoo (Paddocks & Farm, Primates & Small Mammals, Birds, Reptiles & Large Carnivores).  You’ll also play an important role in conservation education across the zoo, being actively involved in delivering a wide range of Animal Experiences and Keeper Talks.
Hertfordshire Zoo also has a team of volunteers and work experience students that our Keepers work alongside and supervise, so you’ll need to be friendly, a good communicator, naturally enthusiastic and a great team player.

Job Details:
•    Causal hours available throughout the year, generally 3-4 days per week
•    Hours: Summer 08.00-17.00, Winter 08.00-16.30
•    Applicants must be available and happy to work weekends, bank holidays and school holidays (flexibility in working days and hours is essential)
•    28 days PA paid annual leave (accrued pro-rata on hours worked)
•    Employee Assistant Programme, Company Pension and a whole host of staff benefits and discounts
•    Pay £10.75 per hour (increasing to above NMW in April 2024)

Primary Duties and Responsibilities include: 
•    Carrying out high standards of welfare and animal husbandry routines (e.g. food prep, feeding, cleaning, enrichment provision)
•    Undertaking and recording accurate animal observations and husbandry records
•    Delivering high standards of visitor interaction in the form of Keeper Talks, Encounters, Experiences, Tours and Education Events
•    Assisting work experience students and volunteers
•    General site maintenance and other tasks as required to provide the best visitor experience possible 

Requirements: 
•    An Animal Management related qualification
•    Previous paid or voluntary experience in a zoo environment 
•    Excellent communication skills (both 1-1 and public speaking)
•    Adaptable for a flexible rota
•    Physically fit for the demands of this role
•    Full UK driving licence and access to own vehicle (as HZ is not accessible by public transport)
•    In line with the requirements of the Asylum & Immigration Act 1996, all applicants must either be eligible to live and work in the UK or must obtain permits to work in the UK prior to application. Documented evidence of eligibility will be required from candidates as part of the recruitment process.