Job opportunities

Deputy Team Leader - Rhino Section

About Us:

ZSEA (Zoological Society of East Anglia) is the charity which runs Banham Zoological Gardens and Africa Alive Zoological Reserve and is in an exciting period of change. Our mission is to connect communities to nature for conservation. To strengthen our commitment to conservation through collaborations, networking, and training activities to measurably improve local, national, and global biodiversity; To educate about nature, in nature, and for nature to foster engagement with the natural world; and to enable Africa Alive Zoological Reserve and Banham Zoological Gardens to empower people to make positive changes in their lives and local communities by promoting the connections between nature and well-being.

Overview of Role:

An exciting opportunity has arisen within ZSEA, and we are looking to recruit a Deputy Team Leader for the Rhino Team within the Animal dept at Africa Alive. The role will take responsibility of the daily management of the section and team, ensuring that the department operates efficiently and safely. The role requires the Deputy Team Leader to step up into covering Animal Duty Manager responsibilities for specific periods of time. The Deputy Team Leader must undertake training to ensure that they are fully compliant with all emergency procedures and circumstances that are involved in taking responsibility. This is a key role working as part of our professional team based on the rhino section. For the right candidate this offers a great opportunity to work with a variety of species including but not limited to; White rhinos, Somali wild ass, Addax, Chapmans zebra, Blesbok, Dwarf forest buffalo, King colobus, Drill, Rock hyrax.

Main Duties and Key Responsibilities:

• Be able to lead the team in the absence of the Team Leader
• Be able to write and review risk assessments and safe operating procedures, training process and animal husbandry, best practice protocols.
• Ensure that high standards of welfare, maintenance and animal husbandry are maintained.
• Work with the Animal Manager and the Vet team to report on the health and welfare of the animals and advise on improvements that can be made.
• Recording sickness absence for staff on the section and conducting return to work interviews.
• Ensure that ZIMS records are kept up to date.
• Work on the section as a member of the team to train, supervise and cover staff shortages as required.
• Observing the behaviour, health and security of animals and reporting any issues to the Team Leader / Animal Manager; ensuring that conditions for animals are of the highest standards and reporting any problems, including defects or repairs required to enclosures, to the relevant departments required.
• Communicate efficiently with the public to increase public satisfaction and support ZSEA’s aims and objectives.

 Person Specification:

• Extensive experience of animal management working in a zoo environment
• Must have a high-level qualification in a relevant field, MSc, BSc, DMZAA or higher qualifications in a related subject is an advantage.
• Previous experience managing or supervising a large team.
• Broad taxonomic knowledge of a range of species and particular expertise to the taxa on section.
• An ability to manage, prioritise and delegate a diverse workload.
• Be able to demonstrate initiative with a pro-active approach to troubleshooting problems as they arise.
• Have good familiarity with external zoo associations such as BIAZA and EAZA.
• Hold a Firearms License or be willing to obtain one.
•  A full/clean driving license is essential.