Job opportunities

Zookeeper

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

Overview of the role:  

ZSL is seeking a Zookeeper to work on the Ectotherms Section at London Zoo, focusing on aquatics. London Zoo’s Ectotherms team offers its visitors the opportunity to view and learn about a range of animals via five key experiences: The new Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians house, Tiny Giants, which includes corals and marine aquatics, Butterfly Paradise, Giants of the Galapagos, and The Komodo house. The successful candidate must have excellent practical knowledge of many aspects of ectotherm management and will be expected to deliver high animal welfare and husbandry standards.

Key responsibilities:  

• Carrying out all aspects of animal care, including feeding, cleaning, and preparation of diets.
• To maintain and monitor life support systems, including water quality and environmental controls.
• Maintain and improve habitats for species in your care.
• Good record keeping.  Knowledge of ZIMS is desirable.
• Ensuring that safety and emergency procedures are always followed.
• Reporting defects and repairs required to managers.
• Communicate efficiently with the public to increase public satisfaction and support the ZSL mission.
• Be actively involved in public engagement, including, on occasions, attendance in the In with the Spiders walkthrough experience.
• Support conservation and research activities.

ABOUT YOU

• Proven practical experience in animal management within aquariums or ectotherm settings.
• Passion to work on evolving animal care within zoological collections, creating natural habitats and environments for ectotherms to thrive.
• Zoo Management-related qualification at level 3 or above, for example, the Keeper and Aquarist Apprenticeship and DMZAA.

This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate's right to work in the UK.

We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage. We are committed to ensuring our teams can bring their authentic selves to work without fear of discrimination. ZSL has active equality networks for our staff with lived experience and those who provide active allyship in Race and Culture, Team Pride, Disability Network, and Menopause Network, complemented by our strategic EDI Steering Group. 

ABOUT US

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.  

What do we offer?  

At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits. Our benefits include:  

• Our vision and purpose - you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science-led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct 
• Pension scheme - we offer a generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension. 
• Flexible working – talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you  
• Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays  
• Wellbeing – access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme  
• Life assurance – eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL’s life assurance scheme from their first day 
• Complimentary tickets – annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a 30% discount in online and retail shops  
• Cycle2Work - our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle  
• Season ticket loan - we offer an interest free loan for eligibly London-based employees to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work  
• Family friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption packages 

NB: We reserve the right to close our advertisement early or extend the advertising date until a suitable candidate has been found.