Job opportunities

Deputy Team Leader - Familiar Friends Section

Colchester Zoo is home to over 150 species in 60 acres of parkland and lakes. The Zoo’s mission is to provide a first class experience for all its visitors, at the same time as furthering understanding and respect for animals through education and research. Through visitors’ funds, Colchester Zoo undertakes breeding programmes for endangered species and supports numerous in-situ conservation projects and its very own UmPhafa Private Nature Reserve in South Africa.

An exciting position has arisen for a Deputy Team Leader to join our team and contribute to our mission at Colchester Zoo working within our Familiar Friends section; a mixed taxa section responsible for meerkats, skunks, armadillos, wallabies, rainbow lorikeets, tortoise species, koi carp, invertebrate species, and domestic and companion animals.

The successful candidate will work within the Animal Department to carry out husbandry duties and maintain high standards of welfare for the animal species in their care. As a Deputy Team Leader, the candidate will be required to input ideas for the continual progression and development of animal husbandry, breeding management and enclosure design on the section. The applicant will be expected to oversee the daily supervision of junior staff, student keepers and work experience, ensure safe working protocols and practices, have a good understanding of risk assessments and manage the section in the absence of the Team Leader.

We are looking for an individual who is highly motivated and hardworking, with a minimum of 7 years’ experience working in a zoological collection. Excellent customer service, communication and animal husbandry skills are essential, as is previous experience supervising staff and managing risk in a zoo environment.

Applicants should have the Diploma in the Management of Zoo Animals and Aquaria or an equivalent qualification and have a full valid driving licence.

This is a permanent position with a start date as soon as is possible.