Job opportunities

Animal Keeper

The role

With direction from your Team Leader and Senior Keeper, perform all assigned duties to ensure the smooth running of the allocated animal section/project, aiming to optimise the quality of animal welfare and to deliver or support delivery of an innovative and creative programme of live animal interactive activities to engage and excite visitors in support of RZSS’ vision and mission.

This role is a 6-month, fixed term, part time role where the working hours are 15 hours per week, and weekend working will be required

Some of the things you’ll do:

• Help to ensure animal welfare, husbandry and management is of the highest standard, taking into account relevant legislation and best practice animal management.
• Contribute to enclosure design, maintenance, enrichment and enclosure furnishing to ensure it meets all the needs of the animal and is presentable to the public, e.g. positive visitor engagement and suggest ideas for development to team manager.
• Engage with and support visitors, ensuring your message is consistent with team objectives and in line with RZSS’ mission and vision whilst providing first-class customer care and service, e.g. answering visitor queries and undertaking public talks, tours and Keeper for a Day experiences.
• Collate and record detailed and accurate animal records via daily record sheets in relation to the good management of the animal collection and animal training, and to ensure accurate data (e.g. weigh, behaviours, births, deaths and treatments received) can be input to the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS).
• Proactively ensure your knowledge of RZSS, our conservation work and species within the collection is thorough and up to date, e.g. attending team meetings, accessing team brief.

What we’re looking for: 

• You’ll have a good level of education at standard grade or equivalent qualifications (including English, Mathematics and Sciences)
• First-class customer service, e.g. interpersonal skills and ability to engage with the public
• Can demonstrate an interest in animals with some practical experience in a zoo or animal-related environment For further information on what the role involves and essential/desirable criteria – please see the ‘related documents’ section under the site location map.

What you’ll get in return: 

• Starting salary between £9,360 - £9,560 per annum (£23,400 - £23,900 full time equivalent), (offer based on experience) with future salary progression up to £9,760 (£24,400 full time equivalent) per annum 
• 15hr working week
• 34 days annual leave (pro rata) 
• Discount in both retail/catering 
• Access to a healthcare plan 
• Employer contributory pension scheme 
• You will receive a staff membership which will give you (and family/friends) free (and discounted) entry to both the Highland Wildlife Park and Edinburgh Zoo as well as a number of other Zoo’s across the UK.

Please note that shortlisting of applications and interviews for this position will take place while the advert is live.  The advert will close once a successful candidate has been found.

For further information on what the role involves and essential/desirable criteria – please see the ‘related documents’ section under the site location map