Job opportunities

Team Leader - Primates

Purpose of the role:

Join a world-leading conservation zoo at the forefront of animal care and species protection.

Whipsnade Zoo, part of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), is offering an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated animal management professional to take on the role of Primates Team Leader. This dynamic section includes a range of threatened and charismatic species such as Chimpanzees, Sulawesi Macaques, Francois Langurs, Ring-Tailed and Black Lemurs, Red Pandas, Lowland Anoa, and Babirusa.

As Team Leader, you will play a vital role in shaping and delivering exceptional animal care, supporting conservation outcomes, and leading a dedicated team of Zookeepers and Apprentices. Reporting to the Section Manager, you'll oversee daily operations, ensure welfare and enrichment standards are met, and help foster a positive, collaborative working environment.

The ZSL Zoos operate 7 days a week and requires an average of 37.5 hours per week on a rota (which includes weekends and bank holidays).

Key responsibilities: 

• Team Leadership: Line manage zookeeping staff – including Keepers, Apprentice Keepers, and Volunteer Keepers on the team.
• Rota and Performance Management: Allocate staff rotas, manage daily workload, oversee sickness absence, and carry out Performance Development Reviews (PDRs).
• Safety and Compliance: Ensure safe systems of work are implemented through formal procedures, regular training, and risk assessments; complete regular enclosure inspections.
• Animal Husbandry Standards: Ensure delivery of animal husbandry is in line with best practice protocols and ZSL procedures.
• Staff Development: Mentor staff and ensure completion of both mandatory and section-specific training and development activities.
• Animal Welfare Monitoring: Work with Lead Keepers to monitor animal health and welfare; advise on improvements in collaboration with internal stakeholders, including the EAC team.
• Record Keeping and Data Management: Ensure systems such as the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) are accurately maintained and kept up to date.
• Operational Support: Participate in daily section duties as part of the keeper team, providing training, supervision, and cover as needed.
• Health & Safety Compliance: Adhere to and promote ZSL’s Health and Safety policies and procedures; undertake necessary Health and Safety training.
• Professional Development: Show commitment to ongoing professional development through participation in in-service training relevant to the role.
• Equality and Diversity: Support and promote ZSL’s equality and diversity policy in all aspects of your work.

About You:

• Extensive practical experience of working with exotic animals within a zoological collection.
• Introductory experience supervising or managing a team or able to demonstrate the ability to do so.
• Qualified to the Diploma in the Management of Zoo and Aquarium Animals (DMZAA) level or equivalent qualification. Higher qualifications in a related subject an advantage.
• Broad taxonomic knowledge and interest on a range of species managed within zoological collections.
• Willingness to work on and learn about evolving husbandry management within zoological collections to include positive re-enforcement training for behavioural management and varied methods of enrichment for a range of species.
• Knowledge of life support systems, temperature ranges and UK requirements for specific species.
• Knowledge and experience in proven techniques and initiating new techniques used to handle specific animals for training, catch ups and veterinary procedures.
• Understands health & safety requirements for staff, visitors and animals and able to implement processes and procedures.
• Ability to manage, prioritise and delegate a diverse workload.
• Strong commitment to creating a culture that lives ZSL values and commitment to safeguarding, equality and diversity (collaborative, inspiring, inclusive, innovative, impactful and ethical).
• This is a physically demanding, hands-on role requiring outdoor work in all weather conditions and indoor work in high-temperature environments. It involves regular manual tasks such as lifting, carrying, and extended periods of standing or walking.
• A full manual driving licence is essential for roles based at Whipsnade Zoo.

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.