Job opportunities

Animal Keeper

About us 

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is a wildlife conservation charity with a bold vision: a world where nature is protected, valued and loved.

Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park are our gateways to the natural world through which people can experience nature.  

How you'll contribute to our mission:

This is an exciting role where with direction from your Team Leader and Senior Keeper, you will 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.

 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 of £23,868 - £24,378 per annum (this is the full time equivalent salary - the salary offered will be prorated for the duration of the contract and hours worked (£9548 - £9,752 per annum)

• 34 days annual leave (per annum - will be prorated for the duration of the contract)

• Discount in both retail/catering 

• Access to a healthcare plan 

• Access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), that provide 24-hour counselling and support, including health, legal, finance, wellbeing and family advice 

• 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. 

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

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. 

Interested candidates are therefore encouraged to submit applications, as soon as possible. 

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is an equal opportunities employer. Our policy is to recruit a diverse workforce following the guidelines of the Equality Act 2010.