Job opportunities

Job opportunities

Markus Wilder

Lead Mammal and Bird Keeper

National SEA LIFE Centre

National SEA LIFE Centre

West Midlands Closing date for applications is: 27th Mar 2026
Contact: Natalie Emmerson ([email protected])
Sector: Animal Care
Type: Paid
Contract type: Full-time
Salary: £28000

Lead Mammal and Bird Keeper

Location: Sea Life Birmingham

Hours: 40 hours per week Mon - Sun 

Contract: Permanent

 

Fancy working in our aquarium working alongside majestic sharks, playful penguins or cheeky otters? If you have experience as an mammal and bird keeper, then apply for this position at SEA LIFE Birmingham and start your greatest adventure!

 

You’ll play a vital part in caring for our animals, ensuring consistently high levels of animal health and welfare as well as looking after and carrying out routine maintenance of the filtration and life support systems, crisis management equipment and environmental alarms. Other duties include back washing main filters, water changes, water quality checks, water parameters, health checks, plus training and enrichment.

 

You’ll prepare suitable diets and feed all livestock, as well as provide medication and treatment of animals under direction. You will also provide 24-hour alarm cover on a rota basis and maintain strict codes of practice for the use, storage and record keeping of all medications and chemicals according to HSE, COSHH and SSSMZP regulations.

 

This is a full-time, permanent role, working any 5 days out of 7. This will include weekends and bank holidays on a roster basis.

 

Qualifications & Experience

  • Significant experience as a home aquarist or through advanced studies / education and previous experience in a relevant field.
  • A working knowledge of Life Support Systems as employed on the site to ensure correct maintenance is carried out in accordance with the manufactures recommendations and swift resolution of problems if they occur.
  • A good knowledge of the Water Environment, which will allow the identification and resolution of problems with the environment for the animals.
  • A practical ability to create ‘wow’ displays with a working knowledge of the correct use of, Theming, Lighting, and Water Movement to deliver this.
  • A good understanding of animal husbandry, animal behaviour and acquisition of animals to ensure each display houses amazing creatures, with specific focus on aquatic birds and mammals 
  • A practical ability to participate in conservational projects and environmental impact reduction that assist in underpinning the SEA LIFE brand.

Benefits

Alongside becoming an expert in washing up, you’ll also receive:

  • 40% off LEGO online
  • 25% discount in our retail shops and restaurants
  • A Merlin Magic Pass - giving you free tickets to all our attractions worldwide for you, your family, and friends every year
  • Enjoy the Ride Pass – giving you and 5 others a Merlin Annual Pass (Gold edition)
  • Employee pricing up to 55% off cinema tickets

If you have any questions or if you require any assistance, because of a disability or medical condition, please contact us by email at  and one of the team will get back to you as soon as possible.


At Merlin we welcome the world to our magical attractions and resorts every day and we want to reflect that same multicultural mix inside our business too. We strive to create an inclusive and diverse workplace where people can be themselves, have the same opportunities and thrive together. Because at Merlin, everyone matters!

Together, we work to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, no matter their age, race, gender, disability or sexual orientation. Although we understand that we'll always be learning and growing, we aim to be the most inclusive and flexible employer in our industry.