Job opportunities

Head Keeper

Colchester Zoological Society is home to over 150 species and is dedicated to supporting conservation projects around the globe. As an award-winning visitor attraction with over 1 million guests visiting each year, every staff member at the Zoo works together to ensure that our guests have an enjoyable and unforgettable experience.

An exciting position has arisen for an experienced Head Keeper to join our team and contribute to our mission at CZS in a full-time role working within our animal department.

As Head Keeper, the candidate will sit on the Animal Management Team and will be required to input ideas for the continual progression and development of animal husbandry, breeding management and enclosure design across the Zoo.

The candidate will work closely with the 10 animal section Team Leaders to oversee and drive forward high standards of husbandry and welfare for all species. The job holder will be responsible for coordinating the activities of the Team Leaders and their staff members to ensure safe working protocols, practices and risk assessments for working in and around the species on the sections.

The Head Keeper will sit on the Species Planning Committee and will have additional responsibility for maintaining communication between the Committee and Team Leaders with respect to species planning for sections, rolling this out via organisation of transfers, assisted by the Zoological Department Administrator. They will also represent CZS in national and international forums to fulfil this role.

The full job description for the role can be found here: https://www.colchesterzoologicalsociety.com/about-us/careers/