Job opportunities

Senior Keeper

The Role:

Waddesdon Aviary is a unique, historically significant and protected structure dating from the 1880s, forming an integral part of the estate’s heritage. The Senior Keeper will support the Curator in the management and development of the public bird collection, ensuring it reflects taxa historically associated with Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild’s original vision.

This is a rare opportunity to work within a living historic collection, where traditional heritage and modern zoological standards come together. The role requires a strong focus on animal welfare, alongside a commitment to delivering an engaging and meaningful experience for visitors.

The collection must balance historical authenticity with high standards of animal welfare and strong visitor engagement. As a licensed zoo under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, the Aviary operates in accordance with the Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice.

 

What you will do:

The Senior Keeper plays a key role in supporting these standards, helping ensure the collection not only remains compliant but continues to strive for best practice in all areas. You will report directly to the Curator of birds and in their absence, take responsibility for the health and welfare of the collection. This is a hands-on animal management role, combined with administrative and supervisory responsibilities.

 

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Aviary & Collection Management

• Support the Curator in strategic decisions relating to species selection and collection planning
• Assist with breeding programme coordination, including participation in EEPs and other managed programmes
• Coordinate and manage transfers of taxa with other zoological collections, ensuring all movements meet legal, welfare, and biosecurity standards.
• Contribute to ethical review processes and animal welfare assessments
• Support implementation of the Aviary’s conservation strategy
• Maintain high standards of enclosure presentation, biosecurity, and environmental enrichment
• Oversee procurement of feed, veterinary supplies, PPE, substrates, and operational equipment
• Monitor stock levels and manage ordering within agreed budgets

Leadership & Team Support

• Provide day-to-day supervision and guidance to keepers, trainees, and volunteers
• Allocate tasks and ensure work is completed to required standards
• Support staff training and development of team members
• Deputise for the Curator when required.

Animal Welfare & Husbandry

• Maintain the highest standards of animal welfare at all times
• Take responsibility for daily monitoring of bird health, behaviour, and condition
• Assist with veterinary treatments, preventative healthcare, and quarantine procedures
• Respond appropriately to emergencies involving animals or enclosure infrastructure

Records & Compliance

• Support compliance with all legal, licensing, and institutional requirements
• Assist with inspections and audits as required
• Support reporting requirements linked to EAZA programmes and other collaborations

External Relations & Professional Contribution

• Support collaboration with UK and international zoological institutions
• Contribute to EAZA programmes including EEPs, TAGs and studbooks where appropriate
• Represent the Aviary through professional engagement, publications, or presentations where applicable
• Take part in visitor engagement activities such as talks and public demonstrations

Keeper Duties

You will take an active role in all routine husbandry tasks, including:

• Diet preparation and distribution
• Cleaning and maintenance of enclosures
• Enclosure maintenance reporting and minor repairs
• Bird handling, restraint, and ringing
• Administering medications and treatments
• Provision of enrichment, furnishings, and nesting materials
• Hand-rearing when required
• Safe animal transport
• Pest control
• Waste disposal
• Humane euthanasia in line with best practice and ethical guidelines
• Provision of additional animal care and support activities beyond the normal routine as required.

 

Key Representative Responsibilities

On-site accommodation is provided with this role and carries additional responsibilities, which may include:

·        Provision of animal care outside standard working hours, including chick feeding and monitoring

·        Liaison with veterinary staff and delivery of basic nursing care when required

·        Availability to respond to animal escapes or other urgent incidents

·        Coordination and support of animal transfers outside normal hours

·        Acting as an on-call point of contact for emergencies and operational issues

·        Annual leave to be coordinated within key cover requirements for the department

·        Participation as required in Disaster Recovery planning

·        Trained as first aider and fire warden (provided by the organisation)

 

You will be a great fit if:

You are the kind of Aviculturist who enjoys really knowing your birds - not just managing a routine, but understanding behaviour, noticing change, and taking pride in the detail that underpins excellent welfare.

You are confident and experienced working with Passerine, Galliform and Columbiform taxa, including incubation and hand-rearing when required, and you are comfortable taking responsibility for the daily care and decision-making that comes with a senior role in a live collection.

You work with calm confidence, whether independently or as part of a small team where everyone relies on each other. You do not wait to be told - you see what needs doing, you take ownership, and you follow things through properly.

You are motivated by high standards of animal care and by working in an environment where your judgement, experience and attention to detail genuinely matter -  not just to the animals, but to the wider conservation and visitor experience of a unique historic collection.

This is not a standard zoo senior keeper position. Waddesdon Aviary combines a living historic collection with modern zoological standards, meaning your work directly shapes both conservation outcomes and the preservation of a nationally significant heritage site.

 

Your areas of knowledge and expertise that matter for this role (used for shortlisting)

To help us select candidates for interview, we will be looking for evidence of the following experience and skills within your application:

·        Minimum of 5 years’ experience working within a zoological collection

• Significant experience in avian husbandry, particularly with Passerine, Galliform, and Columbiform taxa, including artificial incubation and rearing
• Demonstrable experience working within a licensed zoo environment including an understanding of animal welfare standards, biosecurity and record keeping
• Experience contributing to or working within managed breeding programmes
• Experience supervising, supporting or guiding staff, trainees or volunteers
• Strong knowledge of bird health, welfare, and behaviour
• Ability to work independently, prioritise workloads and take responsibility within a small team environment