Job opportunities

Job opportunities

Markus Wilder

Casual Zoo Education Assistant/Keeper

Reaseheath Mini Zoo

Reaseheath Mini Zoo

North West Closing date for applications is: 31st Jul 2026
Contact: Kerri Robson ([email protected])
Sector: Education
Type: Paid
Contract type: Part-time
Salary: £12.71 GBP hourly

About Reaseheath 

Reaseheath College and University Centre is a leading land-based and technical education provider, with a proud history stretching back over 100 years. Our mission is simple: to deliver industry focused, career ready education that transforms lives and supports the future of all our learners – from further education, higher education, apprenticeships and adult courses. 

Set in a stunning rural campus near Nantwich in Cheshire, we offer an inspiring place to work, with industry-leading facilities, strong employer partnerships and a clear focus on innovation, sustainability and real-world skills. 

Working at Reaseheath 

Working at Reaseheath means being part of a supportive, ambitious and values-driven community. Our staff play a vital role in shaping futures, helping our learners develop the skills, confidence and experience they need to succeed in their careers. 

We are committed to creating a positive working environment where colleagues feel valued, supported and able to grow. With opportunities for professional development, strong industry links and a collaborative culture, you can build a rewarding career while making a genuine impact. 

 

Job Title: Casual Zoo Education Assistant/Keeper

 

Status: Casual Hours, Zero Hour Contact 

 

Closing Date: Midnight, Friday 31st July 2026 

 

About the role

Our £4 million Animal Management Centre opened in 2010 and offers world class facilities including rooms for reptiles, amphibians and fish, a mammal house, teaching and meeting rooms and an impressive entrance to the college’s zoo. We have 50 specialist staff, over 500 students and more than 1000 animals of around 200 species.

 

Key responsibilities:

  • Work in any area across the zoo and so would need to show an excellent degree of flexibility and willingness to learn new skills.
  • Deliver a variety of fun and engaging sessions in the zoo, from birthday parties to school holiday clubs and school visits.
  • Animal husbandry across a range of domestic and zoo animals.

 

The successful candidate will:

  • Monthly rotas will be produced and candidates must be able to work at least 7 days per month.
  • Candidates must be available to work at weekends, during Easter and summer holidays, and on bank holidays as required.
  • You will have wide ranging experience of animal husbandry across a range of domestic and zoo animals.

As a College, we actively encourage applications from industry professionals without a teaching qualification, as well as those from qualified teachers. Reaseheath offers a full CPD programme with access to funded qualifications alongside hands on support whilst completing Further Education Training. Industry professionals joining the College in an academic role, will complete their Further Education Training whilst in post.

 

Apply for this job:

For more information, to view the full job descritpion and apply, please email [email protected], and, [email protected] to arrange a conversation or tour with our hiring managers.

Please note this role constitutes ‘regulated activity’ as defined by the Protection of Freedom Act 2012. The successful candidate will therefore be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check with barred list information prior to starting employment. You must also have the right to work in the UK and will be required to provide evidence to support this. In addition, online checks will be carried out during the recruitment process. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Reaseheath College is committed to achieving its public sector general equality duty, which is set out in the Equality Act 2010. The College has a clear mission and clear values, which incorporate equality, diversity and inclusion.

The College staff recruitment and selection process, CPD processes, policies and practice are designed to ensure that when employment decisions are made, they are based solely on the skills and qualities required for the position and comply with all relevant employment legislation and best practice standards.

Disability Support

The College is a Disability Confident Employer and will support any reasonable adjustments you require to perform your best during the recruitment process. You can contact the People Services team at [email protected] should you require any adjustments during either your application or during the assessment centre.

Safer Recruitment Statement

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (amended 2013 and 2020)) makes certain regulated activity (i.e. work with children and/or young people) exempt from the Act and therefore requires individuals seeking to work with these groups to be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check with children's barred list, amongst other safer recruitment checks.

Where a post is classed as exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, you will be required to reveal all convictions not classed as 'protected' by the Ministry of Justice guidelines, both spent and unspent.

Any information given will be completely confidential and will be considered in relation to an application for positions to which the Order applies. Please note that certain criminal convictions may affect your eligibility for employment with the college, but having a previous conviction will not automatically bar you from employment. Please refer to the college website for the policy statement on the recruitment of ex-offenders.

This information is considered sensitive personal data under the Data Protection Act 2018. It will only be used for the purposes of this recruitment exercise and will be safely disposed of after six months if you are not successful in your application for this vacancy.

Other safer recruitment checks that will be carries out during the recruitment process include online checks and prohibition from teaching checks (where relevant).

 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised close date if we receive a sufficient number of applications.

 

We do not accept applications or speculative CVs through recruitment agencies.