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An exciting position has arisen for a Senior Keeper to join our team and contribute to our mission at
Colchester Zoo in a full-time role working within our Familiar Friends department; a mixed taxa section
responsible for meerkats, skunks, armadillos, wallabies, rainbow lorikeets, tortoise species, koi carp,
invertebrate species, and domestic and companion animals.

JOB TITLE: Senior Animal Keeper – Familiar Friends Section

Colchester Zoo is home to over 160 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.

JOB SUMMARY: The candidate will work within the Animal Department to carry out husbandry
duties and maintain high standards of welfare for the animal species in their care.
As a senior keeper, the candidate will be required to input ideas for the continual
progression and development of animal husbandry, breeding management and
enclosure design on the section.

Alongside more senior members of staff, the job holder will be responsible for
mentoring and allocating work duties to junior employed staff members; qualified
keepers and volunteers; student keepers and work experience students.

The candidate will ensure safe working protocols and practices and have a good
understanding of risk assessments.

The job holder will deliver enclosure encounters and experiences to zoo visitors for
a range of species across the section.

MAIN JOB
PURPOSE:

• Provide excellent husbandry standards and welfare to a range of species

OTHER KEY
ACTIVITIES:

• Demonstrate commitment to continuous personal development.

Familiar Friends Department (Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader and Lead
Keeper) and the Animal Management Team (Zoo Director, Curator of Living
Collections, Manager of Living Collections and Head Keeper)

WORKING HOURS: This is a full-time position. An average of 40 hours a week (5 days) which will
include regular weekend work and will increase in busy periods.

UNIFORM: Full uniform (except boots) will be provided. Full uniform must be worn at all times
with a name badge.

SALARY: £24,024 per annum

EVALUATION: For the first five months of employment, the jobholder will be asked to complete
a one month, three month and five month self-assessment. This will gauge their
feelings of the job and assess their progress towards meeting targets.

WORKING
ENVIRONMENT:

• Colchester Zoo is a non-smoking environment and smoking is not permitted

• Colchester Zoo is an equal opportunities employer.

SENIOR KEEPER SPECIFICATION

Essential Desirable

HUSBANDRY SKILLS
AND EXPERIENCE

4-7 years’ experience in a zoological
collection

High standard of practical skill in
animal husbandry, including training
and enrichment

High standard of animal observation
skills

High ability to develop animal
husbandry, breeding management
and enclosure design on the section

Knowledge of ZIMS

Knowledge of zoo licencing and
legislation

Skills in handling and restraint of
various species

Confidence and ability in dealing with
medical issues

Knowledge of water quality
parameters and management for a
range of species

Experience in operating filtration
systems and life support systems

Knowledge of uv requirements for a
range of species

TEAM WORK AND
ABILITY TO FOLLOW
INSTRUCTION

Ability to work in a team and
contribute to team goals

Ability to harness positive
relationships with all other team
members regardless of level / section

Ability to follow instruction and carry
out tasks at manager’s / senior staff
member’s request

LEADERSHIP AND
MENTORING

Ability to mentor and allocate work
duties to more junior employed staff
members and volunteers

HEALTH AND SAFETY Good understanding of risk
assessments

Ability to ensure safe working
practices at Senior Keeper level

Good understanding of zoo
emergency procedures

Ability to manage risk in a zoo
environment

Ability to develop safe working
protocols

HOW TO APPLY

If you are interested in applying, please complete the Colchester Zoo Employment application form,
Please ensure all sections of the application form are completed, do not enter ‘Refer to CV’.

Send your CV and completed Employment Application Form to Mrs Liz Butcher, Living Collections
Manager, by email to [email protected]

Closing date is 4th August 2023.

Please be aware that we will only process applications that include a completed application form
and CV. We do have a lot of interest in our vacancies, if you have not heard from us after four weeks
of submitting your application you should assume you have not been successful on the occasion.

Essential Desirable

COMMUNICATION
AND PRESENTATION
SKILLS

Proficient communication and
presentation skills to deliver animal
encounters and experiences

Good communication and
presentation skills to deliver education
sessions and media

SKILLS AND
EXPERIENCE

Trained in manual handling

Computer literate with proficient
knowledge of the major Microsoft
Office programmes

Proficient written skills, including
record keeping

Trained in working at height

Written skills, including proposals and
protocols

OTHER DMZAA or equivalent qualification

Full driving licence

Ability to use own initiative to solve
problems

Hard working and highly-motivated

Excellent punctuality and time
keeping

Dependable and trustworthy

Flexible and adaptable

Warm, open-minded and professional

Commitment to employment at
Colchester Zoo

Firearms certificate

Ability and willingness to represent
Colchester Zoo at external conferences

Ability and willingness to present at
external conferences and lead internal
training at Colchester Zoo

SECTION ONE – Position Details (type in information)

Position applied for:

Department:

Previous employment at Colchester Zoo:
(Include job title, department and dates.)

Are you eligible to work in the UK in
accordance with the Immigration and
Asylum Act 1999?
(You must be able to provide documentary
evidence that you are entitled to work in the UK
without the need for Colchester Zoo to apply for any
kind of work permit.)

National Insurance number: