Job description
ZSL is looking for two Apprentice Keeper & Aquarists, one for our Small Mammals department and one for our Primates and Predators department. The successful candidates will be expected to ensure high standards of animal welfare and animal husbandry are carried out daily and to keep daily checks and records of animals health and behaviours and report to senior members of the team. Good communication skills and experience of dealing with the public is essential, together with the ability to work effectively within a team. You will work with a nominated learning provider to develop occupational standards, (knowledge, skills and behaviours), as set out in the Level 3 Keeper and Aquarist Apprentice standard.
The full-time apprenticeships are for a term of 2 years.
- Assisting with the preparation of approved diets and carrying out the correct feeding procedures.
- Cleaning and maintaining exhibits and other designated areas.
- Assisting with record keeping via a Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), including personal relevant observations of animal behaviour, health and welfare.
- Assisting senior keepers, and other colleagues, with veterinary, training and other relevant animal related procedures.
- Supporting positive visitor experiences by good customer service and professional visitor engagement.
- Supporting broader ZSL events as instructed, such as late evening or weekend functions, Zoo Nights, PR photo calls, animal encounters and keeper for a day.
- Monitoring the health and safety of visitors and welfare of animals in enhanced animal contact situations, including walkthrough exhibits and animal encounters. Communicating the protocol to visitors in a friendly and timely manner
- To be committed to all aspects of training related to the job and apprenticeship.
- Preparing a portfolio to support the End Point Assessment (EPA) which involves a multiple-choice test, observations and a professional discussion based on portfolio for the apprenticeship scheme.
- This post requires weekend and bank holiday working and flexibility with rotas at short notice. This may include a sudden change of start or finishing time.
- Being able to work in a large team.
- Attention to detail and the ability to follow strict protocols.
- Good communication skills, teamwork, and experience of dealing with the public are essential.
- This is a physically demanding position, dependant on section either working indoors in artificially high &/or humid conditions or extensive outside working with direct exposure to the weather.
We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and backgrounds. We actively encourage applications from disabled and ethnic minority candidates as those demographics are currently under-represented across ZSL.
What do we offer?
Other benefits include 25 days holiday, life assurance, stakeholder pension (ZSL will also match further contributions you may choose to make up to a further 5% - limited to 12% employer contributions), complimentary zoo tickets with a 30% discount in shops and online, subsidised canteen, enhanced paternity and maternity leave, season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, discounted gym membership and access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities.
Ultimately, you’ll know that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct.
By submitting your application you are agreeing to your CV being screened by our learning provider to check eligibility/criteria for the apprenticeship programme and that you agree to being contacted by the learning provider to discuss your experience.
Closing date for applications: Midnight (23:59) on 2nd July 2023
The Zoological Society of London is a charity registered in England and Wales: no. 208728.