Job Description

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Purpose of the role

We are looking for an Assistant Zookeeper to join the Small Mammals team at the world renowned London Zoo. Part of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo and a global leader in wildlife conservation, education, and animal care. Located in the heart of Regent's Park, it's home to over 8,000 amazing animals, from tiny marching leafcutter ants to our giant silverback gorilla. The zoo offers visitors the chance to get up close with animals while supporting vital global efforts to protect wildlife and restore habitats around the world.

As an Assistant Zookeeper, you'll be working across two of our popular walkthrough exhibits, home to lively squirrel monkeys and charismatic ring-tailed lemurs. This hands-on role combines visitor engagement with animal care support, helping to create unforgettable experiences while contributing to ZSL's mission, a world where wildlife thrives.

This role is offered as a 3-month contract. ZSL's zoos operate 7 days a week, 37.5 hours per week, worked on a rota that includes weekends and bank holidays.

Key responsibilities:

Visitor Engagement:

Support positive visitor experiences by answering questions in a friendly and helpful manner, ensuring visitors leave with a good impression of ZSL.

Incident Response:

Be the point of contact in an incident involving a visitor and an animal and advise visitors of the correct action.

Animal Care Support:

Assisting keepers with cleaning and maintaining exhibits and other designated areas.

Feeding and Diet Preparation:

Assisting with preparing approved diets and carrying out the correct feeding procedures.

Animal Monitoring:

Observe animals' behaviour, health and security and report any problems to the Team Leader or senior staff.

Health and Safety Monitoring:

Ensuring relevant safe systems of work and risk assessments are read, understood, signed, and consistently adhered to, and emergency procedures are followed.
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About You

Experience working with animals in a professional, voluntary, or educational setting, demonstrating basic knowledge of animal care, handling, or observation. Ability to communicate confidently and effectively with a wide range of audiences. A genuine interest in conservation, education, or animal welfare. Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively in a dynamic environment. Reliable, proactive, and able to work independently when required.

This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate's right to work in the UK.



We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage. We are committed to ensuring our teams can bring their authentic selves to work without fear of discrimination. ZSL has active equality networks for our staff with lived experience and those who provide active allyship in Race and Culture, Team Pride, Disability Network, and Menopause Network, complemented by our strategic EDI Steering Group.

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About Us

We're ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we're working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.

What do we offer?

At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits. Our benefits include:


Our vision and purpose - you'll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science-led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct Pension scheme - we offer a generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension Flexible working - talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you Holidays - 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays Wellbeing - access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme Life assurance - eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL's life assurance scheme from their first day Complimentary tickets - annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a 30% discount in online and retail shops Cycle2Work - our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle Season ticket loan - we offer an interest free loan for eligibly London-based employees to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work Family friendly policies - we offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption packages
NB: We reserve the right to close our advertisement early or extend the advertising date until a suitable candidate has been found.

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