Job Description

Department

Animal Care Team

Location

Colchester Zoological Society

Employment Type

Full Time

Hours Per Week

40 hours Per Week

Salary

32,032 Per Annum

Closing Date

10th October 2025


If you are interested in applying, send the completed form along with your CV to

Mrs Liz Butcher, Living Collections Manager

, by email to vacancies@colchesterzoo.org

Introduction to the Department

An exciting position has arisen for an experienced Deputy Team Leader to join our team and contribute to our mission at CZS in a full-time role working within our tiger section; a mixed taxa section responsible for Amur tigers, grey wolves, bush dogs, Barbary macaques, gelada baboons, Philippine spotted deer, smooth-coated otters, Chilean flamingos, African vulture species and various reptile and fish species.

Role Responsibilities

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 Deputy Team Leader, 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 the section's Team Leader, the job holder will be responsible for mentoring and managing more junior employed staff members; lead keepers, senior keepers and qualified keepers, and volunteers; student keepers and work experience students. The job holder will also be responsible for deputising to the Team Leader and leading the section in their absence.


The candidate will ensure, and be able to develop, safe working protocols, practices and risk assessments for working in and around the species on the section.


The job holder will deliver enclosure encounters and experiences to zoo visitors for a range of species across the section, as well as deliver educational husbandry content to visiting college groups. The candidate will also look to lead internal zoo subcommittees, where appropriate, and be willing to represent, and present, at external conferences on behalf of CZS.

Main Job Purpose

Provide excellent husbandry standards and welfare for a range of species

Manage employed and voluntary members of the animal section and lead the section in the Team Leader's absence

Produce safe working practices across the animal section

Deliver enclosure encounters and experiences to zoo visitors, educational groups and for social media

Represent CZS in external settings where required

Other Key Activities

Demonstrate commitment to continuous personal development Perform other duties as reasonably directed by the animal section's Team Leader and the Animal Management Team (Zoological Director, Curator of Living Collections, Manager of Living Collections and Head Keeper)

Role Requirements

Essential

Desirable

Husbandry Skills & Experience

7+ years' experience in a zoological collection,

including extensive experience with category 1/1A species



Excellent standard of practical skill in animal

husbandry, including training and enrichment



Excellent standard of animal observation skills



Excellent ability to develop animal husbandry,

breeding management and enclosure design

on the section



Ability to manage the animal section in the absence

of the Team Leader, with limited assistance



Ability to drive forward the overall standards of the

section to a higher level (excellent competency)



Excellent knowledge of ZIMS



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



Vast knowledge of zoo licencing and legislation



Excellent skills in handling and restraint

of various species



High confidence and ability in dealing with

medical issues

Team Work & Ability to Follow Instruction

Ability to work in a team and contribute to team goals (excellent competency)



Ability to harness positive relationships with all other

team members regardless of level / section

(excellent competency)



Ability to follow instruction and carry out tasks

at manager's / senior staff member's request

(excellent competency)



Ability and willingness to sit on additional zoo

subgroups and committees

Leadership & Mentoring

Ability to mentor and allocate work duties to the

animal section's employed staff members and

volunteers (excellent competency)



Ability to lead an internal zoo team e.g. subgroup or

committee

Health & Safety

Excellent understanding of risk assessments



Ability to ensure safe working practices at Deputy

Team Leader level



Ability to manage risk in a zoo environment and with category 1/1A species



Ability to develop safe working protocols for category 1/1A species



Excellent understanding of zoo emergency procedures

Communication & Presentation Skills

Excellent communication and presentation skills

to deliver animal encounters and experiences



Excellent communication and presentation skills

to deliver education sessions and media

Skills & Experience

Computer literate with excellent knowledge of the

major Microsoft Office programmes



Excellent written skills, including record keeping



Excellent written skills, including proposals and

protocols Trained in manual handling



Trained in working at height

Other

DMZAA or equivalent qualification



Full driving licence



Ability to use own initiative to solve problems (excellent competency)



Hard working and highly-motivated



Excellent punctuality and time keeping



Dependable and trustworthy



Flexible and adaptable



Warm, open-minded and professional



Ability and willingness to represent CZS at external conferences.



Ability and willingness to present at external

conferences and lead internal training at CZS



Commitment to employment at CZS Firearms certificate

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

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

CZS is a non-smoking environment and smoking is not permitted by members of staff whilst on the premises. CZS is an equal opportunities employer. You may be required to work offsite on animal transfers on occasion.

Whilst doing this job, the employee is likely to be exposed to:

Category 1/1A animals Outside weather conditions Tropical exhibits with high temperatures Moving mechanical parts Toxic or caustic chemicals Lifting heavy loads

Benefits

FREE Zoo visits
FREE onsite parking Work place pension scheme Staff events Discounts on Animal Adoptions, Zoo Passes and Animal Experiences
Discounts in the Outpost Gift Shop
Discounts in food outlets 28 days annual leave (incl. Bank Holidays) Competitive hourly rate Uniform provided Regular training

* Benefits dependent on probation period.