DescriptionEmployerLocation
Animal Keeper – Animal Health Welfare and Research Centre – Companion Animals
1. 💰 Salary: Up to £24,243 per annum pro rata (dependent upon qualifications and experience)
2. 🕒 Working Pattern: Full-time (37 hours per week, 52 weeks per year)
3. 📍 Location: Sparsholt Campus (Winchester)
4. 📅 Closing Date: 9th November 2025
Are you passionate about the care and wellbeing of small mammals? Do you thrive in a hands-on role where your expertise directly impacts animal welfare and student learning? If so, we want you to join our dedicated Companion Animal team as an Animal Keeper.
We are looking to recruit an experienced small mammal keeper for our companion animal team. The post holder will work under the direction of the Head of Companion animals in undertaking the management and husbandry of the companion animal section, in particular the small mammal section.
The small mammal team is diverse and includes a huge range of animals including ferrets, chinchilla, guinea pigs, rabbits, and a variety of rodents both exotic and domestic.
The post holder will:
•Be responsible for the day-to-day husbandry of the companion section animals.
•Work closely with other AHWRC staff to ensure high standards of animal husbandry. This will be achieved through demonstration of daily cleaning routines and training and supervision of students in practical husbandry sessions.
•Supervise groups of students, instilling correct best practice and provide an engaging and interactive learner experience.
•The candidate will need to support and provide cover on other sections of the AHWRC as and when necessary. Therefore other companion animal knowledge on species such as cats and dogs is desirable.
What we’re looking for:
•Candidates should be educated to at least level 3 in a relevant vocational subject and be able to demonstrate a professional track record of work within an accredited facility.
•A flexible approach to a varied workload, with a real enthusiasm for the animals you will be working with is essential.
•The post holder will be required to work weekends on a rotational basis.
•Due to the location of the college, a driving licence would be advantageous.
Interviews to be held approximately one week after the closing date.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a sufficient number of applications.
College Benefits
•Eligibility to join the Local Government Pension Scheme (a defined benefit pension scheme)
•Death Benefit grant of 3 x salary if in the pension scheme
•Free on-site parking
•Car Share Scheme
•Occupational Sick Pay Scheme
•Occupational Maternity Pay Scheme
•Flexible Working Policy
•Holiday entitlement of 22 days (rising to 25 days after 5 years’ service) plus Public and Bank Holidays along with college closure days at Xmas.
•Access to an employee assistance scheme
•Free on-site gym at the Sparsholt campus
•You Make the Difference Staff nomination scheme
•Facility to purchase Sparsholt produce including: plants, flowers, fruit & vegetables, fish, venison and turkey.
•Access to discounted hair and beauty treatments at the Andover campus
•Ability to access a range of CPD events and support with undertaking professional qualifications
•Various food outlets and eateries offering good value food and drink at competitive prices
There is a nursery on the Sparsholt campus operated by a commercial provider.
Join us, where your love for animals meets a career full of purpose, growth and impact!
Safeguarding Statement
The College is committed to safeguarding and promotes the welfare of all learners and expects all staff to share this commitment. All successful applicants will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check and to provide proof of their eligibility to work in the UK.