Role: Zoological Centre Manager
Location: Shuttleworth College – Old Warden
Salary/Benefits: Salary is between £41,086 and £47,971 per annum (Pro-Rata) DOE and Qualifications, 27 days annual leave (Pro-Rata) plus Bank holidays, People’s pension, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.
Hours/Weeks: 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Fixed Term – Full Time – Fixed until 28th August 2026
This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.
About the role:
We are currently seeking a Zoological Centre Manager to join our Animal Science department at The Bedford College Group.
As a Zoological Centre Manager, you play an important role in the success of our students through:
1. Lead Centre Operations – Manage the day-to-day running of the zoological education centre, ensuring best practice, professional standards, and compliance with zoo licensing and BIAZA requirements.
2. Ensure Animal Welfare & Compliance – Maintain welfare audits, feeding guidelines, veterinary liaison, and biosecurity measures while preparing for inspections and meeting legislative standards.
3. Manage Records & Resources – Oversee Species360/ZIMS records, procurement within budget, and ensure accurate documentation for animal transfers and conservation activities.
4. Engage Stakeholders & Students – Collaborate with curriculum teams, support open days, liaise with external organisations, and promote the centre’s positive image.
5. Promote Safety & Continuous Improvement – Lead health and safety culture, manage waste and sustainability, respond to emergencies, and maintain CPD through training and industry engagement.
About you:
6. Essential Qualifications – Degree in Animal Management/Zoology, GCSE English & Maths (A–C), and record of CPD in the zoo sector.
7. Specialist Knowledge & Experience – Strong vocational experience in animal care, expertise in zoo licensing, BALAI, BIAZA requirements, and maintaining specialist enclosures.
8. Compliance & Operational Skills – Knowledge of UK animal care legislation, health & safety, RAMS, and experience managing budgets, welfare audits, and accurate records.
9. Professional Attributes – Effective communicator, team player, reliable, flexible, and committed to safeguarding, EDI, and College values (Student Focus, High Performance, Respect, Openness, Honesty).
10. Flexibility & Development – Ability to work evenings/weekends, respond to emergencies, travel across sites, maintain CPD, and willingness to achieve First Aid certification.
For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.
Interviews to be held: 15 January 2026
Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION values:
11. Valuing Teamwork - We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
12. Improving Continuously - We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
13. Student Centred - At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
14. Inclusive - We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
15. Open and Caring - We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
16. Nurturing Education Excellence - We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.
About The Bedford College Group
The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.
Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College in the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough; Shuttleworth College, a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for Motorsport alongside Silverstone race circuit. To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.
Safeguarding our Students
The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy.
Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.