Living Collections Manager
Location: Birdworld, Holt Pound, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4LD
Reports To: Birdworld General Manager
Direct Reports: Living Collections Team Leader, Conservation & Education Team Leader, Welfare & Records Team Leader
Job Purpose:
This role is responsible for the strategic leadership, management and regulatory oversight of the animal collection within Birdworld, ensuring full compliance with the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, and the Standards of Modern Zoo Practice 2025, whilst maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare, conservation impact, education, health and safety, and public safety. This role will also liaise closely with industry bodies (BIAZA, EAZA, Defra etc.) and with the consultant veterinarian.
In addition, they will operate as a member of the Birdworld senior leadership team, providing insight and guidance to the wider business to ensure the animal collection needs are embedded in all business planning activities.
Key Responsibilities:
Regulatory Compliance & Governance – Be the senior competent person for all zoo license and animal care requirements, overseeing compliance and record keeping, ensuring appropriate policies and documentation are always available. Lead the zoo inspection process for animal collections, working closely with the General Manager and wider leadership team to continuously improve the animal welfare standards in line with inspection recommendations
Leadership & Management – responsible for the Team Leaders, providing support, mentoring and leadership to develop their knowledge and performance in both animal welfare and their management skills, supporting the wider team with training and performance as needed, and ensuring CDP opportunities and requirements are met
Animal Welfare – in conjunction with the veterinary team, ensure preventative and curative steps are taken to safeguard and improve the welfare of the collection, ensuring welfare monitoring and ethics reviews are conducted, and veterinary recommendations followed and embedded in daily operations. Work with the maintenance and grounds team to ensure enclosures and wider areas deliver the appropriate environments for the animal collections, whilst also delivering appropriate interactions and display of animals for visitors to the park
Strategic Planning – oversee the long-term collection planning, ensuring due diligence, ethical review and conservation justification where required. Ensure appropriate controls are in place for hazardous animal management, including risk assessments and safe systems of work, and embed these within the wider living collections team to always ensure safety and compliance to these standards
Skills & Experience:
Essential
A HND or degree level qualification in zoological related science, and evidence of Continuous Professional Development
Experience within Zoo collections as an Aviculturist at a senior level
Excellent track record in leading and maintaining the highest possible standards of husbandry and welfare, and exhibit maintenance
Demonstrates clear lines of communication when working within a team with experience managing up and down
The ability to build a positive culture where both the best animal care and high visitor satisfaction is at the front of the minds of all staff
Have excellent leadership, people management, communication and influencing skills at a senior level with proven experience of managing and developing high performing teams
Able to solve problem and demonstrate operational and strategic skills
Experience of acting as a role model
Evidence of having a passion for working with people and working beyond the confines of the job description
Desirable
Experience of delivering talks and presentations to wider audiences
Experience of working through change programs, influencing team to grow with a changing business operation
Our employee benefits package includes:
An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing free and confidential counselling and advice to all employees and their immediate family
Contributory pension scheme for eligible employees
Generous Staff Discount Scheme after completion of probationary period
Free on-site parking
Staff Uniform provided
Discounts
Health Cash Plan
Charity Day
Up to 38 days of holiday pro-rata
Cycle Scheme