Role: Technician – Animal Management
Location: Shuttleworth College – Old Warden
Salary/Benefits: Salary is between £23,557 and £26,754 (Pro-Rata) per annum DOE and Qualifications, 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 28 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 Technician in Animal Management to join our Animal Science department at The Bedford College Group.
As a Technician, you play an important role in the success of our students through:
1. Support Centre Operations – Assist with the day-to-day running of the Zoological Education Centre, ensuring professional standards and smooth operations.
2. Animal Care & Welfare – Participate in the care of farm, pet, and exotic species, maintain high welfare standards, and assist with enclosure enrichment and veterinary tasks.
3. Practical Learning Support – Prepare resources, support teaching staff and students during practical sessions, and maintain safe, well-equipped learning environments.
4. Compliance & Administration – Keep accurate records, prepare for inspections, ensure licensing requirements are met, and promote health and safety practices.
5. Teamwork & Flexibility – Liaise with external organisations, attend meetings, support marketing events, and provide weekend or out-of-hours cover as required.
About you:
6. Essential Qualifications – Level 3 qualification in Animal Management/Science, GCSE English & Maths (A–C or equivalent), and willingness to achieve First Aid certification.
7. Relevant Experience & Knowledge – Hands-on experience caring for a wide range of species (farm, pet, exotic), current vocational experience, and knowledge of UK animal care legislation.
8. Core Skills – Ability to maintain high standards of animal welfare, accurate record-keeping, effective communication, and strong teamwork skills.
9. Professional Attributes – Reliable, flexible, and committed to safeguarding, EDI, and College values (Student Focus, High Performance, Respect, Openness, Honesty).
10. Flexibility & Development – Willingness to work evenings/weekends, travel across sites, update skills continuously, and provide First Aid cover as part of a rota.
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.