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
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.