Senior Animal Keeper (Great Apes)

• 5043
• Twycross Zoo
• Atherstone
• Permanent, Full Time
• Salary of £21,558 + attractive benefits

Senior Animal Keeper (Great Apes)

East Midland Zoological Society has been running Twycross Zoo for almost 60 years in the heart of Atherstone. We are an award-winning conservation and science-led zoo, and are a registered charity, welcoming over half a million people every year.

We house 500 animals which include the largest chimpanzee family in the UK and the biggest primate collection in the world. We are the only zoo in Europe to house all 4 Great Apes – Gorilla, Orangutan, Bonobo and Chimpanzee, and we care for some of the most endangered species to the highest welfare standards, including Sumatran Tigers, Amur Leopards and Snow Leopards.

In 2014, we launched our 20-year £55 million Masterplan. Since this time, new habitats include Giraffe Savannah, Gibbon Forest and a £3.5 million world-class chimpanzee habitat, Chimpanzee Eden, and we are looking forward to building on this continued growth and success.

The Role – Senior Animal Keeper (Great Apes)

As a Senior Animal Keeper reporting to the Deputy Team Leader, you’ll play a key role in caring for our Great Apes. You’ll achieve this by:

• Preparing and distributing food and water to animals
• Observing the animals, identifying any behavioural, reproductive, or medical situations and assisting with the capture and restraint of animals
• Assisting with maintaining enclosures and public viewing areas
• Researching animals’ requirements and suggesting improvements to stimulate animals physically and psychologically
• Answering enquiries from the public in a helpful and polite manner, whilst working closely with the visitor experience team delivering animal encounters
• Motivating and encouraging colleagues, assisting with the development of Trainee Keepers and providing guidance to work experience students and apprentices

Our Requirements – Senior Animal Keeper (Great Apes)

• Proven experience as a zookeeper, which must have included working with Great Apes, with superb knowledge of their natural history
• An appropriate animal related qualification (or working towards)
• A suitable level of physical fitness for assisting with the capture and restraint of animals as well as manoeuvring tools (including wheelbarrows)
• Enthusiastic, high performing and motivated with excellent customer service skills
• Ability to work effectively in a team and without supervision, with a flexible approach to duties and working hours
• A passion for the Zoo’s work and purpose

The Package

• Permanent contract
• Salary of £21,558
• 31 days annual leave
• Uniform
• Staff membership card giving you free entry to the Zoo on your days off
• Complimentary Twycross Zoo ticket allowance for friends and family
• Free access to other BIAZA zoos and aquariums
• 25% discount in the Twycross Zoo gift shop
• 10% discount in Twycross Zoo food and beverage outlets
• Free onsite parking
• Star of the month award scheme
• Access to work counselling services

You’ll work on average 5 days out of 7 per week between the hours of 8am to 6pm during the summer and 8am to 5pm during the winter months.

More About Us

Twycross Zoo is at the forefront of conservation, education and research, and we have a strong commitment to our award-winning education programme, aiming to increase the level of awareness, knowledge and understanding of visitors about our animals and their plight in the wild.

This is an exciting time to join Twycross Zoo as we have recently been awarded £20 million grant funding to develop the National Science and Conservation Centre on the Twycross Zoo site. The NSCC will support vital work around species conservation, bringing together experts in conservation science and train the next generation of conservationists, whilst offering researchers from around the world the opportunity to study the four Great Apes as well as 100 endangered species, in naturalistic complex environments. The facilities will include a lecture theatre, classrooms, and laboratories, all planned to open in 2024.

All applications for this Senior Animal Keeper (Great Apes) vacancy are to be submitted online.