Deputy Team Leader (Birds, Herptiles and Invertebrates)

• 5437
• Twycross Zoo
• Atherstone (Warwickshire)
• Permanent, Full Time
• £25,018 per annum + attractive benefits

Deputy Team Leader (Birds, Herptiles and Invertebrates)

The East Midland Zoological Society has been running Twycross Zoo for almost 60 years in the heart of England in 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 are home to 500 animals, including one of the largest chimpanzee families in the UK, and our primate collection is up there with the best in the world! We’re the only zoo in the UK to house all four great apes and we care for many other endangered species to the highest welfare standards, including Eastern black rhino, Sumatran tigers, Amur leopards and snow leopards.

In 2014, we launched our 20-year £55 million Masterplan. Since this time, new habitats include our 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 – Deputy Team Leader (Birds, Herptiles and Invertebrates)

Reporting to the Team Leader, as a Deputy Team Leader you will take a hands-on approach to delivering a high standard of care in the bird, herptile and invertebrates section, whilst actively supporting the Team Leader. Specific duties will include but will not be limited to:

• Supervising a team of up to 6 Keepers
• Reviewing diets and ensuring the correct diets are prepared and distributed
• Leading and supervising introductions of new animals into social groups
• Monitoring breeding, hatching and incubation if required
• Liaising with the on-site veterinary team to ensure optimal health of all animals
• Checking and ensuring enclosure structure security, reporting any concerns immediately
• Assisting the Team Leader with the training and development of Keepers, including conducting 121s, performance reviews and suggesting performance improvements
• Participating in on-site research projects (mostly behavioural, cognitive and welfare studies)
• Engaging with visitors and responding to enquiries

Our Requirements – Deputy Team Leader (Birds, Herptiles and Invertebrates)

• Experience gained working with birds (as the predominant taxa), with at least a keen interest in and knowledge of herptiles and inverts
• Experience managing and leading a team of people (including managing performance and conducting 121s etc.)
• A relevant qualification (e.g., a Science degree or Diploma in the Management of Zoo Animals and Aquaria)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Good team player with a positive and enthusiastic outlook
• An interest in the Zoo’s work and purpose
• Suitable level of physical fitness for required tasks such as daily manual handling
• Ability to adapt to change
• Good IT literacy with working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications

Although not essential, ideally you will have experience working with birds in a zoological environment.

The Package

• Permanent contract
• Salary of £25,018
• 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
• 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 43 hours per week on a rota (which includes weekends and bank holidays), working 5 days out of 7 between the hours of 8am to 5pm during the winter months, and 8am to 6pm for the remainder of the year.

More About Us

Twycross Zoo is at the forefront of conservation, education and research. 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. We aim to inspire visitors to support biodiversity conservation in any way they can. 

This is an exciting time to join Twycross Zoo as we have recently been awarded £20m grant funding to develop the National Science and Conservation Centre (NSCC) on the Twycross Zoo site. The NSCC will support vital work around species conservation. It will bring 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 and other endangered species, in naturalistic complex environments. The facilities will include a lecture theatre, classrooms, and laboratories, all planned to open in 2024.

Shortlisting and interviews for this Deputy Team Leader role will take place while the advert is live; the vacancy will be closed as soon as the successful candidate is appointed. Applicants are therefore encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible.

All applications for this Deputy Team Leader (Birds, Herptiles and Invertebrates) vacancy are to be submitted online, and strictly no agency calls or agency CV submissions.