Animal Team Leader - Birds, Ectotherms & Guest Experiences

Our Animal Team Leaders are passionate about wildlife, conservation and animal husbandry. They deliver our mission and Bring Conservation to Life by enabling our Animal Keeper Team and volunteers to deliver high standards of animal care, enrichment and husbandry, while also ensuring our guests have an informative, fun, and memorable experience with us.

Key Responsibilities for the Role

• Manage Operations and Resources

• Manage and enable our Animal Keepers and volunteers to deliver animal welfare, enrichment, and husbandry practices for our bird and ectotherm collection in line with SSSMS practice.
• Work with our Gardens/Maintenance Teams to deliver safe, functional, and well-presented habitats.
• Manage stock and resources efficiently, including consumables such as food and bedding.
• Collaborate with the Head of Animals on staff deployment and resource planning.
• Complete Duty Manager cover for the Head of Animals & cover for the Mammals Team Leader.

• Support the team, ensuring they have the tools, training, and resources to perform their duties.
• Conduct one-to-ones, appraisals, and team meetings to create a high performing team culture.
• Deliver, support, and oversee technical training for Animal Keepers and volunteers.
• Support our Animal Keepers to develop and deliver animal training activities.
• Actively promote our mission and the broader value of zoos in conservation and education.

• Ensure the maintenance of accurate animal records using our Species 360 database.
• Conduct bi-annual welfare audits and support preparation for inspections.
• Contribute to the Institutional Species Plan and animal transfers.
• Develop and update best practice husbandry guidelines, checklists, dairies and procedures.
• Co-ordinate all animal related student and work experience placements.
• Work closely with the Guest Experience Team to deliver engaging animal encounters & experiences.
• Role model courteous, professional, and informative guest service.
• Address and resolve informal guest complaints; appropriately escalating when necessary.
• Improve guests experience through staff training, signage, talks, and presentations.

• Maintain high standards of H&S ensuring full compliance with our policies, safe working practices, and the Secretary of States Standards on Modern Zoo Practice (SSSMZP).
• Lead and coordinate staff during drills and emergencies, always prioritising guest and staff safety.
• Conduct risk assessments and safety audits, implementing and monitoring improvements.
• Investigate health and safety incidents and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure all staff and volunteers have appropriate PPE and are trained in safety procedures.

Key Requirements for the Role

• Qualifications

• Holds Level 3 Diploma in the Management or Zoo and Aquarium Animals.
• Working towards/holds level 5 BSc (hons) in Animal Science or equivalent.

• Comfortable working as part of a team, but also working unsupervised.
• Good IT literacy (record management, emails/notes, and spreadsheet updates).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Knowledge of BIAZA and EAZA animal husbandry, behaviour, & welfare principles.
• Familiar with nutrition, enrichment, animal health, welfare assessment & training.
• Familiar with the Secretary of States Standards on Modern Zoo Practice.
• Understands conservation issues and the role zoos play in mitigating species loss.

• Maintaining accurate data in Animal Management databases e.g. Species360.
• Significant experience of working with an EAZA/BIAZA collections in a Zoo/Wildlife Park.
• Managing H&S risk assessments and safe operating procedures.
• Line managing staff and volunteers in a customer service environment.
• Managing birds and ectotherms collections.
• Delivering animal training activities.
• Willing to work towards/able to use firearms in an emergency.
• Performing physical tasks (lifting, clearing, carrying) in all weather conditions.

• Leading and Supervising.
• Planning and Organising.
• Adapting and Responding to Change.

Staff Benefits

As well as working with our wonderful animals and amazing team in one of the most beautiful visitor attractions in North Wales, we also provide access to:

• Training and development opportunities.
• Free family admission to our zoo.
• Free uniform.
• Free staff parking.
• Our Employee Assistance Wellbeing Programme.
• Discounts in our restaurant, gift shop, and sweet shop.
• Holiday scheme which increases with service up to 33 days.
• Company sick pay after qualifying service.

Please note shared accommodation may be available with this role - to be discussed at interview.

Apply for this job:

To apply for this role please send your CV and cover letter (maximum 2 pages) to hr@welshmountainzoo.org. Your cover letter should outline your motivation for joining our team to help us deliver our mission, and also provide some details about how you meet the qualification, skills, knowledge, and experience for the role.

Please note that it is not possible for us to acknowledge every application form. If you do not hear from us within 10 days of the closing date, please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.