Senior Conservation Officer

Banham Zoological Gardens, East Anglia. Closing date for applications is: 22nd Feb 2026. Salary: £33,542.50 per annum (minimum average 40 hour week, with seasonal fluctuation).

About ZSEA

The Zoological Society of East Anglia is a conservation charity that oversees Banham Zoo and Africa Alive Reserve. Our mission is to protect and support worldwide biodiversity, engage communities in wildlife conservation and deliver measurable impact both locally and globally. ZSEA is embarking on an exciting period of conservation expansion. As part of this growth, we are seeking an experienced and driven Senior Conservation Officer to lead native species recovery programmes, supervise a small conservation team, and contribute to strategic planning and delivery of the ZSEA Conservation Strategy.

Role Summary

Reporting to the Head of Conservation, the Senior Conservation Officer will oversee the daily implementation of our ex-situ species recovery projects, manage conservation staff, volunteers and work placements and support the Head of Conservation with developing and delivering the vision of the ZSEA Conservation Strategy at both Banham Zoo and Africa Alive Reserve. You will combine practical daily husbandry tasks with project management and administrative responsibilities, working closely with internal departments and external stakeholders to deliver impactful, high-quality conservation programmes. This role requires daily physical work caring for the animal and plant species within the conservation department and requires working outside in all weather conditions.

Key Responsibilities

• Team & Project Management

• Line-manage Conservation Officers, work placements and volunteers, including setting objectives, mentoring, and performance monitoring.
• Support the planning and execution of native species recovery projects on site at Banham Zoo and Africa Alive Reserve.
• Support the management of conservation project budgets, timelines, and reporting requirements.
• Support recruitment and training of conservation staff.

• Coordinate on site biodiversity survey efforts and habitat restoration initiatives across ZSEA sites in line with the ongoing Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).
• Supervise bio-secure housing and husbandry of native plant and animal species as part of ex situ breeding or reintroduction/release projects.
• Oversee compliance with animal welfare, biosecurity, and legislative standards alongside our project partners.
• Develop and maintain effective partnerships with stakeholders including government agencies, conservation NGOs, and academic institutions.
• Support funding applications and contribute to reporting for grants and donors.
• Monitor and evaluate conservation outcomes from each project – in line with ZSEA’s strategic aims.
• Assist the Head of Conservation in developing the long term strategy and vision for the ZSEA Conservation & Science department.

Person Specification

• Degree in conservation biology, zoology, ecology or related discipline.
• Two years minimum of experience in staff management.
• Minimum two years of professional conservation experience, including ex-situ management of species.
• Strong fieldwork skills and evaluation experience (survey methods, data handling, report writing).
• Familiarity with UK conservation policy, protected species licensing, and reintroduction protocols.
• Confident communicator with public speaking and stakeholder engagement experience.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant field.
• Knowledge of, or experience in working with amphibians and invertebrates, preferably native species.
• Experience with funding bids and project evaluation.

Apply for this job

Please submit your CV and a cover letter detailing how your experience aligns with the role to conservation@zsea.org. For informal enquiries, contact Sarah Lee, Head of Conservation, at the above email. Please note that there is no accommodation available with this role. Application deadline is Sunday 22nd February 2026 and first stage interviews will take place week commencing 2nd March.