Keeper Grade 1 - Elephants in London

• Dublin Zoo
• D**ublin - Ireland**
• Closing date for applications: 28th Jul 2026
• Contact: Michele Orr ( )
• Sector: Animal Care | Type: Paid | Contract type: Full-time | Salary: €22.08 per hour
• Overview

Dublin Zoo holds the prestigious position of being one of Ireland's top Family Attractions for almost 200 years.

We are a conservation charity.

Our purpose is to save wildlife and inspire a passion for nature – one person, one family at a time.

All members of the Dublin Zoo team are expected to uphold CARE Values.

Role Summary

We are seeking to recruit a highly motivated and diligent Keeper (G1) to work as part of the animal management team supporting the Team leaders and Senior Keepers to ensure that day‑to‑day animal husbandry is carried out effectively and in a timely manner using the agreed best standard practices.

• Key Requirement
• ELEPHANT EXPERIENCE IS ESSENTIAL FOR THIS ROLE

Responsibilities

• Animals
• Know the animals you regularly work with, check and observe them, identify behavioural, reproductive and medical situations and keep the other staff members on section aware of developments.
• Observe the health and welfare of the animals in the section you are allocated to, using the defined procedures.
• Prepare and distribute the diets of animals according to agreed practice and ensure animals eat effectively, administering the diets accordingly.
• Report any animal health concerns to a line manager (Team Leader or Duty Team Leader).
• Depending on your grade, carry out basic or advanced animal husbandry procedures such as daily moves, daily checks, animal training behaviours, capture and restraint of animals, animal transports, etc.
• Research the animals’ requirements and keep abreast of developments.
• Proactively and regularly provide the animals in your care with varied forms of enrichment, diet change and new or improved husbandry procedures.
• Depending on grade, have an understanding of operant conditioning and can participate in or design and train behaviours.
• Habitats, Houses and Facilities
• Ensure and assist in maintaining facilities (houses and habitats), food preparation and public viewing areas at high standard of hygiene, cleanliness and exhibition.
• Maintain facilities security, including visually checking enclosure structure daily and reporting concerns immediately.
• Clean animal areas using the agreed procedures and within time frames.
• Ensure that animal housing and habitat parameters are effectively maintained.
• Carry out minor repairs and maintenance to produce a safe, near‑natural environment for animals and attractive exhibition and interpretation facilities for the public.
• Analyse habitats and houses and suggest potential developments.
• Assist in ensuring all animal dept. areas, including staff areas, are kept tidy to a high standard of cleanliness and hygiene where applicable.
• Staff
• Assist with the training and development of the section’s staff to ensure competence and performance standards are achieved and maintained.
• Supervise and encourage work experience and other students allocated to the section.
• Support the Senior Keeper and Team Leader to ensure that any concerns on the section are raised and dealt with appropriately and promptly.
• Motivate and encourage staff on the section to ensure that their job profiles are fulfilled.
• Check your and junior staff’s work to ensure safety and completion to the required standard.
• Others
• Carry out responsible work practices relevant to animal husbandry and work practices.
• Ensure all institutional policies, procedures and protocols are followed always, with special regard to H&S.
• Be willing to be trained on first aid rota and to be on call as part of the first aid duty.
• Key Working Relationships
• Work effectively in a team supporting Team Leader, Senior Keeper, Keepers and Assistant Keepers.
• Build good relations with other staff members, including senior managers and the Director supporting Dublin Zoo to become best in class/lead in zoological husbandry.
• Co‑operate with other staff at Dublin Zoo, particularly with the Registrar and C&S officer, Maintenance staff, Marketing and administration, gate and shop staff.
• Communicate clearly with colleagues to ensure safety.
• Be respectful towards visitors and interact with them politely, answering enquiries in a helpful and polite manner.
• Encourage work experience and other students allocated to the section.
• Report to the Team Leader/Senior Keeper as necessary, liaising regularly with the Team Leader and Curator regarding the operation of your section.
• Provide ‘Keeper Talks’ to the public.
• Depending on grade, participate in section meetings and lead them when Team Leader/Senior Keeper are unavailable.
• Ensure all happenings at the park are communicated accurately to the Link Manager on the day.
• Position

This is a permanent role.

Requirements

• Has achieved an appropriate animal‑related qualification (DMZAA or equivalent*) and has worked at least 2 years after its completion.
• Has worked for 2+ years with elephants.
• Has a minimum of three years relevant experience of animal keeping.
• Demonstrate very good knowledge of the animals within your regular care and be familiar with their natural history, while working towards gaining more knowledge.
• Complete duties to a high standard, as quickly as possible and can change priorities if necessary.
• Capable of aiding the veterinary team as appropriate.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills and lead other staff members by example.
• Be competent in carrying out minor repairs to enclosures.
• Be proactive in solving problems in accordance with section management and suggest relevant solutions.
• Be able to use computer systems to input and retrieve information from ZIMS.
• Prepare specific reports (animal‑related and others) physically fit enough for the required duties on the allocated section.
• Maintain a good attendance and time‑keeping record.
• Show flexibility in working times and duties to ensure animals’ needs are covered.
• All employees must ensure that our visitors always experience excellent customer service and be willing to give operational support to any department requested.
• Apply For This Job
• Submit your application at
• #J-18808-Ljbffr