Assistant Team Manager - Giraffes

Assistant Team Manager – Giraffes

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The Role

This is a key role working as part of our professional team, assisting the Team Manager to ensure the highest standards of animal husbandry, welfare and exhibitory are maintained on the Giraffe section. For the right candidate, this post offers a fantastic opportunity to work with a variety of hoof stock species including, but not limited to; Nubian giraffe, Okapi, Zebra, Babirusa and Malayan tapir. Following the opening of Heart of Africa in Spring 2025, the successful applicant will continue to support the team and play an integral part of the new mixed species and reserve exhibit.

As Assistant Team Manager you will:

• Assist the Team Manager (TM) in the daily operation of the Giraffe team, ensuring compliance and high standards of animal care and visitor experience, directing, and organising activities as agreed with TM.
• Assist the TM in the management of the department\’s assets.
• Responsible for the work programming and daily operations of Keepers, Lead Keepers, and Voluntary Work Placements (VWPs), as delegated and required by TM.
• To produce and review Risk Assessments and Safe Working Practices.
• Responsible for routine one-to-one meetings/ PDR of Keepers and Lead Keepers, managing and supporting their training and professional development.
• Have good knowledge of the relevant taxa, and current best practice management within the section, to include related conservation initiatives.
• Contribute towards Chester Zoo\’s conservation, research, education, and visitor experience objectives, in line with the Zoo\’s collection plan, Conservation Masterplan (CMP) and Strategic Development Plan (SDP).
• To deputise for the Team Manager as directed.
• Represent and promote Chester Zoo, ensuring an excellent external reputation.

Our Requirements

• Vast experience working with a variety of hoof stock is essential, to include up-to-date best practice knowledge of relevant husbandry techniques, along with the ability to learn, adopt and develop new skills.
• People management experience is essential for this role, such as conducting performance reviews, carrying out regular one to ones, motivating the team, having difficult conversations and nurturing staff development and needs in line with the section and collections goals.
• A good understanding of general animal management with specific knowledge in the husbandry, training, biology, and key conservation issues of animals within our care.
• A high level of animal care, enclosure maintenance, facility improvement ideas and attention to detail is essential.
• Good knowledge of health problems and veterinary issues that may affect the collection\’s animals.
• Good communication skills to engage with other members of staff, departments and to be able to deal with visitors, public talks, and requests for information from outside sources.
• An ability to motivate and encourage keeping staff and VWPs.
• A positive, collaborative, and cooperative working style, with the ability to work with colleagues internally and externally across various disciplines.
• Competent in the use of animal record keeping, including the use of ZIMS Species 360 software.
• Computer literate in Microsoft packages (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).
• A relevant higher education qualification is desirable.
• Driving licence essential.

What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?

As the UK\’s biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans, and there\’s always lots going on here. We\’re an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of over 600 permanent and 500 temporary team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us for the long term on our exciting journey.

We are a founding member of British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), and we lead the way with pioneering conservation, research and education and driving the concept of modern zoos.

The Package

You\’ll be working predominantly fixed hours, typically 8am to 5pm or 7am to 4pm, although some evening work may be required from time to time. You will work 40 hours per week, 10 days out of 14 on a rota basis including weekends and bank holidays, with set days off each week.

• Permanent Contract
• Salary of £30,000 – £31,929 per annum depending on experience
• 33 days annual leave per year (increasing with service)
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off, plus a number of complimentary tickets for your family and friends.
• Access to healthcare plan.
• Discounted gym membership.
• Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks.
• Pension scheme with generous employer contributions of up to 9%.

Please be aware we reserve the right to close our vacancies earlier than the listed date if we have received a high level of applications. We would recommend that if you do wish to be considered that you complete the application as promptly as possible as shortlisting and interviews may be taking place whilst the advert is live.

More About Us

We are not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that\’s home to 30,000 incredible animals. We are not just the UK\’s most popular zoo. We are a major wildlife charity that is committed to the recovery of endangered species globally. And, as the world faces an extinction crisis, we\’re making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it\’s needed most. We are Chester Zoo, and we prevent extinction.