At a Glance
- Tasks: Care for animals, maintain hygiene, and ensure their wellbeing during weekends and holidays.
- Company: Join a supportive college environment dedicated to animal welfare.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, fitness centre access, and various employee perks.
- Other info: Flexible hours with opportunities for training and personal development.
- Why this job: Make a difference in animal care while gaining valuable experience.
- Qualifications: Animal Care qualification or relevant experience required.
The predicted salary is between 14.76 - 14.76 £ per hour.
We are seeking a reliable and enthusiastic Part-Time Animal Care Technician to support the care and welfare of animals within the college animal care unit during weekends and holiday periods when students are not on site. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring all animals remain healthy, safe, enriched, and well cared for, while maintaining high standards of hygiene and husbandry throughout the animal care facilities.
Part time role covering weekends and holidays: 2 hours across each weekend (1 hour each day) + 18 hours each week over the holidays including weekends.
Key Responsibilities- Prepare animal feeds and carry out daily feeding routines in line with animal care plans.
- Clean and maintain animal enclosures, housing, equipment, and associated areas to a high standard.
- Carry out routine animal health checks and observations, reporting any concerns promptly to the relevant staff member.
- Provide enrichment activities and positive animal interactions to promote animal welfare and wellbeing.
- Undertake regular animal handling to maintain animal confidence, socialisation, and habituation during periods when students are absent.
- Monitor and record environmental conditions, including temperature and humidity checks for reptile enclosures.
- Maintain accurate records relating to animal care, feeding, environmental monitoring, and health observations.
- Report any maintenance, welfare, behavioural, or health concerns appropriately.
- Ensure animal kitchens, preparation areas, and general animal care facilities are kept clean, organised, and hygienic.
- Follow all relevant health and safety, biosecurity, and animal welfare procedures at all times.
- Receiving appropriate training, instruction and information to carry out emergency procedures safely and effectively.
- Responding to emergency situations in line with organisational policies and procedures.
- Supporting the organisation’s compliance with relevant Health and Safety legislation.
- Animal Care qualification (level 3) or relevant practical experience.
- Have experience working with a range of animals in a practical animal care setting.
- Be confident handling animals safely and calmly.
- Have a good understanding of animal welfare and husbandry practices.
- Be reliable, responsible, and able to work independently.
- Be organised and able to maintain accurate records.
- Have good observational skills and the ability to identify and report concerns.
- Be flexible and willing to work weekends and holiday periods as required.
- Experience working in an animal care environment.
- Knowledge of reptile husbandry and environmental monitoring.
- Access to on site car parking.
- Use of QAC Fitness Centre (subject to opening hours).
- Cycle to Work Scheme (Salary Sacrifice).
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme Helpline (BHSF).
- Access to Education Support.
- Free Helpline for Teachers & Education Staff.
- QAC Mental Health First Aiders & activities to support health and wellbeing.
- BHSF Benefits Package including Healthcare Plans, discounted shopping/services.
- Annual Flu vaccination/voucher.
- Access to other benefit/discount schemes (which may be subject to charge) e.g. Blue Light Card, TOTUM (NUS), Charity Worker Discounts, Discounts for Teachers.
- Dell Advantage programme - a free programme that offers savings to students, parents and all staff at QAC - up to 20% off.
- Health and Wellbeing Services (Occupational Health/Counselling).
- Free Tea/Coffee and Staff Room facilities.
- Dining Room facilities with hot/cold food (free meal provided for those supporting students at mealtimes).
- Additional discretionary concessionary/closure days as part of leave entitlement (including closure over Christmas/New Year period).
- Reward and Recognition Policy – Living the Values Awards (team & individual) and long service.
- Enhanced/Occupational paid leave e.g. maternity/paternity (subject to qualifying criteria).
- Occupational sick pay (based on length of service).
- On site wellbeing activities (e.g. yoga, meditation).
- Support for training/ CPD (either by way of study leave and/or funding).
- Flexible working arrangements including Flexible Working Policy Agreements, Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) in prior agreement with line manager.
This list is not exhaustive and may be subject to review and/or change.
Animal Care Technician - Weekends and Holidays employer: Queen Alexandra College
Join our dedicated team as a Part-Time Animal Care Technician in Harborne, Birmingham, where you will play a vital role in ensuring the welfare of animals during weekends and holidays. We offer a supportive work culture with access to health and wellbeing services, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for professional development, making it an excellent place for those passionate about animal care to thrive.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Animal Care Technician - Weekends and Holidays
✨Get Your Hands Dirty in the Community
Nothing beats on-the-ground experience when it comes to agriculture. Volunteer at local farms or join community gardening projects to meet industry folks. They often have inside info on part-time gigs that might not even be advertised yet!
✨Tap Into Agriculture Networks
Join local agricultural societies or online forums specific to your area. These communities are goldmines for part-time opportunities and can connect you with farmers and organisations looking for helping hands.
✨Seasonal Availability Is Key
Make sure you know when the busy seasons are! Many farms ramp up hiring during planting and harvest times. Keep an eye out for those windows and shoot your applications off early through our website to increase your chances.
✨Show Off Your Passion!
Bring your enthusiasm to the table. During interviews or interactions, share any relevant coursework or experiences you’ve had in agriculture. Whether it’s a school project or a home garden, showing that you're keen can set you apart when competing for that part-time role with Queen Alexandra College.
We think you need these skills to ace Animal Care Technician - Weekends and Holidays
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Relevant Experience:In your CV, make sure to shine a light on any agriculture-related experience you've got, whether it's from coursework, volunteer work, or hands-on jobs. Don't forget about specific skills like crop management or knowledge of sustainable practices; those are real winners for Queen Alexandra College!
Show Off Your Passion:In your cover letter, let your enthusiasm for agriculture come through! Talk about why you're passionate about working in this field and what makes you excited about the opportunity at Queen Alexandra College. We love hearing personal stories that connect you to the agriculture world!
Tailor Your Application:Avoid the one-size-fits-all approach. Make sure to tailor your CV and cover letter for the part-time role at Queen Alexandra College. This might mean adjusting the wording to reflect the specific tasks and responsibilities mentioned in the job listing, ensuring you clearly fit the bill.
Include Certifications or Courses:If you have any relevant certifications or courses related to agriculture, make sure to include those! Whether it's a short course in sustainable farming or a certification in organic agriculture, these can really boost your application. It shows you're dedicated to the field and continuously learning!
How to prepare for a job interview at Queen Alexandra College
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Knowledge
Given the agriculture field, it's vital we understand farming techniques, equipment, and even pest management strategies. Be ready to discuss specific practices you've encountered or used—perhaps your experience with certain crops or technologies in farming.
✨Showcase Your Practical Experience
Employers want to see that we can apply our knowledge in the field. If you've had hands-on experience—like internships, volunteering on a farm, or even personal projects—talk about them! Share what you learned and how it shaped your understanding of agricultural processes.
✨Flexibility & Commitment—Key for Part-Time Roles
Part-time roles often require a bit of juggling. Be ready to show your willingness to adapt your schedule for peak seasons or specific needs that come up. Discuss your availability openly, and highlight your enthusiasm for being part of the team.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In agriculture, we might face situations that test our problem-solving skills. Expect questions like how we'd handle a pest outbreak or deal with unpredictable weather. Practise articulating your thought process and solutions, as it shows we can think on our feet.
