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- Tasks: Lead and manage teams caring for diverse wetland wildlife and engage with visitors.
- Company: Join WWT, a passionate team dedicated to restoring wetlands and wildlife conservation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 33 days annual leave, free entry to centres, and a contributory pension scheme.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on conservation while inspiring others about wetland ecosystems.
- Qualifications: Management experience in visitor attractions and expertise in animal care required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
About the Role
We are excited to offer a unique and highly sought after opportunity for a passionate and skilled Living Collection Manager to join the team at the Arundel Wetland Centre.
The unique bird collection at Arundel contains some of the rarest waterbirds within Europe, ranging from Scoters, Scaley Sided Mergansers and Spectacled Eiders, making this an exciting and rewarding position set in the beautiful surroundings of the Arun Valley.
In this pivotal role, you will lead and manage the Living Collection team, overseeing the care and maintenance of our diverse living collection while ensuring exceptional standards of presentation. You will also be involved in UK and European breeding programs to sustain some of the rare waterbirds within the collection. As the Living Collection Manager, you will be responsible for upholding the highest standards of animal husbandry and welfare, leading the team to continually enhance and maintain our exhibits whilst developing the team into highly‑skilled and confident aviculturists, while engaging with our visitors on the importance of wetland wildlife conservation.
This is a permanent, full‑time position, requiring you to work 37.5 hours per week, 5 days out of 7, including weekends and bank holidays.
About You
- Proven management‑level experience in a similar setting.
- Extensive background in large‑scale visitor attractions with animal collections.
- Expertise in the care, feeding, and husbandry of birds and mammals.
- A passion for inspiring and motivating a team, in‑depth knowledge of UK zoo legislation and animal welfare.
- A strong track record in innovative problem‑solving.
- Excellent leadership and team‑building skills.
- Experience in customer relations, public speaking, education.
- Proven experience initiating and developing creative animal projects.
Benefits
- Wake up every day knowing your work is helping to restore wetlands and our world.
- Be surrounded and inspired by our team of passionate, dedicated people.
- 33 days annual leave (which goes up to 38 days after 5 years of service) – this includes bank holidays and you have flexibility to take those days whenever you want.
- Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family.
- Free car parking and secure bike storage areas.
- Colleague discount on shopping and memberships.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Contributory pension scheme.
- Life Assurance of three times your salary, for peace of mind for your loved ones.
- Independent personal, workplace and financial advice from our Employee Assistance Programme.
WWT is an equal opportunities employer and all applications will be considered solely on merit.
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Living Collection Manager employer: Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
Contact Detail:
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Living Collection Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the team and the organisation before your interview. Research WWT's mission and values, and think about how your passion for conservation aligns with their goals. This will help you connect on a personal level during your chat.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare some engaging stories from your past experiences that showcase your leadership skills and problem-solving abilities. We want to hear how you've inspired teams or tackled challenges in similar roles!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your public speaking skills! Since you'll be delivering talks to visitors, it’s crucial to feel confident and articulate. Try rehearsing in front of friends or family to get comfortable with your delivery.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Living Collection Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for conservation and animal welfare shine through. We want to see how your enthusiasm aligns with our mission at WWT!
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your management experience and any relevant skills in animal husbandry. We’re looking for specific examples that demonstrate your expertise in similar settings.
Engage with Us: Don’t shy away from showing your communication skills! Mention any public speaking or visitor engagement experiences you have. We love candidates who can connect with our visitors and inspire them.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and get to know you better!
How to prepare for a job interview at Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of animal husbandry and UK zoo legislation. Being able to discuss specific examples of how you've maintained high standards in previous roles will show that you're the right fit for the Living Collection Manager position.
✨Show Your Leadership Skills
Prepare to share experiences where you've successfully led a team, especially in a visitor attraction setting. Highlight your ability to inspire and motivate others, as this role requires strong leadership to manage the Grounds & Living Collection teams effectively.
✨Engage with Passion
Since engaging with visitors is a key part of the job, think about how you can convey your passion for wetland wildlife conservation during the interview. Practise delivering a short talk or presentation about a specific exhibit or conservation effort that excites you.
✨Problem-Solving Scenarios
Be ready to discuss innovative problem-solving examples from your past. Think of challenges you've faced in managing living collections or visitor engagement and how you overcame them. This will demonstrate your critical thinking skills and adaptability.