At a Glance
- Tasks: Harvest and collect fresh browse for animals, ensuring their health and wellbeing.
- Company: Join the renowned London Zoo and be part of a passionate conservation team.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, flexible working, and a generous pension scheme.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace encouraging applications from diverse backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in animal care while working outdoors and gaining valuable experience.
- Qualifications: Valid UK driving license and a passion for wildlife and conservation.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
This is an exciting opportunity to work with the amazing animals at London Zoo, one of the world’s most renowned zoological institutions. As you support the Browse Management Officer in harvesting and collecting fresh browse, you'll play a vital role in providing essential nutrition to a variety of species. Your efforts will directly contribute to the health, enrichment, and wellbeing of the animals, making a real difference in their daily care. This position is offered as a 9-month fixed-term contract, working 37.5 hours per week. As our zoos are open seven days a week, your schedule will follow a rota that includes weekends and bank holidays.
Key responsibilities
- Harvest, Collect, and Distribute Browse: Support the gathering and delivery of fresh browse to various animal sections, ensuring a consistent and nutritious supply for the animals.
- Manage Browse Waste: Assist with the responsible disposal and management of spent browse materials.
- Maintain Accurate Records: Help track browse species suitability and monitor deliveries to ensure quality and consistency.
- Support Equipment Maintenance and Safety: Assist with planned preventative maintenance checks and contribute to Health & Safety inspections to keep equipment in optimal condition.
About You
- A valid full UK driving license (Category B and above) and confidence driving various vehicles, including long-wheelbase vans and towing trailers.
- A reasonable understanding of plant identification and toxic plants to ensure safety and proper management.
- Ability to demonstrate strong customer service skills, maintaining professionalism and respect when interacting with the public, tree surgeons, and landowners off-site.
- An understanding of the importance of quality control in animal feed is essential.
- Thrives working outdoors in varying weather conditions and with undertaking physically demanding tasks, including lifting, bending, pushing, and pulling heavy materials.
- Flexibility to work weekends will be required as part of the role.
This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including confirmation of your right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
ZSL recognises that conservation is one of the least diverse sectors, and we actively encourage applications from candidates who identify as part of underrepresented communities. We are committed to building a supportive and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage.
What do we offer?
- Our vision and purpose – you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science-led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct.
- Pension scheme – we offer a generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension.
- Flexible working – talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you.
- Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays.
- Wellbeing – access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
- Life assurance – eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL’s life assurance scheme from their first day.
- Complimentary tickets – annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a 30% discount in online and retail shops.
- Cycle2Work – our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle.
- Season ticket loan – we offer an interest free loan for eligible London-based employees to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work.
- Family friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption packages.
Browse Operative (Fixed Term Contract) employer: Zoological Society of London
Join ZSL London Zoo as a Browse Operative and immerse yourself in a vibrant work culture dedicated to wildlife conservation. With a strong emphasis on employee wellbeing, you will enjoy generous benefits such as a robust pension scheme, flexible working arrangements, and access to wellbeing initiatives, all while making a meaningful impact on animal care. This role not only offers the chance to work outdoors in a unique environment but also encourages personal growth and inclusivity within a passionate team committed to preserving biodiversity.
Contact Details:
Zoological Society of London Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Browse Operative (Fixed Term Contract)
✨Get Hands-On in Local Gardens
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We think you need these skills to ace Browse Operative (Fixed Term Contract)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Horticultural Knowledge:Make sure to showcase any relevant horticulture experience you have. Mention specific plants, gardening techniques, or landscaping projects you've worked on. If you have any certificates in horticulture or botany, include those too – they'll definitely catch our eye!
Show You're Flexible and Ready to Learn:Since this is a temporary role, we want to know you're adaptable and eager to soak up new experiences. In your cover letter, express your willingness to learn and take on different tasks that may come up. Share any previous temporary roles and what you gained from them!
Include Practical Experience:In horticulture, hands-on experience matters a lot. If you’ve volunteered at a community garden or helped maintain private gardens, mention these gigs! Tailor your CV to include any practical work that demonstrates your skills in plant care, garden layout design, or pest management.
Use Clear, Concise Language:When applying for a temporary role, keep your application straightforward. Avoid jargon and focus on the essential skills you bring to the table. We want to understand your experience quickly, so make every word count. Remember, we love clear communication at Zoological Society of London!
How to prepare for a job interview at Zoological Society of London
✨Get to Grips with Plant Knowledge
In the world of horticulture, having a solid grasp of plant types, care techniques, and pest management is essential. Brush up on your understanding of the plants relevant to Zoological Society of London—it might just impress them if you can chat about local species or seasonal challenges!
✨Show Off Your Practical Skills
Since you’re applying for a temporary role, they’ll want to see that you’re ready to hit the ground running. Be prepared to discuss any hands-on experience you have with gardening tools, techniques, and maintenance tasks. If you've got a portfolio of your gardening projects or any past experiences, don't hesitate to share!
✨Prepare for Team Dynamics
Much of horticulture works in teams, especially during busy seasons. Anticipate questions about your experience working collaboratively. Think of examples of how you’ve contributed to team efforts in past gardening projects or seasonal work—showing your team spirit is key!
✨Express Your Flexibility and Learning Mindset
Given that this is a temporary position, make sure you convey your eagerness to learn and adapt quickly. Employers like Zoological Society of London will appreciate your willingness to tackle various tasks, from planting to weeding, and how you can fit in wherever needed!
