Deputy Team Leader - Colchester, United Kingdom - Colchester Zoo

Colchester Zoo

Verified Company

Colchester, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

beBee Recruiter

Description

An exciting position has arisen for an experienced Deputy Team Leader to join our team and contribute
to our mission at Colchester Zoo in a full-time role working within our Africa section; a mixed taxa
section responsible for spotted hyena, cheetah, mandrill, l'hoest monkey, warthog, crowned crane,
Kirk's dik dik, blue duiker and blue crane

JOB TITLE:
Deputy Team Leader - Africa Section

Colchester Zoo is home to over 160 species and is dedicated to supporting conservation projects

around the globe. As an award-winning visitor attraction with over 1 million guests visiting each year,

every staff member at the zoo works together to ensure that our guests have an enjoyable

and unforgettable experience.
duties and maintain high standards of welfare for the animal species in their
for the continual progression and development of animal husbandry, breeding
management and enclosure design on the section.

Alongside the section's Team Leader, the job holder will be responsible for
mentoring and managing more junior employed staff members; lead keepers,
senior keepers, qualified keepers and volunteers; student keepers and work
experience students. The job holder will also be responsible
for deputising to the Team Leader and leading the section in their absence.

practices and risk assessments for working in and around the species on the
section.

The job holder will deliver enclosure encounters and experiences to zoo visitors
for a range of species across the section, as well as deliver educational husbandry
subcommittees, where appropriate, and be willing to represent, and present,
at external conferences on behalf of Colchester Zoo.

MAIN JOB

PURPOSE:

Provide excellent husbandry standards and welfare for a range of species

2. Manage employed and voluntary members of the animal section
and lead the section in the Team Leader's absence

3. Produce safe working practices across the animal section

4. Deliver enclosure encounters and experiences to zoo visitors, educational
groups and for social media

5. Represent Colchester Zoo in external settings where required

OTHER KEY

ACTIVITIES:

Demonstrate commitment to continuous personal development.

- Perform other duties as reasonably directed by the animal section's Team
Leader and the Animal Management Team (Zoo Director, Curator of Living
Collections, Manager of Living Collections and Head Keeper)

WORKING HOURS:
This is a full-time position. An average of 40 hours a week (5 days) which will
include regular weekend work and will increase in busy periods.

UNIFORM:
Full uniform (except boots) will be provided. Full uniform must be worn at all times
with a name badge.

SALARY:
£28,392 per annum

EVALUATION:
For the first five months of employment, the jobholder will be asked to complete a
one month, three month and five month self-assessment. This will gauge
their feelings of the job and assess their progress towards meeting targets.

WORKING

ENVIRONMENT:

Colchester Zoo is a nonsmoking environment and smoking is not permitted

by members of staff whilst on the premises.

Colchester Zoo is an equal opportunities employer.

- You may be required to work offsite on animal transfers on occasion.

Whilst doing this job, the employee is likely to be exposed to:

Category 1 animals

- Outside weather conditions
-
- Tropical exhibits with high temperatures
-
- Moving mechanical parts
-
- Toxic or caustic chemicals
-
- Lifting heavy loads

DEPUTY TEAM LEADER SPECIFICATION

Essential Desirable

HUSBANDRY SKILLS

AND EXPERIENCE
7+ years' experience in a zoological collection,
including extensive experience with category 1 species

Excellent standard of practical skill in animal
husbandry, including training and enrichment

Excellent standard of animal observation skills

Excellent ability to develop animal husbandry,
breeding management and enclosure design
on the section

Ability to manage the animal section in the absence
of the Team Leader, with limited assistance

Ability to drive forward the overall standards of the
section to a higher level (excellent competency)

Excellent knowledge of ZIMS

Vast knowledge of zoo licencing and legislation

Excellent skills in handling and restraint
of various species

High confidence and ability in dealing with
medical issues

Knowledge of water
quality parameters
and management for
a range of species

Experience in
operating filtration
systems
and life support
systems

Knowledge of uv
requirements for a
range of species

TEAM WORK AND

ABILITY TO FOLLOW

INSTRUCTION
Ability to work in a team and contribute to team goals
(excellent competency)

Ability to harness positive relationships with all other
team members regardless of level / section
(excellent competency)

Ability to follow instruction and carry out tasks
at manager's / senior staff member's request
(excellent competency)