Chester Zoo is hiring a new keeper to look after its lions, tigers, and bears

Chester Zoo is currently hiring someone to look after its lions, tigers, and bears, and you can get your applications in the for role now.

If you’re after a career change in 2024, then it surely can’t get much better than this?

The UK’s biggest charity zoo currently has a vacancy open for a Keeper to join the Carnivores department on a part-time permanent basis, and according to the job description on its website, this post offers animal lovers a “fantastic opportunity” to work with a wide variety of carnivore species – not just the famous ‘lions, and tigers, and bears’.

Chester Zoo is responsible for one of Europe’s largest and most-diverse Carnivore collections, and this is your chance to be a part of what makes it so special.

For this part-time role, the zoo is looking for a “dedicated and hardworking individual” with knowledge and a proven track-record in delivering high standards of modern zoo animal husbandry.

The role will require the successful applicant to maintain the health and welfare of a wide variety of species, all of which have specialised needs and requirements, and will involve responsibilities such as training, restraining, and capturing animals, and assisting veterinary staff with procedures and administering medication with relevant after-care.

You’ll also need to keep and update daily records of your teams’ animals, ensure and contribute to risk assessments, and make sure that safe operating procedures are adhered to when working with all animals.

The ideal candidate will have “proven experience” in the care and management of a variety of carnivore species in a zoo or safari park setting, a HND or degree level qualification in a zoological related science, and must be competent in the use of computers and basic software packages.

The job description also emphasises the need for “outstanding observational skills” and “excellent attention to detail”.

The role of ‘Keeper – Carnivores’ is 24 hours per week, with the working week split over three days and including every other weekend, and the salary being £16,021.69 per annum pro rata.

Working at Chester Zoo comes with an “excellent benefits package” and loads of perks too, including a generous pension scheme, 33 days paid holidays per year, a healthcare plan, pension scheme, a staff pass so that you can visit the zoo for free, and complimentary tickets for friends and family.

You’ll even get a load of discounts on gym memberships, cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops, and so much more.

Read more:

• Chester Zoo’s ‘after hours’ evenings are back with tickets 50% cheaper than during the day
• 11 new ‘highly threatened’ penguin chicks have hatched at Chester Zoo
• Chester Zoo named best zoo in the UK thanks to more than 11,000 ‘excellent’ ratings

The closing date for applications is this Thursday (22 August 2024), and you can find out more and apply for the role here.

Featured Image – Chester Zoo