Job Vacancy - Animal Director South Lakes Safari Zoo is under new management - A natural park in the Southern Lake District, home to 1400 of the rarest, most endangered animals including African Lions, White Rhino, Sumatran Tigers, Andean Condor, Rothschild and Kordofan Giraffes. Our unique natural environments enable visitors to get as close as physically possible to experience the sights, sounds, and a few smells, of these amazing creatures we share our planet with. Attracting 300,000 visitors a year, SLSZ is the largest visitor attraction in the area, offering visitors a range of up close and personal experiences and encounters. We are under new management and have a vacancy for an Animal Director to join this hard working, close knit team and invite applications from experienced Animal Managers who would like to take the opportunity to become part of our community during this exciting period of rebirth.
The Role: Reporting directly to the CEO The Animal Director will lead and direct our team of hard working animal keepers to maintain consistently high standards of welfare and to ensure the care, feeding, and hygiene of all the animals and animal areas within the park. With responsibility for the establishment of appropriate and proper animal care programmes, the animal director will work closely with head keepers, animal manager and consultant/onsite veterinary teams to develop and implement said programmes, monitoring to ensure expected standards are maintained and intervening/providing training and support when necessary. The Animal Director will be closely involved with our education function, supporting development of the education, experience and encounter programmes and we expect active contribution to innovative changes to the company to improve animal welfare, generate revenue and encourage the animal care teams to do the same.
The Person: The successful candidate will have knowledge of the intensive management needs of multiple species’ through several years working in operational roles within a zoo/safari park environment. They should demonstrate an active commitment to conservation and have an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced today in a modern zoo; specifically around nutrition, husbandry and successful breeding programmes. Strong leadership and people management skills are needed with experience in dealing effectively with external bodies, as well as a positive attitude towards mentoring and coaching junior managers and developing apprentices and trainees. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to initiate and maintain positive and effective internal and external relationships and have excellent communication and leadership skills. A valid UK driving licence and firearms experience would be beneficial. This role is 40 hours per week on a pre-agreed rota basis, including some weekends and bank holidays. All applicants must have right to work in the UK.
Closing date: 18th February 2017 To apply: Please email a full CV along with a covering letter to - [email protected]
Cumbria Zoo Company Limited, Registered in England Reg No: 10423947 VAT Registration number 252 7339 02 [email protected] 01229 846550
Job Description – South Lakes Safari Zoo Title: Animal Director Reports to: CEO, SLSZ Based at: South Lakes Safari Zoo, Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria
Job purpose:
To lead and direct animal keeper teams, maintain consistently high standards of animal welfare and establish and implement effective animal care programmes.
Key responsibilities and accountabilities:
Lead and direct the animal care team including animal manager, head keepers, animal keepers, trainees, apprentices, interns and volunteers Monitor and Maintain consistently high standards of animal welfare inline with modern zoo practices/legislation and regulations Establish and develop effective animal care programmes Responsible for maintaining consistently high standards of animal welfare, training, conditioning, husbandry and living environments Identifying skills gaps and Developing, implementing and maintaining training plans Developing, implementing and ensuring adherence to the SLSZ Enrichment and welfare principles Providing technical advice and support to the keeping staff on husbandry, animal observation and management of animals held Involving the animal care teams with planning, development implementation and maintenance of habitats. . Leading the development, implementation and maintenance of in-house animal husbandry manuals and quarantine protocols Supporting the maintenance manager with implementation of preventative pest control on the section. Monitoring and reporting section maintenance requirements to Maintenance manager Ensuring a high level of animal health is maintained through close liaison with the Animal care and veterinary teams Ensuring understanding and compliance of self and team members with all animal record keeping and studbook requirements as appropriate Ensuring ongoing adherence of self and team to and to safe and correct animal handling practices and techniques, including capture, immobilisation and transport of animals. Promoting a culture of learning on the job through cross training programmes, the experience of other zoo staff and use of research to ensure highest standards of animal husbandry and welfare Assisting with development and implementation of incubation & hand-raising protocols Ensuring highest level of individual performance, activities and presentation across their section Supporting the recruitment and selection process for animal care staff and ensuring policies and procedures are adhered to.
Cumbria Zoo Company Limited, Registered in England Reg No: 10423947 VAT Registration number 252 7339 02 [email protected] 01229 846550
Working with management team in managing staff performance and resolving operational HR issues Ensuring regular and accurately recorded team meetings take place Fostering a positive and constructive staff culture in their team and ensuring the team understands the Zoo’s strategy and values and how their performance and role contributes to the Zoo’s success in delivering on the strategy Supporting implementation of SLSZ ,policies and culture Supporting the planning, formulation and implementation of section strategy and policy for Animal Collection. Supporting the planning of animal transactions and transportation. Ensure effective team process for planning and implementation of section routines, strategy and goals. Executing plans for the delivery of high quality interactive engaging habitats. Ensuring ongoing evaluation, development and management of habitats on the section. Full control of rosters and staff rotas Providing input into Edicatuon, experience and encounter Programmes from an animal care based perspective Supporting the development and implementation of animal talks, animal encounters and experiences Ensuring all animal enclosure on section adhere to containment standards and Animal Welfare guidelines and highlighting non-compliance Participating in the design and development of new / modified habitats and holding facilities, as required. Supporting the ongoing development of all animal care staff in the art of innovative and exciting habitat design and maintenance. Ensuring that the sections habitats are presented in a 21st century zoo manner and animal enclosures are safe for visitors, staff and animals held within, proactively addressing any issues or deficiencies Ensuring effective containment of animals and prevention of escapes from habitats, particularly those animals considered a threat to the community, agriculture or the environment Ensuring all habitats meet animal welfare needs Leading the way in modelling sustainable behaviours; actively promoting the PARKS sustainability framework and ensuring the team is always looking for the most sustainable way to perform daily work Ensuring team has a good understanding of the SLSZ Conservation Strategy and that they consistently apply principles in their everyday practice Assisting with identification, implementation or participation in SLSZ conservation funds/ projects where appropriate and ensure staff are supported and encouraged to participate in these programmes and projects Ensuring staff receive induction and adequate supervision, information, assistance and training to meet all health and safety responsibilities Ensuring health and safety is discussed regularly at team meetings Ensuring the health and safety performance of the team is monitored and periodically reviewed Ensuring responsibility for health and safety are assigned, executed and included in performance reviews Ensuring that safety equipment and capture equipment is maintained and all staff
Cumbria Zoo Company Limited, Registered in England Reg No: 10423947 VAT Registration number 252 7339 02 [email protected] 01229 846550
are adequately trained in its use. Promoting a culture committed to the health and safety of our staff, visitors, contractors and volunteers
Essential
❑ Minimum of six years’ experience in captive husbandry and animal management. ❑ Experience in habitat maintenance and the ability to review habitats and to assess their visitor appeal. ❑ Demonstrated experience or potential to coordinate, lead, develop and motivate staff. ❑ Demonstrated experience in species management ❑ Good written and oral communication skills and an ability to deal with senior external bodies. ❑ Project management and problem solving skills. ❑ Ability to adapt to changing operating environments. ❑ Thorough understanding of zoo guidelines, best practice, standards and licensing requirements
Key Job Competencies
❑ Leadership & People Management ❑ Technical expertise ❑ Planning & Organising ❑ Communication skills ❑ Relationship developmental Management ❑ Decision Making and Problem Solving
Cumbria Zoo Company Limited, Registered in England Reg No: 10423947 VAT Registration number 252 7339 02 [email protected] 01229 846550