Zoo Keeper and Aquarist Apprentice

ZSL is looking for two Apprentice Keeper & Aquarists, one for our Small Mammals department and one for our Primates and Predators department. The successful candidates will be expected to ensure high standards of animal welfare and animal husbandry are carried out daily and to keep daily checks and records of animals health and behaviours and report to senior members of the team. Good communication skills and experience of dealing with the public is essential, together with the ability to work effectively within a team. You will work with a nominated learning provider to develop occupational standards, (knowledge, skills and behaviours), as set out in the Level 3 Keeper and Aquarist Apprentice standard.

The full-time apprenticeships are for a term of 2 years.

• Assisting with the preparation of approved diets and carrying out the correct feeding procedures.
• Cleaning and maintaining exhibits and other designated areas.
• Assisting with record keeping via a Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), including personal relevant observations of animal behaviour, health and welfare.
• Assisting senior keepers, and other colleagues, with veterinary, training and other relevant animal related procedures.
• Supporting positive visitor experiences by good customer service and professional visitor engagement.
• Supporting broader ZSL events as instructed, such as late evening or weekend functions, Zoo Nights, PR photo calls, animal encounters and keeper for a day.
• Monitoring the health and safety of visitors and welfare of animals in enhanced animal contact situations, including walkthrough exhibits and animal encounters. Communicating the protocol to visitors in a friendly and timely manner
• To be committed to all aspects of training related to the job and apprenticeship.
• Preparing a portfolio to support the End Point Assessment (EPA) which involves a multiple-choice test, observations and a professional discussion based on portfolio for the apprenticeship scheme.
• This post requires weekend and bank holiday working and flexibility with rotas at short notice. This may include a sudden change of start or finishing time.

• Being able to work in a large team.
• Attention to detail and the ability to follow strict protocols.
• Good communication skills, teamwork, and experience of dealing with the public are essential.
• This is a physically demanding position, dependant on section either working indoors in artificially high &/or humid conditions or extensive outside working with direct exposure to the weather.