Animal Care - Zoo Keeper PT

The Escapade Group own and operate 5 visitor attractions within the M25. We welcome over 1 Million people a year through our doors and host over 3000 birthday parties a year.

This is an hourly contract role, based at Hobbledown Heath in Hounslow. Shifts will consist of mainly weekend and holiday work.

You will be expected to deliver daily talks, educational sessions and host our extremely popular zookeeper for a day experiences and meet and greet sessions. Other duties include, but are not limited to, supervising our various public walkthrough enclosures and workshops.

There will also be some keeper work, working with a range of species across our 100 + acre site with responsibility for all aspects of animal care, including daily cleaning and feeding regimes, upkeep of animal records, whilst working to strict safety protocols and standard operational procedures.

1.Animal Husbandry and Guest Experiences.

• Daily care, cleaning, and feeding of assigned animal specimens and enclosures.
• Diet preparation and feeding as per written diet sheets and under the direction of Animal Team Leaders, the Zoo Manager and Veterinarians.
• Ensuring the conditions of the animals are suitable and reporting any issues to the Animal Team Leaders and Zoo Manager, as well as other relevant departments required to support the work needed.
• Observing the daily behaviour, health, and security of animals.
• Ensuring safety and emergency procedures are always followed.
• Assisting with the movement of animals and training of animals.
• Deliver educational and interactive public talks, workshops, and experiences, including our popular Junior Zookeeper for a Day.
• Monitor and oversee various animal walk-through areas as assigned.
• To ensure the highest standards of animal welfare are always being adhered to.
• To be capable in the handling and restraint of a variety of animals.
• Maintaining exhibits and carry out daily, weekly, and monthly checks in line with our Zoo Licensing.

2. Customer Service

• Act as a point of contact for visitors, answer questions, give directions and always engage positively with visitors.
• Report any issues or problems to the Animal Team Leaders or Zoo Manager to drive continuous improvement.
• Deliver outstanding customer service and demonstrate positive body language to all visitors.
• Offer a positive first response when handling visitor feedback, complaints, or queries.
• Escalate any visitor issues to the Animal Team Leaders, Zoo Manager or Duty Manager, if unable to resolve and conclude.
• Call for First Aid assistance should any accidents or incidents occur.

3. Presentation and Standards/Cleanliness

• Ensure cleanliness of enclosures and that they are always maintained to a high standard
• Take pride in the appearance of the animal enclosures and park.
• Dispose of all rubbish and animal waste correctly.
• Clean and monitor enclosures to ensure they are cleaned in line with protocols and checked for safety throughout the day.
• Handle cleaning materials and chemicals correctly and in line with COSHH training

4. Standard Operating Procedures

• Follow and complete opening and closing checklists in line with the standard operating procedures for the animal team.
• Preparing, delivering diets and cleaning enclosures per the approved diet sheets and standard operating protocols.
• Carrying out any tasks allocated by the Animal Team Leaders / Zoo Manager.

5. Health and Safety

• Responsible for complying with the company policy regarding Health and Safety.
• Ensure job role is performed safely in line with the standard operating procedure and any specific safety controls.
• Ensure hygiene standards are adhered to in specific work area.
• Report any Health and Safety issues, potential hazards, accidents or near misses to your Animal Team Leaders, Zoo Manager, Duty Manager, or any member of the Management Team available immediately.

6. Performance and Training

• Demonstrate professionalism towards sensitive and confidential information.
• Committed to the professional self-development, through participation in specific training opportunities aimed and supporting and developing the post.
• An ability to work as part of a team, to communicate clearly, effectively, and fairly to colleagues.
• Effective communication across all levels of the company.

The job holder will perform any other reasonable tasks as requested by the General Manager or Director of the business.