British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA)
Animal Keeper - Fixed Term (18 months)
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RZSS Highland Wildlife Park
Scottish Highlands
Closing date for applications is: 2nd Oct 2026
Contact: Amanda Hamilton (ahamilton@rzss.org.uk)
Sector: Animal Care
Type: Paid
Contract type: Full-time
Salary: Starting salary of £24,804 to £25,329 (per annum, offer based on experience) with future salary progression up to £25,859 per annum
About Us
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is a wildlife conservation charity with a bold vision: a world where nature is protected, valued, and loved.
Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park are our gateways to the natural world through which people can experience nature.
How You'll Contribute To Our Mission
We are currently looking for an Animal Keeper - with direction from your Team Leader and Senior Keeper, you will perform all assigned duties to ensure the smooth running of the allocated animal section/project, aiming to optimise the quality of animal welfare and to deliver or support delivery of an innovative and creative programme of live animal interactive activities to engage and excite visitors in support of RZSS’ vision and mission.
Some Of The Things You’ll Do
- Help to ensure animal welfare, husbandry, and management are of the highest standard, taking into account relevant legislation and best practice animal management.
- Follow animal working procedures.
- Contribute to enclosure design, maintenance, enrichment, and enclosure furnishing to ensure it meets all the needs of the animal and is presentable to the public, e.g., positive visitor engagement and suggest ideas for development to team manager.
- Engage with and support visitors, ensuring your message is consistent with team objectives and in line with RZSS’ mission and vision whilst providing first-class customer care and service, e.g., answering visitor queries and undertaking public talks, tours, and Keeper for a Day experiences.
- Collate and record detailed and accurate animal records via daily record sheets, directly onto ZIMS or using other relevant recording methods in relation to the good management of the animal collection to ensure accurate data preservation (e.g., weights, behaviours, health, births, deaths, training, enrichment, and treatments).
- Support delivery of all aspects of an agreed range of the Animal Engagement and Interaction Programme, e.g., Keeper experience, animal shows and encounters, daily talks, and events, and contribute to its further development.
- When required, work with colleagues to train the animals to cooperate in their own care and where appropriate to have them display natural behaviours to engage our visitors with our mission and vision.
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What We Are Looking For
- Good level of education at standard grade or equivalent qualifications (including English, Mathematics, and Sciences)
- Willingness to undertake further professional development meeting the requirements of the European Professional Zookeepers Qualification Framework (zookeepers.eu/framework/)
- Competent in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
- First-class customer service, e.g., interpersonal skills and ability to engage with the public
- Can demonstrate an interest in animals with some practical experience in a zoo or animal-related environment
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What You’ll Get In Return
- Starting salary of £24,804 to £25,329 (per annum, offer based on experience) with future salary progression up to £25,859 per annum
- 37.5 working week (may require some weekend working)
- 34 days annual leave (pro rata)
- Discount in both retail/catering
- Access to a healthcare plan
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), that provides 24-hour counselling and support, including health, legal, finance, wellbeing, and family advice
- Employer contributory pension scheme
- You will receive a staff membership which will give you (and family/friends) free (and discounted) entry to both the Highland Wildlife Park and Edinburgh Zoo as well as a number of other Zoo’s across the UK.
This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate's right to work in the UK and PVG Check.
Please note that shortlisting of applications and interviews for this position will take place while the advert is live. The advert will close once a successful candidate has been found.
Interested candidates are therefore encouraged to submit applications, as soon as possible.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is an equal opportunities employer. Our policy is to recruit a diverse workforce following the guidelines of the Equality Act 2010.
Apply For This Job
If this role excites you and aligns with your career aspirations, visit our dedicated job opportunities page at https://www.rzss.org.uk/job-opportunities to apply.
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