ZSL is looking for a dedicated and experienced Team Leader to join our Ectotherms Department at the iconic London Zoo, Regent’s Park.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the care and conservation of an extraordinary collection of ectotherms, including critically endangered amphibians and reptiles. You’ll work with species such as Lake Oku Frogs, Mountain Chickens, Chinese Giant Salamanders and Darwin’s Frogs, alongside Komodo Dragons, Ethiopian Mountain Vipers and Galápagos Tortoises. You will also have opportunities to support the husbandry of our coral, terrestrial invertebrates and live food collections, giving you the chance to work across a diverse and fascinating range of species.

As Team Leader, you’ll help champion high standards of animal welfare and best-practice husbandry, while supporting the development of the team through training, mentoring and day-to-day leadership. You will work closely with the Section Manager and fellow Team Leader, contributing to the ongoing development of husbandry protocols and helping ensure the department operates safely, effectively and to a consistently high standard.

The role also offers plenty of opportunity to collaborate across ZSL, working with colleagues in areas including facilities, purchasing, animal health, health and safety, animal encounters and visitor-facing activities.

This is a full-time role, working 37.5 hours per week on a rota basis, including weekends and bank holidays.

Key responsibilities:

• Extensive practical experience working with Reptiles and Amphibians including fresh water aquatics within a zoological collection, ideally qualified to DMZAA level (or equivalent)
• Strong taxonomic knowledge, with particular expertise relevant to the section, and an understanding of breeding programmes, population management, and evolving husbandry practices including positive reinforcement training and enrichment.
• Demonstrable Category 1 reptile experience, including the safe handling, care and management of venomous species and large reptiles.
• Proven ability to supervise, motivate and develop a team, maintaining high standards of animal welfare, biosecurity, and health & safety compliance.
• Confident in animal health monitoring, handling techniques, veterinary procedures, and maintaining accurate records, with sound knowledge of life support systems and species-specific requirements.
• Proactive, innovative and organised, with excellent observational, problem-solving and workload management skills, and strong IT literacy.
• A collaborative communicator, comfortable engaging with colleagues, visitors and external partners, with flexibility to work weekends, bank holidays, travel when required, and occasionally work across sites.

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.

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