Purpose of the role ZSL is seeking a full time animal steward to work on the small mammal section at London Zoo. The role will involve the day-to-day husbandry focusing on our Squirrel Monkeys and Ring Tailed Lemurs as well as being responsible for visitor engagement and safety in the walkthrough enclosure. Applicants would benefit from experience and passion for working within a zoo environment. The successful candidate will be expected to deliver high standards of animal welfare and husbandry, have an interest and skills for enclosure maintenance, be involved in training and enrichment programs and respect the importance of daily observations, communication and record keeping. Experience of dealing with the public is essential, together with the ability to work effectively within a team. Working hours vary throughout the year in line with zoo opening times and include regular weekend work, so flexibility is essential. Key responsibilities: Animal Feeding Diet Preparation: Assisting with the preparation of approved diets and carrying out the correct feeding procedures. Visitor Incident Support: Acting as the point of contact in the event of an incident involving a visitor and an animal, and advising on the appropriate course of action. Exhibit Maintenance Cleaning: Cleaning and maintaining exhibits and other designated areas. Animal Monitoring Reporting: Observing the behaviour, health, and security of animals and reporting any issues to the Team Leader or senior staff. Health Safety Compliance: Ensuring all safe systems of work and risk assessments are read, understood, signed, and consistently followed, including adherence to emergency procedures. About You Ability to demonstrate initiative and a pro-active approach to completing tasks Ability to clearly follow instructions on tasks requested to be carried out by the section manager. Previous experience in and confidence speaking to the public Some experience within the animal industry To comply with and promote Health and Safety policies and procedure This post will require extensive outside working with direct exposure to the weather and animals. This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including confirmation of your right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. ZSL recognises that conservation is one of the least diverse sectors, and we actively encourage applications from candidates who identify as part of underrepresented communities. We are committed to building a supportive and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage. About Us 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. What We Offer: At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits. Our benefits include: Purpose driven work join an organisation where every role contributes to creating a world where wildlife thrives. Pension scheme – we offer a generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension. Flexible working talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you. Holidays 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays (increasing with milestone anniversaries). Access to ZSL s staff Equality Networks -Race Culture, Team Pride, Disability, and Menopause, supporting an inclusive and welcoming workplace for those with lived experience. Wellbeing access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme. Life assurance eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL s life assurance scheme from their first day. Complimentary tickets annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a 30% discount in online and retail shops. Cycle2Work – our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle. Season ticket loan – we offer an interest free loan for eligibly London-based employees to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work. Family friendly policies we offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption packages. We may close this role early or extend the closing date due to the number of applications we receive, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. We anonymise applications until interview stage to ensure a fair hiring process. It s important to highlight your unique skills, experience, and knowledge. Over reliance on AI-generated content may miss key criteria outlined in the job description and reduce the effectiveness of your application. If you have any questions about this role, we d love to hear from you! Please get in touch with our recruitment team at recruitment@zsl.org
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