Animal Keeper

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.  

Saving Wildcats is a partnership project, led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, dedicated to the recovery of wildcats in Scotland through conservation breeding and release, whilst mitigating the threat they face. At a dedicated Conservation Breeding for Release Centre (CBRC), based at Highland Wildlife Park, the keeper team are responsible for the breeding and pre-release management of wildcats. Since 2023, the partnership has released 46 wildcats and continue to monitor the newly establishing population in the Cairngorms National Park.

How you you’ll contribute to our mission 

We are currently looking for an Animal Keeper to join the Saving Wildcats team at Highland Wildlife Park - 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 in support of RZSS’ vision and mission. 

Some of the things you’ll do:

• Help ensure animal welfare, husbandry and management is of the highest standard, considering relevant legislation and best practice.
• Follow animal working procedures, protocols and risk assessments in relation to wildcat conservation breeding and release.
• Carry out targeted behavioural monitoring using an extensive CCTV system and camera traps e.g. oestrus monitoring, personality assessments, activity patterns.
• Contribute to enclosure design, maintenance, enrichment to ensure it supports the animals’ needs and development through the pre-release management phases.
• Engage with key stake holders, ensuring your message is consistent with team objectives and in line with RZSS mission and vision whilst providing first-class customer service e.g. answering visitor queries, public talks, attending events and facilitating tours.
• 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).  
• Work with departments across RZSS, as appropriate to your level of responsibility, to ensure you and the team are informed of any potential impacts to animal welfare or visitor experience, e.g., P&E department regarding maintenance activity  

What we are looking for:

• Full UK driving licence.
• Strong communication skills with a positive approach to work with the ability to work both as part of a team with colleagues across RZSS
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a fast-paced, collaborative team, demonstrating flexibility, dependability and a willingness to support colleagues wherever needed, while adapting to changing priorities and maintaining high standards of animal welfare and husbandry
• Can demonstrate an interest in animals with some practical experience in a zoo or animal-related environment, preferably with small carnivores / felids.   
• 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, PowerPoint) 
• First-class customer service, e.g. interpersonal skills and ability to engage with the public 

What you’ll get in return

• Starting pro-rated salary of £24,804 to £25,329 (offer based on experience) with future salary progression up to £25,859 per annum
• 37.5 working week (will require weekend work)
• 34 days annual leave (pro rata)
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), that provide 24-hour counselling and support, health, legal, finance, wellbeing and family advice
• Employer contributory pension scheme
• Discount in both retail/catering 
• Access to a healthcare plan 
• 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