Deputy
Section Leader (Birds)
Paradise Wildlife Park currently has a vacancy for an
experienced keeper to join our team as a Deputy Section Leader on our Bird
section.
Applicants must have experience with the husbandry
and management of a wide variety of species due to our current and expanding
section. This includes psittacines, raptors and a breeding colony of African
penguins, amongst others.
Our bird section is primarily focused on training and
shows therefore experience in these areas is more important to this particular
role than incubation and rearing techniques.
The bird section is responsible for 2 free flight
bird shows daily (1 in winter), along with flying birds in the animal park’s
mixed taxa shows. Experience in presenting shows and delivering keeper talks is
essential, as is experience of training and maintaining birds in free flight
shows using positive reinforcement.
The successful applicant will be happy to follow
protocols set by the Section Leader and Senior Keeper team, and enjoy working
as part of a team. The Deputy Section Leader will support the Section Leader in
managing our small team, including variable volunteers and interns.
This is a hands on role on a busy section with lots
of public interaction, therefore the applicant must be very personable and able
to communicate well with visitors and staff.
This is an exciting time to join our bird team as we
move into our peak season and have plans for future section development.
Job Details:
- Full time; Permanent position
- Reports to; Section Leaders & Head keepers
- Hours; Summer 8am-6pm, Winter 8am – 5pm. Includes weekend and bank holiday work on a flexible rotated basis. Flexibility in working hours is essential due to the nature of the job.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities include:
- Carrying out and enforcing high standards of welfare and animal husbandry routines set by the Section Leader and Head Keepers.
- Deliver high standards of visitor interaction in the form of; keeper talks, animal shows, encounters, experiences, tours and education events
- Overseeing and developing junior keepers, interns, volunteers and work experience
- Liaise and assist in general duties and requirements as directed by senior management
- Undertake and record animal observations
- Other duties to support effective and efficient site maintenance may include: Fire Marshall, First Aider, Company vehicle driver (including tractor trailer), Litter picking/rubbish removal/sweeping and general cleaning in order to maintain high standards (nb - full training will be a given prior to the post holder being required to undertake new tasks)
Requirements:
- An animal science related qualification
- Minimum 2 years full-time experience in a zoological collection
- Excellent communication skills
- Hard working, conscientious and uphold high standards of animal husbandry and welfare
- Ready to assist with other areas of the park, including talks, general maintenance and upkeep of public areas
- Adaptable for a flexible rota
- Physically fit for the demands of this role
- Free flight bird and presentation experience
- Full UK driving licence
If
you would like the opportunity to join our team please send your CV and cover
letter to headkeeper@pwpark.com
This opening will close once a
suitable candidate has been selected so please send applications as soon as
possible.
Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant        |
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