Job opportunities

Animal Team Leader

Hobbledown Heath is recruiting for a Full time Animal Team Leader to support the Zoo Manager in overseeing the team and managing the animal collection.

This role is for all animal sections including small mammals, primates, birds, hoofstock, and domestics.

• Full Time, Permanent contract
• Candidates must be 18+ due to the nature of these roles

 

Main Role Responsibilities

 

1. Operations

 

• As directed by the zoo operations manager oversee the day-to-day operations of the animal team, as well as ensuring daily high standards of husbandry and welfare for the animal collection.
• Complete all opening, midday, and closing checks as required using the IAuditor system.
• Conduct daily, weekly, monthly, biannual, and annual audits as required by the business.
• Report any operational issues that are safety critical and or that pose a risk to guests, animal team, animal collection or to the business itself, promptly to the duty manager.
• Under direction of the zoo operations manager ensure all issues requiring maintenance attendance are logged timely and accurately on Trello.
• Ensure all team members are prepared for the day’s operation and are fully conversant on the standard operating protocols for the section(s) they are assigned.
• Assign the day’s work plan for volunteers, interns, and work placement participants.
• Lead by example and work in a safe and efficient manner to protect themselves, guests, the animal team, and the animal collection.
• Ensure the animal team are adhering to safe systems of work and the standard operating protocols for each assigned area.
• Ensure the animal enclosures and adjacent guest viewing areas are clean, well presented, and safe for guests, team members, and the animal collection.
• Observe behaviour, health and welfare of the animal collection and immediately report any concerns to the zoo operations manager.
• Leading by example, ensure the animal team’s delivery of outstanding guest services and experiences, including daily educational talks, demonstrations, and school workshop programmes. As required, assist in guest recovery.
• Lead by example and drive positive guest feedback.
• Report timely to the duty manager and the zoo operations manager any potential negative guest interactions.
• Ensure daily specimen reports are completed accurately and are up to date.
• Under direction of the zoo operations manager liaise with the animal curator – registrar to ensure ZIMS and medical records are up to date.
• Receive training under the zoo operation manager and have the confidence to take the lead during an animal escape or park emergency.
• Under the direction of the zoo operations manager, recruit, train, develop and manage volunteers, interns, work placement applicants. Provide assessments as required. Become conversant in stay in compliance with all regulatory and legal government requirements regarding volunteers, interns, and work placement applicants.

 

2. Ad hoc Training & Systems

 

• Working with the zoo operations manager, ensure all team training is delivered, documented, and signed off as appropriate and as required by the department and business.
• As directed by the zoo operations manager provide all team members, volunteers, interns, and work placement participants with ongoing practical training using the approved standard operating protocols and safe system of work policies as required by the business.
• Receive training and become conversant in the use of operational systems such as Microsoft Teams, Trello, IAuditor, Xcenta, Fuse Metrix, and basic ZIMS entries.
• Complete the DSR training and ensure daily specimen reports are completed accurately and are up to date.

 

3. Customer Service

 

• Lead by example, and ensure that all team members, volunteers, interns, and work placement participants deliver an exceptional guest experience.
• Have confidence in addressing guest issues and ensure a resolution is provided.
• Deliver exceptional and positive communication to guests, internal customers, and external vendors.
• Address team, volunteer, intern, work placement participants, guest, and external vendor enquires, feedback, and complaints in a timely and professional manner.
• Ensure enquiry, feedback, and complaints are reported to zoo operations manager and or duty manager, if required.
• Deliver educational interactive public talks, workshops, and experiences, including our popular Junior Zookeeper for a Day.

 

4. Marketing, Experiences and Educational Workshops

• Ensure all departmental guest communications contain all the correct updated marketing material, i.e., posters, walkthrough opening times.
• Provides regular feedback to the duty manager and zoo operations manager from guest/team feedback on the day.
• Follows social media guidelines on social platforms.
• Is aware and can brief teams on specific events/product offering.

 

 5. Financial

 

• Ensure that all resources are being well maintained and best practice is followed for resource management.
• Have knowledge and understanding of the department’s budget and ensure team and resources are managed in an efficient and productive manner.
• Ensure that the team are engaging the guests and promoting sales offerings and experiences daily during talks, and demonstrations.

 

 6. People

 

• Drive and lead by example, a positive work environment for the animal team, volunteers, interns, and work placement participants.
• Ensure all team members are smart, well presented and following the uniform standards.
• Conduct daily briefings to ensure the animal team, volunteers, interns, and work placement participants are prepared for the day’s operations, their assigned areas and are fully engaged.
• As directed by the zoo operations manager, ensure working times are adhered to by the animal team, including breaks and schedules.
• Ensure compliance of young workers to the Working Time Regulation and according to business policies and protocols.
• In coordination with the zoo operations manager perform routine assessments and performance evaluations for the animal team, volunteers, interns, and work placement participants.
• Under the direction of the zoo operations manager, deliver training to the animal team, volunteers, interns, and work placement participants in accordance with the standard operating protocols and safe systems of work. Ensure the animal team are adhering to best practices.
• Ensure the animal team, volunteers, interns, and work placement participants are fully conversant, assessed and signed off on any area they are assigned and for any equipment or tools they are required to use.
• Report any incidences of deficient performance to the zoo operations manager and support in performance management plans and retraining.

7. Health & Safety

 

•  Lead by example and ensure all team members, volunteers, interns, and work    placement participants are working in a safe and efficient manner and adhere to the H&S protocols and policies of the business.
• Conduct daily H&S checks as required, using IAuditor, and report any deficiencies, concerns or risks to the duty manager and zoo operations manager immediately.
• Train and show knowledge and confidence in taking the lead during an onsite emergency such as fire evacuation, animal escape, guest, or team medical emergency etc.
• This role will be responsible for opening, closing, and securing the animal department as required.
• Ensure routine animal escape and other department emergency drills are carried out.
• Be able identify where gas, electric, water isolation points are.
• In the event of an evacuation, or emergency, can safely lead evacuation of team and surrounding guests and ensure any equipment is safe, i.e., Gas, electrics, fire suppression systems, gate locks, activities closed safely.
• Ensure hygiene standards are adhered to in specific work areas. Areas are clean, well maintained, and free of risks to the team, guests, and animal collection.
• Ensure any required first aid is dealt with and recorded accordingly.
• ·Adheres to COSHH for the department and can train team on the safe use of chemicals for the department.
• Maintain and following the Disease Surveillance Plan and Prophylactics Programme ensuring the correct biosecurity measures are in place as required.
• Read and have an understanding of the risk assessments posted for the department.

 

The job holder will perform any other reasonable tasks as requested by the Zoo and Education Manager and the General Manager.

 

8. Animal Team 

 

• Under the direction of the zoo operations manager, lead the team by example to deliver the highest standards of animal welfare and husbandry.
• Read and have an understanding of the requirements of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981.
• Read and have an understanding of the guidelines and requirements of membership to BIAZA. NFAN and BALAI.
• Oversee and ensure all team members, volunteers, interns, and work placement participants are trained, assessed and fully conversant on areas assigned to their care.
• Ensure that all team members, volunteers, interns, and work placement participants are adhering to posted protocols and site policies.
• Ensure that all team members, volunteers, interns, and work placement participants are working in a safe and efficient manner and are using appropriate PPE during their daily routines.
• As directed by the zoo operations manager, conduct routine team assessments.
• As directed by the zoo operations manager, conduct daily, weekly, monthly, biannual, and annual area checks.
• Ensure enclosures, back of house areas and adjacent guest areas are maintained and well serviced as per posted protocols.
• Ensure that all resources are being well maintained and best practice is followed for resource management.
• As directed by the zoo operations manager, order animal feed and supplies.
• As directed by the zoo operations manager, liaise with the site veterinarians as required to maintain the health and well-being of the animal collection.
• Ensure that the schedule of preventative health of the animal collection is carried out including but not limited to routine weights, hoof trimming, shearing, and deworming as required.
• Have knowledge and experience in the proper handling and restraint of collection animals.
• Have knowledge and understanding of species-specific enrichment and training programmes. Ensure each is tracked and documented as part of the official record.
• As directed by the zoo operations manager, ensure that all operational changes are implemented in a positive and efficient manner.
• Ensure professionalism is displayed as it relates to sensitive information regarding the animal collection.
• Commit to participation in ongoing self-development and training.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.