Chester Zoo has a range of job vacancies available which are open for applications now, with roles in departments including animal nutrition and maintenance. The zoo – situated around 40 miles from Manchester – is the most visited zoo in the UK, and was the third most visited UK attraction overall in 2021, according to website.
It boasts more than 20,000 animals across its 128-acre site, as well as team of more than 1,000 staff that keep it running. More than 2m people walk through its gates every year to see popular attractions like the Fruit Bat Forest and its beloved elephants and giraffes.
So, if you fancy working amongst the many species of animals housed at Chester Zoo, here are some of the roles you can apply for now:
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Animal Nutritionist
£29,021.21 per annum
The zoo is looking to fill a key role in its Animal and Plant Logistical Services team to maintain the nutritional requirements across the site.
Duties within this role include:
- Developing and maintaining cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, and efficient dietary provision for the Animal Collection.
- Working with the animal teams to formulate diets and give advice and training on animal nutrition.
- Formulating, analysing, adjusting and reviewing diets for all species held, taking into account factors such as life-stage, health, activity and reproductive physiology.
- Liaising with animal department staff, advising and providing training on diet preparation, animal nutrition and nutrition-related enrichment.
- Identifying, prioritising, and addressing specific nutritional issues of concern in order to ensure optimal health and welfare.
The ideal candidate will have relevant practical nutritional knowledge and experience with nutritional dietary analysis, including the use of nutritional analysis software.
The hours of work are mainly fixed hours – typically from 8am to 4.30pm – with some flexibility to work from home when needed.
This is a full-time role with 40 hours per week required.
You can find out more about the role and apply here.
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Lead Keeper – Parrots and Penguins
£26,487.02 per annum
Chester Zoo is looking for a Lead Keeper on one of its large and varied bird sections to assist with the daily care and management of several species – including parrots and penguins.
Duties within this role include:
- Supporting the Assistant Team Manager in the daily management of the section.
- Leading, training and working closely with other team members under the direction of the Team Manager to ensure the highest standards are met.
- Providing extensive knowledge and proven expertise in bird husbandry and management with a wide variety of species.
- Potentially representing Chester Zoo for media interviews and internal and external meetings, workshops and conferences.
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of five years’ experience working as an aviculturist in a zoological or conservation–breeding facility. A Higher National Diploma (HND) or degree level qualification in a zoological related science is also essential.
This is a full-time role with 40 hours per week required.
You can find out more about the role and apply here.
There is a similar role available on a one year fixed-term contract.
Planned Preventative Maintenance Engineer
£32,408.13 per annum
There is an opportunity to fill a key role working as part of the zoo’s professional team taking responsibility to oversee all aspects of Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) requirements. The successful candidate will be appointed as Responsible Person on behalf of the duty holder in relation to Gas, LPG and Fuel Oil use and installations.
Responsibilities within this role include:
- Ensuring the site is maintained and inspected in accordance to: Gas safe, Oftec, HVAC and COM Regulations.
- Carrying out the in-house PPM schedule and its delivery to maintain compliance across the estate and maintain records that are required for all statutory and mandatory regulations.
- Health and safety of any staff or contractors working on HVAC and/or Gas by reviewing risk assessments, method statements and safe systems of work.
- Delivery of detailed specifications for contractors to submit quotations incorporating pre costing health and safety plans.
- Working alongside the Team Manger/Project Manager to develop detailed specifications for work incorporating gas and HVAC infrastructure.
- Liaising with collection teams to ensure planned maintenance is completed within agreed timescales.
- Pro-actively identifying where improvements can be made or streamlined to zoo processes and/or protocols to improve outcomes.
Canidates must have a range of relevant qualifications including: City & Guilds or Equivalent certificate in Heating & Ventilation, OFTEC certification for work on oil fired systems, water regulations LCWR, certified to work on commercial and domestic gas.
Working hours are 7.30am to 4.10pm Monday to Friday with occasional duty maintenance hours. There is also a requirement to work rota’d weekends to support the operations of the zoo.
This is a full-time role with 40 hours per week required.
You can find out more about the role and apply here.
Senior Interpretation Manager
£50,201.34 per annum
The zoo has an exciting opportunity available as it looks to fill a senior role within its Conservation Education & Engagement department.
Duties within this role include:
- Leading the development and delivery of major interpretation schemes.
- Managing a team of specialists delivering a variety of small and medium scale interpretation projects, digital learning programmes and the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of interpretation installations.
- Collaborating extensively with internal and external stakeholders and contractors to ensure the zoo’s interpretation projects engage its audiences and support the wider objectives of its conservation masterplan and plans for the future.
The ideal candidate will have substantial experience developing and managing exhibitions, creative media installations, exhibits and/or interpretive schemes in a zoo or similar environment. Experience leading and managing projects with demonstrable project management skills and knowledge is also essential, ideally backed by formal project management training.
This role includes some out of hours and weekend working for which time off in lieu will be given. There is potential for some home-based or flexible working.
This is a full-time role with 40 hours per week required.
You can find out more about the role and apply here.
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