Assistant Curator of Natives

The Royal Zoological Society of SA Inc; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Income Protection

RZS-SA membership

Free Family Tickets

20% discount at Retail stores

Discounted Animal Experiences

Employee Well-being/EAP

Paid parental leave

Professional Membership

Job summary

Zoos SA at Monarto Safari Park seeks an experienced Assistant Curator of Natives to lead and support the Life Sciences native team, driving animal husbandry, welfare, and engaging visitor experiences.

The role is a permanent, full-time position on a five-day roster, requiring leadership, fieldwork, and involvement in breed for release and conservation programs.

Qualifications

• Certificate III in Wildlife & Exhibited Animal Care.
• Leadership capability with a strong focus on team development, mentoring and performance management.
• Experience in captive management of native fauna, including species management and conservation programs (in-situ and ex-situ).
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement policies, procedures and safe work practices relating to animal husbandry, training, and conditioning.
• Strong commitment to animal welfare and continuous improvement in animal care.
• Experience in rostering, operational coordination, invoice management and project delivery.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills across staff, volunteers, peers, and the public.
• Experience in planning and coordinating animal transfers (desirable).
• Demonstrated ability to effectively prioritise and adapt to changing demands.
• Proven capability to collaborate with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong project management skills are highly regarded.
• Driver’s licence (Manual and 4WD experience desirable).
• Knowledge and understanding of Workplace Health & Safety principles and process.

Responsibilities

• Undertake routine and specialist administrative and front-line management tasks.
• Support the Curator with the management and oversight of animal welfare and husbandry standards for Monarto Safari Park’s native collection, visitor experiences and workforce culture and performance.
• Provide input into exhibit and enclosure planning, development, design, and maintenance, ensuring animal husbandry and welfare standards are met and relevant protocols followed and developed as required.
• Collaborate with the Curator and Team Supervisor to establish collection management standards and practices that align with Zoos SA Animal Collection Plan and regional/global species management principals Liaise closely with the Curator, Visitor Operations Team, and Conservation Manager to promote our in-situ conservation initiatives for a variety of native species.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Team development

Project management

Adaptability

4WD driving

Workplace Health & Safety

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Certificate III in Wildlife & Exhibited Animal Care

Tools

4WD experience

Job description

Monarto Safari Park is looking for an experienced, motivated, and enthusiastic individual to join the Life Sciences team, as Assistant Curator of Natives.

Zoos SA is a not-for-profit conservation charity that exists to save species from extinction and connect people with nature. Zoos SA manages Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park which is one of the largest open range zoos outside of Africa, spanning more than 1,500 hectares of diverse fauna and flora, having recently expanded with the inclusion of our Asian Elephant habitat.

Zoos SA has a long history of initiating and participating in many successful innovative conservation programs, including the establishment of breed for release programs for threatened species, playing a leading role in these programs for exotic and native species.

ABOUT THE ROLE...

The Assistant Curator will safely, efficiently, and effectively support the Curator with operational aspects of Monarto Safari Park’s collection and the native team. This position will support the day-to-day operations of this department with a focus on leading and managing the team, advising, and guiding excellent animal husbandry, the promotion of exciting visitor experiences and involvement in conservation programs.

This is a permanent full-time position working across a five-day roster. Experience with a variety of native species; fieldwork and managing breed for release programs preferred.

As part of our Life Sciences management team, day-to-day tasks may include:

• Undertake routine and specialist administrative and front-line management tasks.
• Support the Curator with the management and oversight of animal welfare and husbandry standards for Monarto Safari Park’s native collection, visitor experiences and workforce culture and performance.
• Provide input into exhibit and enclosure planning, development, design, and maintenance, ensuring animal husbandry and welfare standards are met and relevant protocols followed and developed as required.
• Collaborate with the Curator and Team Supervisor to establish collection management standards and practices that align with Zoos SA Animal Collection Plan and regional/global species management principals Liaise closely with the Curator, Visitor Operations Team, and Conservation Manager to promote our in-situ conservation initiatives for a variety of native species.

ABOUT YOU...

To be considered for this position you will need to meet the following selection criteria:

• Minimum of Certificate III in Wildlife & Exhibited Animal Care.
• Proven leadership capability with a strong focus on team development, mentoring and performance management.
• Experience in captive management of native fauna, including species management and conservation programs (in-situ and ex-situ).
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement policies, procedures and safe work practices relating to animal husbandry, training, and conditioning.
• Strong commitment to animal welfare and continuous improvement in animal care.
• Experience in rostering, operational coordination, invoice management and project delivery.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills across staff, volunteers, peers, and the public.
• Experience in planning and coordinating animal transfers (desirable).
• Demonstrated ability to effectively prioritise and adapt to changing demands.
• Proven capability to collaborate with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong project management skills are highly regarded.
• Driver’s licence (Manual and 4WD experience desirable).
• Knowledge and understanding of Workplace Health & Safety principles and process.

WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU...

Zoos SA are able to offer the following employee benefits:

• Income Protection
• Membership of the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia Inc
• Free Family Member tickets and discounted ticket prices
• 20% discount at the Retail stores at Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park
• Discounted Animal Experiences
• Staff Well-being/Health Checks including Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and Manager Assist Programme
• Paid parental leave as per our Enterprise Agreement
• Professional Membership as per our Enterprise Agreement

Zoos SA is passionately committed to equal employment opportunity. We believe diversity, inclusion and reconciliation are fundamental to our rich organisational culture and values, and we demonstrate this commitment through all our employment practices so that our people continue to reflect the local communities in which we work.

If you are unable to submit your application because of incompatible assistive technology or require reasonable adjustments, please contact Kaila at 08 8548 9541 or via [e-mail].

If you have a strong passion in animal welfare, species conservation, and an eagerness to support the operation of a major safari park’s Life Sciences team, we would love to hear from you!