Keeper - Ungulates TWPZ

Taronga.org.au; Dubbo; Hybrid; AUD 55,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Hybrid work model

Family passes across Taronga Sydney &

Free onsite car parking

Discounted accommodation across sites

Discounted food & beverages

Fitness Passport

Social team activities

Job summary

Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo is seeking an Ungulate Keeper to care for iconic species and support welfare monitoring. You’ll work with a close-knit team, applying husbandry best practices and positive reinforcement to deliver high-quality animal care and enrichment.

Strong hands-on experience with large mammals, knowledge of animal behaviour and safety protocols, and the ability to engage guests with conservation storytelling are essential for this role.

Qualifications

• Experience in high standards of animal care and welfare.
• Hands-on work with large mammals and safety protocols.
• Ability to contribute to enrichment and welfare monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Care for ungulates and ensure daily welfare.
• Support enrichment planning and habitat maintenance.
• Apply best-practice husbandry and positive reinforcement.
• Communicate conservation messages to guests.
• Collaborate with a high-performing team to meet targets.

Skills

Animal care

Large mammals

Behaviour knowledge

Communication

Enrichment planning

Teamwork

Job description

• Located at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, New South Wales
• Ongoing Full-time position
• TCSA Salaried Employees Award, annual package ranging from Trainee Keeper to Senior Keeper – depending on experience
  Annual base salary starting from $54,669 (Trainee keeper) to $94,755 (Senior Keeper) + 12% Superannuation and leave loading where applicable

Taronga Western Plains Zoo is on the lookout for a passionate and dedicated Keeper to join our world-class team! If you're motivated, eager to learn, and ready to make a real impact in conservation and wildlife care, this is your chance to be part of something extraordinary.

About the Role…

We’re looking for someone who’s not only passionate about wildlife but also committed to delivering the highest standards of animal care and inspiring our guests through meaningful conservation storytelling.

As an Ungulate Keeper, you’ll be responsible for the daily care and welfare of some of the zoo’s most iconic and socially complex species. Working as part of a close-knit team, you’ll support the physical, behavioural, and psychological wellbeing of our ungulates through best‑practice husbandry and positive reinforcement training.

You’ll bring hands‑on experience working with large mammals, a strong understanding of animal behaviour and safety protocols, and the ability to contribute to enrichment planning, habitat maintenance, and ongoing welfare monitoring. Just as importantly, you’ll be a confident and engaging communicator — helping connect our guests to the vital conservation work supporting ungulates in the wild.

This is a rare opportunity to play a meaningful role in Taronga’s commitment to securing a shared future for wildlife and people.

• Work under the supervision of others to safely provide high quality animal husbandry and management techniques in line with Taronga policies and procedures to assist Taronga in meeting WHS and animal care and welfare targets and in complying with all relevant legislation.
• Comply with Taronga's Animal Welfare Charter to ensure industry leading standards of animal welfare are maintained and animals in our care are assured of Taronga's 5 Freedoms.
• Communicate Taronga's education and conservation messages both internally and externally, ensuring all communications align with Taronga's values to inspire behavioural change in accordance with Taronga's vision and strategic pillars.
• Deliver high quality customer services experiences in order to provide excellent guest experience and promote repeat visitation.
• Work effectively as a member of a high performing team including peers, volunteers and students to assist Taronga in its achievement of strategic outcomes.
• Comply with sustainability practices in the workplace to help achieve Taronga's sustainability targets and reduce environmental impact.

About You…

We are looking for candidates that have:

• NSW C Class Drivers License (or ability to transfer current unrestricted license)
• TB Screening
• Obtain and maintain a current paid NSW Working with Children Check at own expense.

Our employees enjoy generous employment conditions including some of the following:

• Flexible Hybrid work model - Taronga supports a blend of in-office, remote, and on-the-go workers!
• Complimentary family and friends passes across both Taronga’s Sydney & Dubbo Zoo’s
• Free onsite car parking,
• A wide range of discounts on our award winning accommodation across both sites
• Discounted food and beverage purchases across the sites
• Fitness Passport
• We’re a social team - there’s always lots going on around the zoo that we get involved with!
• + more!

Taronga is an equal opportunity employer, where we recognise the diversity of our workforce and community – be it on the basis of gender, age, culture, religion, language or personal circumstances.

Taronga is also committed to building on the perspectives, experience, knowledge and skills that this diversity brings to our organisation.

Applications Close: 11:59pm 24th of September 2026