Savannah Coordinator - Werribee Open Range Zoo

environmentjobs.com; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Zoos Victoria is seeking a Savannah Coordinator for Werribee Open Range Zoo in Melbourne. This hands-on leadership role coordinates daily activities, ensures animal welfare, and works with the Curator to maintain high standards of husbandry, enrichment and safety.

You will lead a diverse team, provide proactive operational support, and coach staff while translating priorities into consistent practice. A Curatorial duties pathway may be required.

Qualifications

• Certificate III or equivalent qualification.
• At least five years' trade-level experience in animal care.
• Experience with Savannah species and breeding programs preferred.
• Commitment to workplace safety and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily team activities and maintain high animal care standards.
• Provide proactive operational support and translate priorities into practice.
• Lead by example, coach keepers and foster a safe, inclusive culture.
• Step up to Curatorial duties when required and supervise keeping tasks.
• Collaborate with Curator to develop strategic priorities and plans.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Animal husbandry

Welfare

Behavioural training

Enrichment

Safety

Communication

Education

Certificate III or equivalent

Job description

Savannah Coordinator - Werribee Open Range Zoo

• Open to Coordinators, Trade Level Keepers, or equivalent
• Fixed term: 17 February 2027 to 17 February 2028
• Roster: 6 days on / 3 days off (6/3 roster)

Zoos Victoria operates four world-class Zoos: Healesville Sanctuary, Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo and Kyabram Fauna Park. We are committed to fighting extinction and delivering tangible conservation outcomes, with a vision to be the world's leading zoo-based conservation organisation.

The Savannah Team cares for a diverse range of species including rhino, hippo, ostrich, eland, giraffe, bison, Texas longhorn cattle, nyala and more. We also contribute to regional breeding programs. Working closely with Life Sciences and other operational teams, the Savannah Team delivers high standards of animal care and works collaboratively with areas such as Works, Horticulture and Commercial Visitor Engagement.

This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for coordinating daily team activities and ensuring that high standards of animal husbandry, welfare, behavioural training, enrichment and safety are maintained. Working in close partnership with the Curator, the Coordinator will provide proactive operational support and share accountability for translating team priorities into consistent practice.

Alongside the responsibilities shared by all staff, the Coordinator is expected to take an active leadership role: setting clear expectations, monitoring standards, identifying and escalating risks, following through on agreed actions, coaching keepers and leading by example. The Coordinator will support a respectful, inclusive and psychologically safe team culture where staff feel supported to raise concerns, speak up about risks and mistakes, and contribute ideas without fear of blame or reprisal. They will address concerns promptly and fairly, encourage constructive conversations, and mentor the team to develop and embed improved approaches.

The Coordinator will work with the Curator to develop and review strategic priorities, longer-term goals and operational plans - not simply implement day-to-day tasks. As the Curator's eyes and ears on the ground, they will proactively communicate emerging challenges, contribute ideas and practical solutions, and help plan and operationalise improvements and team projects.

The successful candidate must be capable of stepping up to undertake Curatorial duties and responsibilities when required, including providing leadership, making sound operational decisions and responding to animal care, welfare, staffing or safety issues within their delegated authority. The position will also require the incumbent to perform keeping duties.

Relevant experience and capabilities:

• A minimum qualification of Certificate III or equivalent.
• At least five years' trade-level experience, demonstrating best-practice animal husbandry, welfare, behavioural training and enrichment.
• Demonstrated experience with Savannah species, captive breeding programs, animal movements or transports will be highly regarded.
• Demonstrated commitment to workplace safety, including experience working with Category 1 animals.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating daily operations, allocating work and responding effectively to changing operational priorities.
• Demonstrated experience leading large teams, building a culture of compassion, trust, open communication and problem-solving.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain high standards of animal care and welfare while identifying, managing and escalating animal health, welfare and operational risks.
• Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build positive, participative relationships at team and individual levels and address concerns calmly and respectfully.
• Demonstrated ability to have crucial conversations, address team issues constructively, promote psychological safety and a speak-up culture, and foster a respectful and positive team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a Curator to develop strategic priorities, long-term goals and operational plans; identify challenges and opportunities; contribute to solutions; and translate agreed plans into practical action. Experience mentoring staff and leading continuous improvement is also required.
• Demonstrated visitor focus, including supporting visitor experiences, public talks and approved engagement programs. Ability to apply Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) processes to review and improve activities, ensuring they meet animal welfare needs and support financial objectives.

For further information about the role or recruitment process, please contact Dominic Moss, Curator - Savannah at *****@zoo.org.au using the subject line: Savannah Coordinator - Werribee Open Range Zoo enquiry via Enviro Jobs Network.

At Zoos Victoria we value diversity, celebrate difference and work to be inclusive in everything we do. We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, people with disability and people from the LGBTIQA+ community. In addition, Zoos Victoria will provide reasonable adjustments for individuals with disability, illness or injury. If you require adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please advise via **********@zoo.org.au or visit https://www.zoo.org.au/about-us/careers/inclusion-and-diversity/ for more information.