Unit Supervisor - Herpetofauna

Taronga.org.au; Sydney; On-site; AUD 95,000 - 116,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite car parking

Family passes

Accommodation discounts

Discounted food and beverages

Fitness Passport

Social team events

Job summary

Taronga Zoo Sydney is seeking an experienced Australian Fauna Unit Supervisor to lead our Herpetofauna team within the Australian Fauna Precinct. You will work with the Manager and Supervisor team to drive high-quality wildlife care, husbandry, and guest experience programs across Taronga’s iconic site.

You will supervise a diverse team of Herpetofauna Keepers, develop and implement best-practice husbandry, ensure compliance with Taronga policies and WHS standards, and foster stakeholder

Qualifications

• Extensive animal husbandry experience with Herpetofauna.
• Venomous animal handling experience is desirable.
• Herpetofauna population management skills are desirable.
• NSW C Class Drivers Licence or ability to transfer.
• Pre-employment TB Screening and Q fever checks.
• NSW Working with Children Check (paid) is required.

Responsibilities

• Supervise a team of Herpetofauna Keepers and support the Manager, Australia Fauna Precinct.
• Develop and implement best practice husbandry and animal management.
• Deliver high-quality guest experiences aligned with Taronga's strategy.
• Oversee a 7-day rotating roster and manage shift patterns.
• Ensure compliance with Taronga policies, WHS and animal welfare legislation.
• Build relationships with stakeholders to advance unit goals.
• Contribute to Taronga's conservation and education messages.

Skills

Herpetofauna husbandry

Venomous animal handling

Herpetofauna population mgmt

NSW Drivers Licence

TB/Q fever screening

Education

Certificate III in Captive Animals or equivalent

Job description

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Taronga Zoo Sydney has an extremely unique and exciting opportunity for an experienced Australian Fauna Unit Supervisor who sees a future with Taronga!

• Located at Sydney's iconic Taronga Zoo, Cammeraigal Country
• Full time, ongoing position within our Australian Fauna Precinct with our Herpetofauna team
• TCSA Salaried Employees Award, Unit Supervisor, base salary starting from $105,691 + 12% superannuation & penalty rates where appliable

About the Role…

You’ll be joining and supervising a team of passionate Herpetofauna Keepers. Together with the Manager, Australia Fauna Precinct, and Australia Fauna Supervisor team you’ll be responsible for high quality wildlife care, developing industry leading animal husbandry and management practices and providing inspiring guest experience opportunities.

• This position will work across a 7-day rotating roster
• Shift times range from 6am till 4pm *Shift patterns to be discussed in the interview process
• Work to safely provide high quality animal husbandry and management within the Australian Fauna Precinct, Herpetofauna team
• Implement techniques in line with Taronga policies and procedures to assist Taronga in meeting WHS and animal care and welfare targets, complying with all relevant legislation.
• Directly supervise and support a diverse team of Herpetofauna Fauna Keepers ensuring their adherences to Taronga and legislative policies and procedures.
• Set team and individual goals that are aligned with Taronga's vision and strategic plan.
• Develop and implement engaging guest experiences that align with Taronga's vision and strategy.
• 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 strategy.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with a broad range of stakeholders to advance the unit towards its strategic and operational goals.
• 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:

• Extensive animal husbandry related experience, with Herpetofauna
• Desirable to have venomous animal handling experience
• Herpetofauna population management skills are desirable
• NSW C Class Drivers Licence (or ability to transfer current unrestricted licence)
• Pre employment TB Screening and Pre-employment Q fever
• Certificate III in Captive Animals or equivalent
• 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:

• Direct involvement and contribution to Taronga's conservation programs
• Complimentary family and friends passes across both Taronga's Sydney & Dubbo Zoos
• Free onsite car parking, outside of peak periods
• 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 Sunday 27 September 2026