Wildlife Team Leader (Parental Leave Cover)

CaPTA Group; Port Douglas; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

CaPTA Group's Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas is seeking a Wildlife Team Leader on a Parental Leave Contract to lead the Wildlife Department, uphold high welfare standards, deliver engaging guest experiences, and drive operational excellence. You will mentor the wildlife team, coordinate rosters, oversee animal husbandry and welfare, and work with management to meet conservation and commercial objectives.

The role requires hands-on leadership, strong communication, and a commitment to guest

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience working with exhibited animals in a zoological, wildlife or conservation environment.
• Previous leadership, supervisory or team coordination experience.
• Strong knowledge of animal husbandry, animal welfare and safe animal handling practices.
• Excellent communication and team leadership skills.
• A current Queensland Blue Card (or ability to obtain).
• Certificate III in Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care or equivalent qualification highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and support the Wildlife Team to achieve high standards of animal welfare, guest engagement and operational performance.
• Oversee daily wildlife operations, including animal husbandry, presentations, encounters and habitat management.
• Ensure animal welfare standards, husbandry procedures and conservation objectives are maintained.
• Coordinate team rosters, daily work plans and operational priorities.
• Support training, development and performance management of Wildlife team members.
• Monitor animal health and welfare, reporting and responding to concerns appropriately.
• Deliver and support engaging wildlife presentations and guest experiences.
• Ensure compliance with animal welfare, workplace health and safety, biosecurity and operational procedures.
• Liaise with management and other departments to support the smooth operation of Wildlife Habitat.
• Drive continuous improvement across animal care, guest experiences and team performance.

Skills

Leadership

Animal welfare

Communication

Team coordination

Education

Certificate III in Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care

Job description

Wildlife Team Leader (Parental Leave Cover)

A Career-Defining Leadership Opportunity in a Tropical Paradise

Are you an experienced wildlife professional with strong leadership skills and a passion for animal welfare, conservation and team development? Join Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas as our Wildlife Team Leader (Parental Leave Contract) and lead a dedicated team in delivering exceptional animal care, engaging guest experiences and outstanding operational standards within one of Australia's leading wildlife parks.

About the Role

As the Wildlife Team Leader (Parental Leave Contract), you will lead the daily operations of the Wildlife Department, ensuring exceptional animal welfare, husbandry standards, guest experiences and team performance. You will provide leadership, guidance and support to the wildlife team while working closely with management to achieve conservation, operational and commercial objectives. This hands-on role combines animal care, team leadership, operational coordination and visitor engagement to ensure Wildlife Habitat continues to deliver outstanding experiences for both animals and guests.

Key Responsibilities

Lead, coach and support the Wildlife Team to achieve high standards of animal welfare, guest engagement and operational performance.

Oversee daily wildlife operations, including animal husbandry, presentations, encounters and habitat management.

Ensure animal welfare standards, husbandry procedures and conservation objectives are maintained.

Coordinate team rosters, daily work plans and operational priorities.

Support training, development and performance management of Wildlife team members.

Monitor animal health and welfare, reporting and responding to concerns appropriately.

Deliver and support engaging wildlife presentations and guest experiences.

Ensure compliance with animal welfare, workplace health and safety, biosecurity and operational procedures.

Liaise with management and other departments to support the smooth operation of Wildlife Habitat.

Drive continuous improvement across animal care, guest experiences and team performance.

About You

You'll bring:

Demonstrated experience working with exhibited animals in a zoological, wildlife or conservation environment.

Previous leadership, supervisory or team coordination experience.

Strong knowledge of animal husbandry, animal welfare and safe animal handling practices.

Excellent communication and team leadership skills.

A commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences and conservation education.

Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks and manage competing demands.

Sound problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

A current Queensland Blue Card (or ability to obtain).

A current driver's licence and availability to work a rotating roster, including weekends and public holidays.

Certificate III in Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care or equivalent qualification highly regarded.

Be part of something extraordinary with the CaPTA Group and help create memorable experiences every day.