Un·e Chef·fe Soigneur·se Eléphants

Pairi Daiza; Brugelette; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Pairi Daiza in Brugelette, Belgium, seeks an exceptional leader for the Zoological Department to supervise the elephant program and uphold the highest welfare standards.

You will oversee breeding, staff development, guest experiences, and cross-department collaboration, shaping the future of one of Europe’s largest elephant populations.

Qualifications

• 10+ years direct contact and protected contact experience with elephants in a zoological environment.
• Hands-on breeding programme expertise (hormone testing, introductions, parturition planning, calf training).
• Proven track record coordinating elephant transfers and guest experiences.
• Knowledge of EAZA Best Practice Guidelines for Elephants and health/safety procedures.
• Fluent in English with good French; Dutch is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day management of the elephant department and supervise staff training and development.
• Ensure welfare in both direct and protected contact systems.
• Oversee breeding programme from hormone monitoring to calf training.
• Maintain high husbandry standards and oversee veterinary follow-up.
• Oversee guest interactions, VIP encounters, feeding sessions, and demonstrations.
• Coordinate transfers with senior management for elephants.
• Suggest improvements to procedures, layout of spaces, and welfare.
• Produce SOPs, protocols, and risk assessments.

Skills

Elephant management

Protected contact experience

Breeding programme

Hormone testing

Calf training

Team leadership

Job description

Pairi Daiza is much more than a Park: it is The Garden of Worlds. Every day, thousands of visitors come here to experience something truly unique. Animals, nature, architecture, human cultures… everything comes together here. But what truly makes the difference is our people, who are committed to keeping this living heart beating.

Today, we are looking for an exceptional individual to join and strengthen our Zoological Department.

Pairi Daiza has the largest herd of Asian elephants in Europe, currently 17 animals. Elephants are managed in both free and protected contact management systems.

Your responsibilities:

• Supervision and coordination: To lead and oversee the day to day manage of the elephant department. Management of the team with regards to staff training and development, performance reviews and constructive feedback are critical to the role.
• Elephant welfare: You ensure that all elephants under your responsibility live in an environment that meets the strictest welfare and safety standards, in both direct contact and protected contact management systems.
• Breeding and calf management: To oversee and manage the elephant breeding programme, from hormone monitoring and introductions through to parturition planning and calf training.
• Husbandry and care: You maintain high husbandry standards - foot, skin and dental care, behavioural assessment, enrichment and diet - and oversee medical follow-up with the veterinary team.
• Guest experiences: You oversee elephant and guest interactions, from VIP encounters and feeding sessions to walks outside the enclosure and demonstrations.
• Transfers and operations: You coordinate with the senior management team the safe transfer of elephants to and from other institutions.
• Continuous improvement: You proactively suggest ways to optimise procedures, the layout of spaces and animal welfare.
• HR and administrative management: Producing Safe Operating procedures, protocols and risk assessments.
• Collaboration and representation: You work closely with all other departments and represent Pairi Daiza at both domestic and international events.

Profile sought:

• Experience: At least 10 years of direct contact & protected contact experience with elephants in a zoological environment, including successfully managing a large team.
• Technical expertise: Hands-on expertise across the breeding programme (hormone testing, introductions, parturition planning, calf training) and core husbandry areas (foot, skin and dental care, behavioural assessment, enrichment, diet and training), in both direct and protected contact systems.
• Operations: A track record of coordinating elephant transfers between institutions and safely managing guest experiences such as VIP encounters, feeding sessions, walks outside the enclosure, and demonstrations.
• Leadership: An attentive leader and coach who motivates staff, mentors them to a world-class standard, gives fair correction, and handles conflicts with discernment while ensuring planning and administrative follow-up.
• Knowledge: Familiar with the EAZA Best Practice Guidelines for Elephants and all relevant health and safety procedures; comfortable representing Pairi Daiza at both domestic and international level.
• Languages: Fluent in English, with a good command of French; Dutch is an asset.
• Knowledge of elephant facilities and design, based on previous planning and construction experience.
• Knowledge of current conservation topics related to elephants.
• We offer you a unique and inspiring working environment at the heart of our Zoological Department, where every day brings new and enriching discoveries.
• You will have the opportunity to contribute to the administrative management of our team and our animals, playing a key role in ensuring the smooth operation of our department.

Number of hours per week

Full time

Job location

About us

Pairi Daiza is an unrivalled zoological garden, whether as a day-trip destination or as a holiday destination.

Nearly 2.3 million people visit Pairi Daiza every year. Spanning 75 hectares, Pairi Daiza captures the beauty of the landscape while evoking the spirituality of its peoples. The enchanted Animal Kingdom is home to over 7,500 animals of 800 species, including 5 giant pandas and 20 elephants. But also thousands of rare plants and stones, as well as authentic buildings and handicrafts.

The combination of authentic buildings, flora and fauna immerses visitors in China, Indonesia, Benin, Togo, Antarctica, Australia, Northern Europe and Canada. These worlds have been recreated with respect for the arts and crafts of these regions and civilizations.

Pairi Daiza is a committed company that takes concrete action to protect and conserve species. Outside its walls, the Pairi Paiza Foundation is very active in favor of endangered species and their habitats.

Since 2018, Pairi Daiza has set itself the goal of being 100% green between 2030 and 2032.

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