Animal Collection Manager

Activate Learning; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A pioneering education group in the UK is seeking an experienced Animal Collection Manager to oversee animal welfare and lead training for students. Duties include ensuring compliance with legislation, managing the Animal Keeping team, and fostering strong relationships with stakeholders. The ideal candidate will possess a relevant degree, senior keeper status, and excellent communication and leadership skills. This full-time role offers various employee benefits, including wellbeing resources and flexible working options.

Benefits

Health Cash Plan

Pension schemes

Generous annual leave

Flexible working options

On-site facilities

Qualifications

• Senior keeper status with managerial experience is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of handling a diversity of taxa in a commercial or educational setting.
• Understanding of conservation education in educational collections.

Responsibilities

• Ensure animal welfare is a priority in line with current legislation.
• Support training delivery for students at the college.
• Manage and support the Animal Keeping team effectively.

Skills

Animal handling

Communication skills

Leadership skills

Team collaboration

Education

Relevant degree

Job description

About the role: Animal Collection Manager – Activate Learning now has an exciting opportunity to join our Lifestyles team as an Animal Collection Manager and Trainer. In this role you will have overall day‑to‑day responsibility for the welfare of the collection, ensuring animal welfare is paramount and in accordance with current legislation and policies. You will uphold the aims of the animal collection and develop the resources through a robust collection plan, working closely with the Team Lead, Lead IQA's and Curriculum Manager.

You will represent the Animal Management team with internal and external stakeholders, communicating effectively with commercial, estates and teaching teams, while also providing management and support for the Animal Keeping team to deliver practical husbandry that meets teaching and commercial requirements.

Additionally, you will support the delivery of training to students at the college, predominantly in a practical setting, facilitating outstanding standards of animal care with our teaching staff. This is a permanent, full‑time role at our Banbury College Campus.

What do you need to be successful as an Animal Collection Manager at Activate Learning?

The successful candidate will have a relevant degree, along with senior keeper status and, desirably, managerial experience. You will have working knowledge of the requirements for handling the identified species, experience with a diversity of taxa, husbandry and management of animal exhibits and facilities within a commercial or learning environment. An understanding of the importance of conservation education within the role of a modern educational collection is also essential. You will have excellent communication skills and the ability to engage with students and technicians at all levels to ensure you are maximizing individual strengths to set them up for success. Strong leadership skills and the ability to build strong working relationships across teams and external stakeholders will be required.

Activate Learning is a pioneering education group with a global reach, committed to transforming lives through a progressive approach to learning. We see our employees as individuals, empowering them to make the right choices for their ambitions and careers, and we value our people as vital to our continued success. We aspire to a diverse, open and inclusive environment that motivates everyone to pursue their career goals and flourish.

• Wellbeing & Resources Groups: comprehensive range of resources, guides and tools to support staff wellbeing
• Company benefits: including free eye tests and will writing, plus access to a Health Cash Plan covering optical, dental, health screening, and therapy treatments for you and your dependents
• Learning and Development: continuous opportunities for teachers' professional growth and skill enhancement through our in‑house L&D team
• Teaching Support: tailored three‑day induction program, and development programmes for teaching staff
• Pension schemes: teacher pension scheme for AL teaching staff
• Generous annual leave: up to 6 weeks paid leave
• Flexible working: options include hybrid and remote, term‑time only, and flexible working patterns
• Competitive salaries: annual incremental progression and a twelve‑point pay scale for teachers
• On‑site facilities: free parking at all campuses, refectories, hair and beauty salons, and gym access

For a comprehensive list of all of our benefits & wellbeing offerings, please visit our wellbeing page. Applicants should apply at the earliest opportunity; closed vacancies will prevent application form submission. Applications are reviewed and shortlisted on a rolling basis, and we reserve the right to interview, appoint and close adverts.

Note: Some positions may require a legally‑mandated health surveillance check for exposure to hazardous conditions. Activate Learning is committed to safeguarding and expects all staff to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to undergo a DBS check at the appropriate level. Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK; we do not sponsor work permits.