Animal Keeper (Fixed Term - 6 months)

British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA); Greater London; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare plan

EAP 24/7 access

Staff membership

Pension scheme

Discounts

Job summary

RZSS - Edinburgh Zoo is seeking an Animal Keeper to maintain high welfare standards across its animal sections, supporting a lively live programme and visitor engagement.

Working with your Team Leader and Senior Keeper, you will assist with enrichment, records, talks and keeper experiences, contributing to the outreach across Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park. This role requires a passion for animals and customer service.

Qualifications

• Good level of education at standard grade or equivalent qualifications (including English, Mathematics and Sciences)
• Willingness to undertake further professional development meeting the requirements of the European Professional Zookeepers Qualification Framework
• Competent in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• First-class customer service, e.g. interpersonal skills and ability to engage with the public
• Can demonstrate an interest in animals with some practical experience in a zoo or animal-related environment

Responsibilities

• Help to ensure animal welfare, husbandry and management is of the highest standard, taking into account relevant legislation and best practice animal management.
• Follows animal working procedures.
• Contribute to enclosure design, maintenance, enrichment and enclosure furnishing to ensure it meets all the needs of the animal and is presentable to the public, e.g. positive visitor engagement and suggest ideas for development to team manager.
• Engage with and support visitors, ensuring your message is consistent with team objectives and in line with RZSS’ mission and vision whilst providing first-class customer care and service, e.g. answering visitor queries and undertaking public talks, tours and Keeper for a Day experiences.
• Collate and record detailed and accurate animal records via daily record sheets, directly onto ZIMS or using other relevant recording methods in relation to the good management of the animal collection to ensure accurate data preservation (e.g. weights, behaviours, health, births, deaths, training, enrichment and treatments).
• Support delivery of all aspects of an agreed range of the Animal Engagement and Interaction Programme, e.g. Keeper experience, animal shows and encounters, daily talks and events, and contribute to its further development.
• When required work with colleagues to train the animals to cooperate in their own care and where appropriate to have them display natural behaviours to engage our visitors with our mission and vision

Skills

Customer service

Microsoft Office

Education

Standard grade English/Math/Science

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

RZSS - Edinburgh Zoo

Scotland

Closing date for applications is: 2nd Oct 2026

Contact: Amanda Hamilton (HR) ([e-mail]) Sector: Animal Care Type: Paid Contract type: Full-time Salary: Starting pro-rated salary of £23,868 to £24,378 (offer based on experience) with future salary progression up to £24,888 per annum

About Us

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is a wildlife conservation charity with a bold vision: a world where nature is protected, valued and loved.

Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park?are our gateways to the natural world through which people can experience nature.

How You’ll Contribute To Our Mission

We are currently looking for an Animal Keeper - with direction from your Team Leader and Senior Keeper, you will perform all assigned duties to ensure the smooth running of the allocated animal section/project, aiming to optimise the quality of animal welfare and to deliver or support delivery of an innovative and creative programme of live animal interactive activities to engage and excite visitors in support of RZSS’ vision and mission.

Some Of The Things You’ll Do

• Help to ensure animal welfare, husbandry and management is of the highest standard, taking into account relevant legislation and best practice animal management.
• Follows animal working procedures.
• Contribute to enclosure design, maintenance, enrichment and enclosure furnishing to ensure it meets all the needs of the animal and is presentable to the public, e.g. positive visitor engagement and suggest ideas for development to team manager.
• Engage with and support visitors, ensuring your message is consistent with team objectives and in line with RZSS’ mission and vision whilst providing first-class customer care and service, e.g. answering visitor queries and undertaking public talks, tours and Keeper for a Day experiences.
• Collate and record detailed and accurate animal records via daily record sheets, directly onto ZIMS or using other relevant recording methods in relation to the good management of the animal collection to ensure accurate data preservation (e.g. weights, behaviours, health, births, deaths, training, enrichment and treatments).
• Support delivery of all aspects of an agreed range of the Animal Engagement and Interaction Programme, e.g. Keeper experience, animal shows and encounters, daily talks and events, and contribute to its further development.
• When required work with colleagues to train the animals to cooperate in their own care and where appropriate to have them display natural behaviours to engage our visitors with our mission and vision

What We Are Looking For

Good level of education at standard grade or equivalent qualifications (including English, Mathematics and Sciences)

Willingness to undertake further professional development meeting the requirements of the European Professional Zookeepers Qualification Framework (zookeepers.eu/framework/)

Competent in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

First-class customer service, e.g. interpersonal skills and ability to engage with the public

Can demonstrate an interest in animals with some practical experience in a zoo or animal-related environment

What You’ll Get In Return

• Starting pro-rated salary of £23,868 to £24,378 (offer based on experience) with future salary progression up to £24,888 per annum
• 37.5 working week (may require some weekend working)
• 34 days annual leave (pro rata)
• Discount in both retail/catering
• Access to a healthcare plan
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), that provide 24‑hour counselling and support, including health, legal, finance, wellbeing and family advice
• Employer contributory pension scheme
• You will receive a staff membership which will give you (and family/friends) free (and discounted) entry to both the Highland Wildlife Park and Edinburgh Zoo as well as a number of other Zoo’s across the UK.

This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate's right to work in the UK and Disclosure Check.

Please note that shortlisting of applications and interviews for this position will take place while the advert is live. The advert will close once a successful candidate has been found.

Interested candidates are therefore encouraged to submit applications, as soon as possible.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is an equal opportunities employer. Our policy is to recruit a diverse workforce following the guidelines of the Equality Act 2010