Casual Animal Keeper

Hopwood Hall; Middleton; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

Hopwood Hall in Middleton is seeking a Casual Animal Keeper to support the Animal Care and Equine department. The role is on-site and paid at £13.92 per hour, with flexible employment arrangements to suit College needs.

The successful candidate will help maintain enclosures, monitor animal welfare, keep records, and assist with breeding planning, while adhering to COSHH and safety requirements in a learning environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a full level 2 Science/animal management/care qualification.
• Experience handling a wide range of animals including exotics, mammals and birds.
• Able to work flexibly to support college requirements.

Responsibilities

• To maintain and repair specialist animal enclosures and be responsible for the security of enclosures and tools.
• Be flexible in supporting the sections requirements and cross college tasks.
• To oversee the Animal Care Apprentices, and interns, whilst working on site and designate the workload.
• To follow the current Life Sciences Animal Standard Operating Procedures.
• To be responsible for the day to day care of all the animals within the Centre for Life Sciences.
• Maintain animal food stock levels to ensure all animals have food and water available as stated in the standard operating procedures.
• To assist in the planning of breeding programmes both for sustainability and food sources.
• To maintain all animal areas within Life Sciences to include the internal animal rooms and external enclosures.
• Undertake Health & Safety risk assessments and ensure all working practices are compliant with industry legislation (e.g. COSHH).
• To ensure that accurate records of animals are kept and the data inputted onto computer systems and paper systems.
• Ensure continuous development and improvement of professional knowledge.

Skills

Animal care

Enclosure maintenance

Health & Safety awareness

Record keeping

Education

Level 2 Science/animal management/care qualification

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Casual Animal Keeper

Application Deadline: 13 October 2026

Department: Animal Care and Equine

Employment Type: Flexible

Location: Middleton

Compensation: £13.92 per hour

Description

To facilitate the learning process by supporting staff and students in an effective learning environment.

Key Responsibilities

• To maintain and repair specialist animal enclosures and be responsible for the security of enclosures and tools.
• Be flexible in supporting the sections requirements and cross college tasks.
• To oversee the Animal Care Apprentices, and interns, whilst working on site and designate the workload.
• To follow the current Life Sciences Animal Standard Operating Procedures.
• To be responsible for the day to day care of all the animals within the Centre for Life Sciences.
• Maintain animal food stock levels to ensure all animals have food and water available as stated in the standard operating procedures.
• To assist in the planning of breeding programmes both for sustainability and food sources.
• To maintain all animal areas within Life Sciences to include the internal animal rooms and external enclosures.
• Undertake Health & Safety risk assessments and ensure all working practices are compliant with industry legislation (e.g. COSHH).
• To ensure that accurate records of animals are kept and the data inputted onto computer systems and paper systems.
• Ensure continuous development and improvement of professional knowledge.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Qualifications
Essential Criteria

Minimum of a full level 2 Science/animal management/care qualification.

How Identified: By application

Desirable Criteria

A1 assessor award or willing to achieve the qualification within 12 months.

How Identified: By application

Experience

Essential Criteria

Experience of handling/ caring and maintaining a wide range of animals to include exotics, mammals and birds.
Experience of handling/ caring for and maintaining a wide range of taxa to include Mammalia, Reptilia and Aves.

How Identified: By application

Desirable Criteria

Experience of handling/ caring and maintaining larger animals.

How Identified: By application

Specialist Knowledge

Essential Criteria

The daily responsibilities of an Animal Technician (Lantra 08/01/2013).
Knowledge of current legislation including the Animal Welfare Act and the Health and Safety at Work.

Basic Animal First Aid.

How Identified: By application/ interview

IT Skills

Basic Level in Microsoft applications particularly Word, Outlook and Excel. Willing to undertake training appropriate to the role.

How Identified: By application/ interview