Team leader Ectotherms (Fixed Term Contract)

Zoological Society of London (ZSL); Whipsnade; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 12%

Flexible working options

25 days' annual leave plus bank hols

Life assurance from day one

Employee wellbeing support

Job summary

ZSL's Whipsnade Zoo is seeking a Team Leader for the Ectotherms section in the Animal Department. You will lead daily husbandry, supervise staff, and ensure welfare standards across reptiles, amphibians, and freshwater species.

The role involves developing protocols, training, and collaboration with cross-site teams, with 37.5 hours per week on a rota including weekends and bank holidays. UK driving licence required.

Qualifications

• Extensive practical experience with reptiles and amphibians, including freshwater aquatics.
• Ability to supervise, motivate and develop a team while maintaining welfare and safety standards.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across teams and sites.

Responsibilities

• Plan section rotas and manage staffing levels.
• Develop and implement safe systems of work and husbandry protocols.
• Lead health & safety culture through risk assessments and training.
• Train, mentor and supervise team members with high welfare standards.
• Support daily husbandry duties and maintain hygiene and housekeeping.
• Monitor animal health and keep accurate records of treatments and observations.

Skills

Reptiles & Amphibians care

Team leadership

IT literacy

Education

DMZAA level

Job description

ZSL is seeking a dedicated Team Leader within the Ectotherms section of our Animal Department at Whipsnade Zoo, one of the UK's largest zoos nestled in the beautiful Chiltern Hills.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the care and conservation of an extraordinary collection of ectotherms, including critically endangered amphibians and reptiles. You’ll work with species including amphibians and reptiles, alongside a large tropical house featuring free-flying butterflies and a variety of invertebrate species. We also maintain a freshwater aquarium and a substantial off-show breeding facility. The department specialises in freshwater fish conservation, with a collection of 26 Critically Endangered and Extinct in the Wild species managed within dedicated breeding programmes.

As Team Leader, you’ll help champion high standards of animal welfare and best-practice husbandry, while supporting the development of the team through training, mentoring and day-to-day leadership. You will work closely with the Section Manager, contributing to the ongoing development of husbandry protocols and helping ensure the department operates safely, effectively and to a consistently high standard.

The role also offers plenty of opportunity to collaborate across ZSL, working with colleagues in areas including facilities, purchasing, animal health, health and safety, animal encounters and visitor-facing activities.

This is a full-time, one-year fixed-term contract, working 37.5 hours per week on a rota basis, including weekends and bank holidays.

Key responsibilities:

• Team Planning & Rotas: Manage and monitor section rotas, ensuring appropriate staffing levels at all times and agreeing any overtime in advance with the Section Manager.
• Protocols & Best Practice: Develop and implement safe systems of work, risk assessments, training processes, and animal husbandry best practice procedures.
• Health & Safety Leadership: Champion a strong health and safety culture by regularly reviewing risk assessments, identifying training needs, and ensuring the safety of staff, visitors, and animals.
• Staff Training & Mentorship: Train, mentor, and supervise team members, maintaining high standards of welfare, cleanliness, safety, and maintenance across the section.
• Hands-on Animal Care: Work as an active member of the keeper team, supporting daily husbandry duties and maintaining excellent hygiene and housekeeping standards.
• Animal Health & Record Keeping: Monitor animal health, administer veterinary treatments as directed, and maintain accurate records and follow-up observations.

About You:

• Extensive practical experience working with Reptiles and Amphibians including fresh water aquatics within a zoological collection, ideally qualified to DMZAA level (or equivalent)
• Strong taxonomic knowledge, with particular expertise relevant to the section, and an understanding of breeding programmes, population management, and evolving husbandry practices including positive reinforcement training and enrichment.
• Demonstrable Category 1 reptile experience, including the safe handling, care and management of venomous species and large reptiles.
• Proven ability to supervise, motivate and develop a team, maintaining high standards of animal welfare, biosecurity, and health & safety compliance.
• Confident in animal health monitoring, handling techniques, veterinary procedures, and maintaining accurate records, with sound knowledge of life support systems and species-specific requirements.
• Proactive, innovative and organised, with excellent observational, problem‑solving and workload management skills, and strong IT literacy.
• A collaborative communicator, comfortable engaging with colleagues, visitors and external partners, with flexibility to work weekends, bank holidays, travel when required, and occasionally work across sites.
• Holds a full, valid UK Driving Licence.

This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including confirmation of your right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

ZSL recognises that conservation is one of the least diverse sectors, and we actively encourage applications from candidates who identify as part of underrepresented communities. We are committed to building a supportive and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage.

About Us:

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.

What We Offer?

Alongside the opportunity to do purpose-driven work that helps create a world where wildlife thrives, you'll enjoy a range of benefits, including:

• Up to 12% contributory pension
• Flexible working options
• 25 days' annual leave plus UK bank holidays, increasing with service
• Enhanced family-friendly policies
• Life assurance from day one (for eligible employees)
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support
• Access to our staff Equality Networks
• Complimentary London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo tickets, plus retail discounts
• Cycle2Work scheme and interest-free season ticket loans (for eligible London-based employees)

You can find the full details of our benefits in the attached Benefits Guide.