Team Leader Ectotherms (Herpetology)

British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA); Greater London; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 12% contributory pension

Flexible working options

25 days' annual leave + bank holidays

Enhanced family-friendly policies

Life assurance from day one

EAP and wellbeing support

Equality Networks access

Complimentary Zoo tickets & discounts

Cycle2Work scheme

Job summary

ZSL London Zoo in London is seeking a dedicated Team Leader for the Ectotherms Department to oversee daily husbandry of reptiles and amphibians and lead a small team. You will champion high welfare standards, mentor staff and collaborate across sections to improve protocols and safety.

The role is full-time (37.5 hours per week) with weekend and bank holiday rotas. You will monitor animal health, maintain records, and contribute to conservation efforts across ZSL's collections.

Qualifications

• Extensive practical experience with reptiles and amphibians including freshwater aquatics.
• Strong taxonomic knowledge with breeding, population management and enrichment.
• Hands-on experience with venomous species handling.
• Proven leadership and team development in welfare, biosecurity and safety.

Responsibilities

• Team planning and rotas management.
• Develop safe systems of work and risk assessments.
• Health and safety leadership.
• Staff training and mentorship.
• Hands-on animal care and hygiene and housekeeping.
• Animal health monitoring and record keeping.

Skills

Team leadership

Herp husbandry

DMZAA qualification

Veterinary records

Biosecurity compliance

Education

DMZAA level qualification

Job description

ZSL - London Zoo

South East Closing date for applications is: 28th Sep 2026

Contact: ZSL Recruitment Team ([e-mail]) Sector: Animal Care Type: Paid Contract type: Full-time Salary: £37,265.00 per annum

Purpose of the role

ZSL is looking for a dedicated and experienced Team Leader to join our Ectotherms Department at the iconic London Zoo, Regent’s Park. 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 such as Lake Oku frogs, mountain chickens, Chinese giant salamanders and Darwin’s frogs, alongside Komodo dragons, Ethiopian mountain vipers and Galápagos tortoises. You will also have opportunities to support the husbandry of our coral, terrestrial invertebrates and live food collections, giving you the chance to work across a diverse and fascinating range of species.

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 and fellow Team Leader, 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 role, 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.

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:

Benefits

• 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)
• 24/24 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.

If you have any questions about this role, we’d love to hear from you! Please get in touch with our recruitment team at – [e-mail]