Team Leader Ectotherms

Tataki Auckland Unlimited; Auckland; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Auckland Zoo's Tataki Auckland Unlimited is seeking a Team Leader for the Ectotherms section to drive animal care, habitat design and conservation outcomes. You will lead people, animals and facilities, shaping exhibition planning and field initiatives in collaboration with internal teams and external partners.

You will bring extensive animal management knowledge, strong leadership, and a solution‑focused approach to manage a busy, high‑performing team and complex budgets.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in biological/conservation sciences or equivalent.
• Minimum eight (8) years' experience within a Zoo or related industry.
• Minimum five (5) years' experience with the husbandry and welfare of a range of relevant species.
• Proven line management experience including recruitment and staff development.
• Ability to lead, organise and motivate a large team toward shared goals.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and support the ectotherms team, fostering a positive, inclusive and high‑performing environment.
• Oversee standards of animal care, habitat design and maintenance and species planning.
• Collaborate on innovative exhibit planning, visitor experiences and conservation advocacy.
• Build specialist expertise within the team and develop field conservation opportunities.
• Manage section rostering, budgets, records, reporting, training and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Team leadership

Animal husbandry

Habitat design

Budgeting & rostering

Staff development & recruitment

Written & public communication

Education

Biological/conservation sciences degree

Certificate in Zookeeping

Tools

Microsoft Office

Zoo animal-records software

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Tataki Auckland Unlimited – Auckland, North Island

• Lead and inspire Auckland Zoo's specialist Ectotherms team
• Help shape an innovative visitor experience through exceptional habitat design and excellence in animal husbandry
• Advance field-based initiatives and threatened species breeding programmes for meaningful conservation outcomes

Auckland is a global city with stunning scenery, wonderful beaches and sub-tropical islands. It is also a city with one of the most progressive zoos in the world. At Auckland Zoo our mission is "to bring people together to build a future for wildlife" and we do this through our seven strategic commitments.

As the Team Leader - Ectotherms, you'll be a key member of Auckland Zoo's Animal Care & Conservation department, leading the people, animals and facilities of the Ectotherm section. You'll ensure exceptional standards of animal exhibitry, husbandry and management while supporting conservation, education and science outcomes. Working collaboratively across the zoo and with external partners, you'll help create engaging visitor experiences and develop field conservation capability and opportunities within your team.

In this role, you will:

• Lead, develop and support the ectotherms team, fostering a positive, inclusive and high-performing environment aligned with Auckland Zoo's strategic commitments and annual business plan.
• Oversee excellent standards of animal care, habitat design and maintenance and species planning - documented and regularly reviewed though the Zoo's Species Action Planning process.
• Collaborate on innovative exhibit planning, visitor experiences and conservation advocacy while representing Auckland Zoo through presentations, media and industry events.
• Build specialist expertise within the team and develop opportunities for staff to contribute to field conservation, research and scientific publication.
• Manage section rostering and budgets, records and reporting, training and regulatory compliance, and contribute to departmental leadership, including rostered Animal Care in Charge duties.

This role requires some weekend and public holiday work.

You’ll be a confident people leader with experience managing busy and passionate people. You can motivate, develop and bring a team together to achieve shared objectives with the ability to make sound decisions, and proactively resolve problems and manage performance.

You’ll bring extensive animal management knowledge and expertise, ideally including a range of ectotherms, and encourage innovation in refining and developing section procedures and processes and a solution‑focussed approach to team challenges and uncertainty. You’ll be highly organised and an effective delegator, and comfortable managing competing priorities, budgets and timeframes. You’ll have strong relationship‑building, customer service and written and verbal communication skills, including scientific writing and public speaking, alongside competency in Microsoft Office and zoo animal‑records software.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Relevant (biological/conservation sciences) undergraduate degree or Certificate (minimum) in Zookeeping or equivalent qualification(s) and/or relevant experience in related field.
• Minimum eight (8) years' experience within a Zoo or related industry.
• Demonstrated knowledge and minimum five (5) years' experience with the husbandry and welfare of a range of relevant species.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, able to organise and motivate a large team and generate a sense of team‑spirit and common purpose.
• Proven experience in a line management role, including recruitment and deployment of staff, managing performance and coaching and developing staff to enhance their skills and contribution

This is a unique career opportunity working within the lush, green environment of Auckland Zoo and the varied landscapes of Aotearoa New Zealand. The chance to work with over 60 ectotherm species including rare New Zealand native icons the tuatara, Leiopelmatid frogs, long‑finned eel and giant wetapunga - a selection of exotic species including the enigmatic Sunda gharial, the Asian arowana, Galapagos tortoises, lace monitor and frill necked lizard, all cared‑for in dedicated beautifully themed habitats.

We offer a competitive remuneration package, and you will also have access to the full range of Tataki Auckland Unlimited benefits.

We are a close-knit team that is passionate about Auckland Zoo's mission and commitments and we're looking for a like‑minded individual who shares our values. For a similarly enthusiastic, talented, and committed individual, this will be your dream job.

Applications close Wednesday 16 September 2026

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and we are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application to assist you through the recruitment process.