Senior Animal Keeper – Primate Section; Maternity Cover

Employment Type
Full Time (One Year Maternity Cover)

Salary
£27,456 per annum

Closing Date
13th February 2026

If you are interested in applying, please complete the Application Form below and send the completed form along with your CV to Mrs Liz Butcher, Living Collections Manager
, by email to vacancies

An exciting position has arisen for a Senior Keeper to join our team and contribute to our mission at CZS in a one year maternity cover role working within our Primate Section; responsible for Bornean orangutans, chimpanzees, yellow-breasted capuchins, cherry-crowned mangabeys, l’hoest monkeys, Colombian black spider monkeys and various lemur species.

The candidate will work within the Animal Department to carry out husbandry duties and maintain high standards of welfare for the animal species in their care. As a senior keeper, the candidate will be required to input ideas for the continual progression and development of animal husbandry, breeding management and enclosure design on the section.

Alongside more senior members of staff, the job holder will be responsible for mentoring and allocating work duties to junior employed staff members; qualified keepers and volunteers; student keepers and work experience students.

The candidate will ensure safe working protocols and practices and have a good understanding of risk assessments.

The job holder will deliver enclosure encounters and experiences to zoo visitors for a range of species across the section.

• Provide excellent husbandry standards and welfare to a range of species
• Mentor and allocate work duties to junior members of staff and volunteers
• Ensure safe working practices across the animal section
• Deliver enclosure encounters and experiences to zoo visitors

• Demonstrate commitment to continuous personal development.
• Perform other duties as reasonably directed by the senior members of the Primate Department (Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader and Lead Keeper) and the Animal Management Team (Zoological Director, Curator of Living Collections, Manager of Living Collections and Head Keeper)

• 4-7 years’ experience in a zoological collection including experience with primates.
• High standard of practical skill in animal husbandry, including training and enrichment.
• High standard of animal observation skills.
• High ability to develop animal husbandry, breeding management and enclosure design on the section.
• Knowledge of ZIMS.
• Knowledge of water quality parameters and management for a range of species.
• Experience in operating filtration systems and life support systems.
• Knowledge of uv requirements for a range of species.
• Knowledge of zoo licencing and legislation. Skills in handling and restraint of various species.
• Experience working with great apes.
• Confidence and ability in dealing with medical issues.

• Ability to work in a team and contribute to team goals.
• Ability to harness positive relationships with all other team members regardless of level / section.
• Ability to follow instruction and carry out tasks at manager’s / senior staff member’s request.

• Ability to mentor and allocate work duties to more junior employed staff members and volunteers.

• Good understanding of risk assessments.
• Ability to ensure safe working practices at Senior Keeper level.
• Good understanding of zoo emergency procedures. Ability to manage risk in a zoo environment.
• Ability to develop safe working protocols.

• Proficient communication and presentation skills to deliver animal encounters and experiences.
• Good communication and presentation skills to deliver education sessions and media.

• Trained in manual handling.
• Computer literate with proficient knowledge of the major Microsoft Office programmes.
• Proficient written skills, including record keeping. Trained in working at height.
• Written skills, including proposals and protocols.

• DMZAA or equivalent qualification.
• Full driving licence.
• Ability to use own initiative to solve problems.
• Hard working and highly-motivated.
• Excellent…