Assistant Zookeeper - Hoofstock

As an Assistant Zoo Keeper, you will play a key role in supporting the daily care and welfare of animals within the Hoofstock section at London Zoo, while also working closely with the Browse Management Officer (BMO) to collect and manage browse for animal nutrition.

The Hoofstock section is home to 16 incredible species, including giraffe, okapi, pygmy hippos, and Bactrian camels. The team is dedicated to delivering the highest standards of animal husbandry and welfare. In this role, you’ll assist with a wide range of tasks from husbandry routines to habitat upkeep, while learning from experienced keepers.

Alongside this, you'll support the BMO with the harvesting, transportation, and distribution of browse across animal sections, ensuring accurate record-keeping and proper management of spent browse. This is a varied and rewarding opportunity for someone looking to develop their skills in both animal care and resource management, contributing directly to the wellbeing of our animals.

• Browse Handling: Accompany the Browse Management Officer on regular browse runs to collect and manage plant material for animal feeding.
• Daily Husbandry Tasks: Assist zookeepers with cleaning, feeding, and general upkeep of enclosures to maintain excellent animal welfare.
• Animal Enrichment and Training: Support the delivery of enrichment and behavioural training programs under the supervision of experienced keepers.
• General Section Duties: Carry out a variety of support tasks to ensure the smooth operation of the Hoofstock section.
• Manual Handling: Daily operational duties, which can include carrying items weighing up to 25kg. 

• Practical experience working with animals and a strong interest in natural history or zoology. Knowledge of plant identification is an advantage.
• Able to work both independently and as part of a team to complete daily tasks.
• Comfortable working outdoors in varying weather conditions, as well as indoors in environments with high temperatures.
• Confident in engaging with visitors, using sound judgment and clear communication to answer questions and share animal knowledge.
• Committed to upholding ZSL’s values, with a strong focus on inclusion, collaboration, and ethical behaviour.
• Available to work weekends and bank holidays as part of a seven-day operational schedule.
• A full manual driving licence is essential, with a willingness to operate zoo vehicles. 

This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate's right to work in the UK.

We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage. We are committed to ensuring our teams can bring their authentic selves to work without fear of discrimination. ZSL has active equality networks for our staff with lived experience and those who provide active allyship in Race and Culture, Team Pride, Disability Network, and Menopause Network, complemented by our strategic EDI Steering Group.  

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 do we offer?  

At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits. Our benefits include: 

• Our vision and purpose - you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science-led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct  
• Pension scheme - we offer a generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension
• Flexible working – talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you  
• Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays  Wellbeing – access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme  
• Life assurance – eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL’s life assurance scheme from their first day 
• Complimentary tickets – annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a 30% discount in online and retail shops  
• Cycle2Work - our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle  
• Season ticket loan - we offer an interest free loan for eligibly London-based employees to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work 
• Family friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption packages