Animal team member- part time

Hobbledown

South East Closing date for applications is: 31st Jan 2025

Based at Hobbledown in Epsom, you will be working with a range of species across our 50-acre site with responsibility for all aspects of animal care, including daily cleaning, training, feeding regimes, and upkeep of animal records, whilst working to strict safety protocols and standard operational procedures. You will be expected to deliver daily talks, educational sessions, and host our extremely popular zookeeper for a day experience and meet and greet sessions. Other duties include, but are not limited to, supervising our various public walkthrough enclosures and workshops.

Main Responsibilities

1. Animal Husbandry and Guest Experiences:
   • Deliver educational and interactive public talks and experiences, including our popular Zookeeper for a Day.
   • Ensure the highest standards of animal welfare are always adhered to.
   • Capable in the handling and restraint of a variety of animals, particularly Herptiles, Inverts, and Small Domestics.
   • Supervise walkthrough enclosures whilst engaging with guests and ensuring guest safety.
2. Customer Service:
   • Act as a point of contact for visitors, answer questions, give directions, and engage positively with visitors.
   • Report any issues or problems to the Line Manager to drive continuous improvement.
   • Deliver outstanding customer service and demonstrate positive body language to all visitors.
   • Drive and encourage positive online social media reviews such as Trip Advisor, Facebook, and Google.
   • Offer a positive first response when handling visitor feedback, complaints, or queries.
   • Escalate any visitor issues to the Line Manager if unable to resolve.
   • Call for First Aid assistance should any accidents or incidents occur.
   • Ensure cleanliness standards are maintained to a high standard and take pride in the appearance of the animal exhibits and park.
   • Dispose of all rubbish and animal waste correctly.
   • Clean and monitor enclosures to ensure they are cleaned in line with protocols and checked for safety throughout the day.
   • Handle cleaning materials and chemicals correctly and in line with COSHH training.
3. Standard Operating Procedures:
   • Follow and complete opening and closing checklists in line with the standard operating procedures for the animal team.
   • Oversee capacity limits for the animal walkthrough areas.
4. Health & Safety:
   • Comply with company policy regarding Health & Safety.
   • Ensure job role is performed safely in line with the standard operating procedure and any specific safety controls.
   • Ensure hygiene standards are adhered to in specific work areas.
   • Report any Health & Safety issues, potential hazards, accidents, or near misses to your Line Manager, Duty Manager, or member of the Management team immediately.

The job holder will perform any other reasonable tasks as requested by the General Manager or Director of the business.

Please note all applicants must be aged 18 or over.

Apply for this job:

To apply for this role please follow the link below.

BIAZA's office hours are 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday. Contact outside of those times will get a response when we are next in the office.

If your enquiry is urgent and you need a response before the BIAZA office reopens, please call Jo Judge on 07593 580602. If you wish to reach one of our members, please contact them directly.

The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales number 6789783. Registered Office Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY. Registered Charity Number is 1128168 and SC040783 (Scotland)