Job Description
Job Title: Animal Keeper (London Zoo)
Department: Veterinary Department
Responsible to: Nic Masters and Matthew Rendle
Current job holder: New Position
Job Evaluation Committee Reference Number:
Grade Allocated: 9.4
Date Allocated: 23.01.2015
Job Description
Job Purpose
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Reporting to the Senior Clinical Veterinary Nurse (SCVN), the Animal Keeper –
Veterinary Department will provide routine keeping duties for all animal in-patients
at ZSL London Zoo Veterinary Department.
The AK-VD will be responsible for ensuring that the husbandry, enrichment and
basic treatment requirements of all in-patients are met in a continuous fashion,
reporting to the SCVN and working with the rest of the Veterinary Department at LZ.
The AK-VD will work 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday only. Weekdays will be
divided as follows: Mon-Wed exclusively in the Veterinary Department and Thu-Fri
exclusively in the Animal Department. When working in the Animal Department, the
AK-VD will report to the appropriate Team Leader.
In collaboration with other members of the Department and the Zoological
Directorate, the AK-VD will be expected to represent ZSL as a centre of excellence
in the veterinary care of zoo and wild animals.
Specific Duties / Responsibilities
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Food preparation, servicing and cleaning for all in-patients.
Provision of other necessary husbandry requirements according to species.
Provision of (and research into) training and enrichment for all in-patients.
Assistance in the handling and physical restraint of patients during clinical
procedures in the veterinary department as directed.
Administration of medication to all types of in-patients as directed.
Assistance in maintaining the tidiness and cleanliness of all areas of the veterinary
department as directed by the SCVN.
Assistance in maintaining stock levels and storage of food and disposables in the
veterinary department as directed by the SCVN.
Assistance in the administration and record-keeping relating to clinical cases.
General keeping duties whilst working with the Animal Department.
Person Specification
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NVQ Animal Care or equivalent level of work experience in a relevant field.
The ability to maintain professionalism at all times.
An understanding of the need for biosecurity.
Previous hands-on zoo and/or wild animal care experience.
The ability to work independently within one month of in-house training.
The ability to communicate in a comprehensive but concise and timely fashion with
members of the Veterinary Department and Zoological Directorate in general.
Clear evidence of an understanding and commitment to both conservation and
animal welfare.
A proven track record of working within a team.