JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Conservation small mammal keeper
Function:
Husbandry of Wildwood’s small mammals, including water voles
Responsible to:
Head of education, training and conservation
Salary:
£12,000 to £16,000 (+pension & other benefits)
Wildwood Trust
Wildwood Trust is a registered charity that, uniquely, focusses on British Wildlife. The Wildwood
Trust became a charity in 2002, having existed since 1998, establishing a unique mix of animal
collection, wildlife education, conservation and ecological services.
Wildwood Trust has shown excellent growth in its over 10 year existence and is now in a position to
develop its Conservation department to further its ambitions in recreating the biodiversity of the
‘Wild Wood’ and other wild habitats.
Wildwood has developed 3 unique skills which we will develop over the coming years.

The careful husbandry of Wildwood’s collection of British native, naturalised and once
native wildlife.
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The public education of our relationship with wildlife, its historical context and its future
conservation.

The husbandry skills and knowledge necessary to set up pioneering conservation projects,
aimed at producing balanced, semi-natural ecological systems. Many leading ecologists
believe this to be key to the long term survival of our natural heritage.
Conservation small mammal keeper
This post is for a highly motivated person, who is practical and hardworking, which is primarily
based within our conservation yard and has some knowledge of animals/ecology.
This role will suit a fit person, who can work outdoors during all weathers doing a physically
demanding job. You need to be able to work independently as a keeper within a small
Conservation team.
Specifically:

Husbandry of small mammals in our conservation centre, including water voles

Maintenance and up-keep of section/yard, enclosures/cages and equipment

Assisting the management for captive breeding of small mammals, specifically water voles

Maintaining appropriate records / administration duties

Assisting with ecological surveys and/or mitigation projects, including the preparation of
water voles for reintroduction

Supervision of volunteers and be computer literate
PAGE 1 OF 4
Wildwood Trust, Herne Common, Herne Bay CT6 7LQ
e-mail: info@wildwoodtrust.org web: www.wildwoodtrust.org tel: 01227 712111
08/02/2016
1
1.1
Principal Duties
Looking after the Wildwood Collection
Your primary focus will be the day to day husbandry of Wildwood’s captive, small mammal
collection, specifically the water vole population. This will encompass:
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Daily food and water changes, including food preparation
Cleaning outdoor enclosures and indoor cages
Catching and handling animals, sexing and weighing
Separating litters after breeding
Keeping yard and all work areas maintained and tidy
Keeping animal records up-to-date and maintaining administration duties
Marking animals by inserting PIT tags
You will be responsible for the welfare and well-being of your animals; monitoring their
health and behaviour, administering medication and improving their enclosures to provide
behavioural enrichment.
Instruction will come from the Head of education, training and conservation and/or the
Conservation Officer.
1.2
Enclosure Design and Maintenance
You will be required to assist in the day to day maintenance of enclosures, using small tools
and undertaking general DIY functions.
You will have an input into enclosure design and building to provide the highest standards
on animal care and efficiency of operations.
1.3
Meeting Zoo Legislation
You will help keep animal records to meet all zoo legislation. This is particularly important to
maintain accurate data relating to blood lines, age of animals and breeding success.
You will be expected to follow all procedures on safe practices and hygiene regulations;
following quarantine practice, disease screening and organising / liaising with colleagues
and vets.
1.4
Human Resources
You will be required to help maintain timesheets and any other records as required; both for
yourself and any volunteers that you will supervise.
1.5
Financial Administration
You will be required to help in financial administration, playing a role in cost control and
making financial systems effective. You will keep records on animal food usage, be
responsible for placing food orders, whilst also help acquire donated food from local sources.
1.6
Health and Safety
You will be required to support your line manager to ensure that Wildwood’s health and
safety arrangements are as effective, consistent and well documented as possible. You will
PAGE 2 OF 4
Wildwood Trust, Herne Common, Herne Bay CT6 7LQ
e-mail: info@wildwoodtrust.org web: www.wildwoodtrust.org tel: 01227 712111
08/02/2016
be required to complete Risk Assessments, contribute to the maintenance of
Health and Safety of volunteers; ensure volunteers follow Health and Safety guidance.
1.7
Customer Care and Animal Talks
As a charity Wildwood’s ultimate success will depend on the value we can deliver to our
members, donors and visitors. ‘Making every visitor a friend’ will be a key role for the post
holder. This may involve giving public animal feeds and taking part in membership events.
In time, there will be the need to give talks to a wide range of groups, from primary schools
to university and professional ecology groups.
As a membership organisation Wildwood’s success will depend on our ability to recruit and
retain members. This will involve instilling in yourself a ‘customer focused ethos’ to actively
engage visitors.
1.8
Special Projects:
When the need dictates, you will be required to support the activities of other departments.
2
2.1
Skills, Knowledge & Experience
Essential
The post holder will be highly conscientious, hardworking, of a diligent and practical nature
with good common sense and an attention to detail. The ability to prioritise and concentrate
on tasks according to their importance will be key elements and the willingness to work
outdoors all year round and have a clean, driving license and access/use of a car.
A good level of competence of working with captive animals and their husbandry is
essential, and experience of small mammal handling is desirable.
A genuine love of nature and the outdoors is required - specifically, knowledge of British
wildlife and an understanding of their conservation issues; especially relating to the water
vole.
Good people management and engagement skills are required as is the ability to mentor /
supervise volunteers.
2.2
Desirable
The ability to demonstrate recent practical experience in at least one of the following:
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3
Some level of animal care / captive breeding experience
Some level of conservation project experience
Experience of animal handling / trapping, preferably mammal
Confidence in giving public talks and demonstrations
Experience of engaging with health and safety systems, including risk assessments
Some ecological survey experience
Degree in relevant subject area desirable
Other Considerations
1.
2.
Understanding of and empathy with Wildwood’s activities would be helpful.
No person shall be treated less favourably than another on the grounds of sex, sexual
orientation, marital status, race, ethnic or national origin, religion, colour, age or
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Wildwood Trust, Herne Common, Herne Bay CT6 7LQ
e-mail: info@wildwoodtrust.org web: www.wildwoodtrust.org tel: 01227 712111
08/02/2016
3.
4.
4
disability. As an equal opportunities employer, applicants for staff
vacancies shall be shortlisted for interview and appointed purely on the grounds of their
suitability for the post as laid out in the advertised job description.
Wildwood operates a no smoking policy in the park and in its offices.
Good medical health for outdoor activities with animals; eg. up-to-date tetanus, rabies
injection, etc
Employment Package
The salary band for the Conservation small mammal keeper will be £12,000 to £16,000.
Finances permitting, salaries are updated once a year to allow for the rate of inflation.
Normal working hours are a 37.5 hour week average over the year. Normal working hours
will be from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm in winter and 8.00 am to 5.00 pm in summer with a lunch
break and coffee break, each of 30 minutes, each day.
Due to the nature of the work you will be required to work bank holidays, weekends and
some evenings. Overtime is not usually paid, but time may be taken off in lieu. The holiday
allowance is 30 days per year. This includes statutory holidays.
Appointments are subject to confirmation after a six month probation period.
Wildwood offer a very generous personal pension scheme.
5
5.1
Procedure for Applicants
Applications
To apply for this position please send your CV with a letter detailing your skills and
experience to:
Email:
jobs@wildwoodtrust.org
By Post: Dr Angus I. Carpenter, Wildwood Trust, Herne Common, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6
7LQ
Please note that only successful applicants will be contacted for interview.
The closing date for applications is 25th January 2016.
5.2
Interview and Selection Procedure
Interviews and selection tests will be held at Wildwood Trust, Wealden Forest Park, Herne
Common by arrangement during the following two weeks after the closing date for
applications. The interview will include a practical element at our water vole conservation
centre.
PAGE 4 OF 4
Wildwood Trust, Herne Common, Herne Bay CT6 7LQ
e-mail: info@wildwoodtrust.org web: www.wildwoodtrust.org tel: 01227 712111
08/02/2016