Animal Department: Elephant Team Leader
Deadline: Monday 21st January 2013.
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm is looking to appoint an Elephant Team Leader for our new Elephant Eden facility.
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm’s 20 acre Elephant Eden is set to be a flagship elephant exhibit and one of the largest in Europe. It will operate a Protective Contact system with cows and bulls and this will be managed by optimising the numerous training walls and doors incorporated into the design of the building.
The aims of Noah's Ark Zoo Farm’s Elephant Eden are:
•To house a breeding herd of elephants in a state-of-the-art environment with enough space and freedom to provide the highest levels of stimulation, enrichment and comfort 24 hours a day.
•To facilitate advances in elephant management and welfare in captivity.
•Contribute to the captive breeding population of elephants.
•Provide an invaluable, exciting educational opportunity for the visiting guests to the zoo.
•To be as eco-friendly as possible by harvesting water and relying on renewable energy sources such as solar panels and biomass heating.
Candidates must have 5 years practical experience in elephant husbandry/management a proportion of this must have been operating within a Protective Contact system. We also expect candidates to have a qualification or degree relevant to zoo keeping or animal management.
The successful candidate will work under direction of the zoo Curator and lead a team of elephant keepers, in all aspects of elephant husbandry. They will be designing and running the enrichment and training programs and involved in writing and delivering elephant management policies. They will also be responsible for the running of the elephant house and working with other zoo teams in maintenance of enclosures.
The elephant team leader will work with other staff to present Noah’s Ark with the professional, visitor-focused attitude we expect from all our employees. Candidates must be able to provide evidence of good leadership, communication and organisational skills. As elephant team leader, you’ll also need to contribute to the development and training of other elephant keeping staff.
Successful canditates will be required to have a CRB check and have a full UK driving licence.
The working week will be 5 days a week, 8am until 5pm including weekends and bank holidays on rota. With 4 weeks annual leave + bank holidays in lieu.
Applicants should be happy to work within the Christian ethos of the zoo.
Applications should include: Current CV (include details of practical experience & academic qualification) 2 relevant references with contact details for the referees and a covering letter no longer than 1 side of A4.
The covering letter should include:
•A summary of relevant experience
•Why do you think you are the right person for the position?
•Why you want to work at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm’s Elephant Eden?
•What you think you will bring to the team.
•Contact details, including an email address.
Interested parties should send CVs and a covering letters by post to Chris Wilkinson, Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, Clevedon Road, Wraxall, Bristol, BS48 1PG.
All applications should be received by Monday 21st January 2013. Salary competitive within industry.
More info available here http://www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk/pages/about/jobs/employed.php
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