Permanent – Full Time

We are Chester Zoo, and for over 80 years we’ve been a leading conservation and education charity, and an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction

We’re also a team of passionate, talented, enthusiastic and expert people, doing everything we can to keep the zoo going, from feeding the animals to discovering new conservation ideas, and giving our 1.9 million visitors an inspirational day out.

We work hard because we love animals, we care about nature, we love Chester Zoo and we want to be the best zoo in the world

If you think you can help us to achieve that, then we’d love to hear from you.

We currently have an exciting vacancy for the role of Lead Animal Supplies Assistant to support in supplying the provision of foodstuffs, cleaning resources and a range of operational materials to the animal sections.

The role:

The Animal Supplies Department provides a key service in supporting our world class animal collection. The duties and predominantly manual elements in this post include liaising with animal keeping staff, collecting and receiving supplies, delivering these daily to the animal departments, management of animal waste, use of tractor based equipment such as front loaders, trailers, skip loaders and grass mowers, working in our insect breeding colony and assisting with animal quarantine duties.  The harvesting, collection and distribution of browse (high reaching vegetation used as animal feed) is also a daily task. The role holder will also assist the Assistant Team Manager in organising and supervising the department’s daily tasks and to deputize in his absence.

The successful candidate will:

• Have a full driving licence valid in the UK which allows you to tow a trailer heavier than 750kg (licence category E)
• Be experienced and competent in tractor use
• Be experienced, competent and certificated in chainsaw use
• Have good numeracy, literacy and attention to detail, which would be essential for accurate record keeping
• Have practical problem solving skills with a flexible approach
• Have experience working in a team and have excellent communication skills
• Have an understanding of Zoos and conservation and the role they might play

Experience with forklift trucks would be an advantage, as would experience of working in the areas of agriculture, arboriculture and food handling.

Hours of work are 40 hours per week, worked 5 days out of 7 including weekends and Bank Holidays.

The salary for this role is £24,142.75 per annum (this includes our 2020 pay award which is effective from 1st January 2020) and in addition we offer a range of amazing benefits which can be found at https://www.chesterzoo.org/work-with-us/staff-benefits/

To apply for this position, please attach your current CV and complete the application form highlighting your skills and experience including why you believe you should be considered for our Lead Animal Supplies Assistant role to https://www.chesterzoo.org/work-with-us/

Closing date for applications is Sunday 24^th November 2019.

It is our intention that interviews will take place on Monday 2^nd December 2019