Conservation Scientist / Senior Conservation Scientist – Behaviour and Welfare

Permanent– Full time

We are Chester Zoo, and for nearly 90 years, we have 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 prevent extinction, from caring for animals to discovering new conservation ideas, and giving our visitors an inspirational day out.

We work hard because we love animals, we care about nature, we love Chester Zoo and, despite all the recent challenges thrown at us, we still 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 a Senior Conservation Scientist/ Conservation Scientist to join our Science team. Depending on experience and qualifications, the successful applicant will be offered either the post of Senior Conservation Scientist, or Conservation Scientist.

The role:

• Contribute to an effective and efficient Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare service and research programme, to internal and external staff and clients, ensuring timely advice based on collation and analysis of scientific data and/or sound scientific knowledge about animal behaviour and welfare, which contribute towards optimising behaviour and welfare of animal collections and population

• In consultation with the Lead Conservation Scientist advise on behaviour and welfare management of the entire animal collection, and other in situ and ex situ managed populations and make effective recommendations and appropriate mitigations about prioritized cases of concern. 

• Ensure the applied behaviour and welfare programme is cost-effective.

• In consultation with the Behaviour and Welfare Scientist provide professional support through training and consultancy to the society’s Science and Animal Teams, Discovery and Learning, and Field Programmes both within and outside the zoo, and promote best practice in animal behaviour and welfare. Effective supervision of PhD students and postdoctoral fellows within Chester Zoo’s Conservation Scholars and Fellows Programme, providing guidance, mentoring and ensuring training needs are met, overseeing work quality and assigning and monitoring objectives with other academic supervisors.
• Participate in scientific conferences and professional associations, and producing publications to establish Chester Zoo as a centre of excellence for welfare and conservation breeding.
• In consultation with the Lead Conservation Scientist progress our understanding of captive animal behaviour, and welfare, through targeted, collaborative research and problem-solving in line with the society’s values and needs, effectively utilising their expertise in behaviour and welfare to support other scientific disciplines within the organisation to enable a holistic approach to a variety of conservation projects, to attract and gain the respect of national/international key partners, and establish Chester Zoo as a centre of excellence for welfare and conservation breeding.

The successful candidate will have:

• Conservation Scientist - A Masters in an applied behaviour and/or welfare (or equivalent experience).
• Snr Conservation scientist- A PHD in a related field.
• A strong commitment to animal health and well-being and conservation
• Evidence of effective academic student supervision
• Demonstrated ability to innovate, lead, resource and deliver projects on time and to a high standard
• Ability to establish credibility, command respect and influence at a variety of levels including Senior Management and Director Levels.
• Ability to present information clearly and concisely in verbal presentations and written communications, including scientific writing and media communications to stakeholders at all levels
• Evidence of peer-reviewed publications is desirable
• Proven ability to work in and contribute to a team environment
• Experience with complex data analysis relevant to the field
• Knowledge and experience of zoo-based research, zoo operations is desirable

The hours of work are 40 hours per week, worked Monday – Friday 8:30 – 17:00.

The salary should you be successful as the Senior Conservation Scientist is £29,611.34 per annum. The salary should you be successful in the conservation scientist role is £26516.71. In addition we offer a range of amazing benefits which can be found at www.chesterzoo.org/work-with-us/staff-benefits/

To apply for this position, click ‘Apply Now’ to provide your current CV and complete the application form highlighting your skills and experience including why you believe you should be considered for our Senior Conservation Scientist / Conservation Scientist – Behaviour and Welfare role.

Closing date for applications is 6th June 2021.

Interviews will take place on w/c 14^th June 2021.