Animal Keeper
Career Integrity & Compliance Audit Report
This vacancy has been independently reviewed by the OppaJob Transatlantic Career Intelligence Desk to confirm authentic direct employer recruiting, verify compensation transparency, and eliminate applicant processing fees.
Transatlantic Cost of Living & Purchasing Power Benchmark
Compare US ($) vs UK (£) Salary & Net Take-Home Pay
Calculate tax deductions, living costs, and purchasing power parity across US & UK metros.
Position Overview & Specifications
Five Sisters Zoo
Scotland Closing date for applications is: 14th Jun 2023 Contact: Adam Welsh (adam@fivesisterszoo.co.uk)Sector: Animal Care
Type: Paid
Contract type: Full-time
Salary: Starting - £11.25 per hour
We currently have an exciting job opportunity for a keeper to join us here at Five Sisters Zoo. This position will give the right candidate the opportunity to work with a range of our amazing animals. The candidate must be able to deliver an excellent level of animal husbandry and welfare for all animals in their care. We currently have seven animal sections at FSZ (Carnivores, Primates, Birds, Education Centre, Farm, Castle Children’s Zoo and Lost Kingdom Reptile House) and the successful candidate will be expected to carry out work on all sections. We pride ourselves on our high standards of animal welfare at FSZ and candidates must be able to maintain this high standard across all animal sections.
The successful candidate will
- Carry out work across all seven animal sections here at FSZ.
- Be responsible for the daily husbandry of a wide range of species.
- Create, design, and implement environmental enrichment in a range of different enclosures.
- Engage with visitors to the park.
- Deliver talks to large crowds as and when required.
- Carry out work in all weather conditions.
- Be willing to work weekends and evenings when required.
- Liaise with other zoo departments (education, events etc) as and when necessary.
- Record animal behaviour and make sure section notes are up to date for our animal registrar.
- Report to senior keepers and our head keeper.
- Get involved with student placements and zoo research projects where appropriate.
Essential Requirements:
- Fantastic observation skills with excellent attention to detail.
- Must be able to communicate on a one-to-one basis with staff and visitors as well as being comfortable delivering public talks to large crowds.
- Must be physically fit and willing to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
- Must be comfortable working alone and part of a team.
- Must Possess excellent customer service skills.
- Have a valid UK driving license or good access to public transport.
- Previous zoo experience.
Desirable Requirements
- A Diploma in the Management of Zoo and Aquarium Animals (DMZAA)
- Have experience implementing environmental enrichment.
Please Note- Five Sisters Zoo is not easily accessible by public transport as we are not on a bus route. You must be able to arrange your own transport to and from work.
Candidate Selection & Onboarding Process
Application & Resume Screening
Submit your tailored CV/Resume directly to the talent acquisition portal.
Technical & Competency Interviews
Virtual interviews with the hiring manager and multidisciplinary team.
Formal Offer & Benefits Negotiation
Written agreement outlining compensation, equity, retirement vesting, and relocation allowances.
Onboarding & Corporate Integration
Equipment provisioning, team orientation, and commencement of duties.
United Kingdom Right to Work & Skilled Worker Visa Guide
Employment in the United Kingdom requires legal Right to Work verified under the Home Office Points-Based Immigration System:
Sponsoring employers must hold an active Home Office A-rated Sponsor License and assign a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Role must meet the general minimum salary threshold (£38,700) or occupation going rate.
Continuous employment under Skilled Worker status establishes eligibility for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 continuous years, leading to British Citizenship.
Candidate Preparation Blueprint: General
Based on transatlantic hiring benchmarks for Animal Keeper roles across BIAZA's corporate sector, successful applicants typically excel across three core dimensions:
Demonstrated portfolio evidence, architecture/system design case studies, or validated professional certifications directly applicable to General.
STAR method competency responses highlighting cross-functional leadership, conflict resolution, and delivering measurable enterprise ROI under tight timelines.
Total compensation expectation aligned within the benchmarked £11 - £11 bracket, including retirement vesting and health parity.
Explore Related Opportunities (United Kingdom)
Other high-paying verified positions matching your industry profile.
Principal Data Analytics Specialist
Senior Clinical Diagnostic Radiographer
Senior Site Reliability & Kubernetes Engineer (SRE)
Consultant Acute Care Physician (General Medicine)
Head of Cyber Security & Zero Trust Architecture
Apply for this Position
Receive high-paying General openings directly to your inbox.