Auckland Council Hiring for Keeper – Ungulates Job at Auckland Full Time

Auckland is a global city with stunning scenery, wonderful beaches, and sub-tropical islands. It is also a city with one of the most progressive zoos in the world. At Auckland Zoo, wildlife conservation and environmental sustainability is at the very heart of what we do.

Our mission is “to bring people together to build a future for wildlife” and our strategic roadmap to achieve this mission identifies seven core commitments: excellence in animal care & welfare; enhancing the well-being of our communities; nurturing a lifelong connection with nature; conserving wildlife in the wild; science, learning and training; strengthening our relationship with Te Ao Māori; & evolving our organisation sustainably.

He angitūtanga: The opportunity

We are currently seeking an Ungulates keeper to join the Zoo’s Animal Care & Conservation team. You will work as part of a team responsible for the daily husbandry and management of the Zoo’s ungulate collection providing best practice husbandry, contributing to our knowledge of these species through research and publication, and delivering world-class animal habitats and meaningful encounters to our 700,000 annual visitors.

This is a rare opportunity to play a key role in the care and management of the Zoo’s ungulates section, to actively contribute to conservation both in the zoo and in the wild, and to work with a wide variety of ungulates species including white rhinoceros, giraffe, zebra, nyala, waterbuck and ostrich.

He kōrero mōu: About you

The successful candidate will have:

• Strong interpersonal skills, ensuring a good team fit on a busy and technically demanding section.
• Tertiary qualification in zoology/biology/conservation.
• Proven experience and a foundational understanding of exotic ungulates best practise husbandry covering a broad range of relevant taxa.
• Experience in animal training and conditioning and behavioural enrichment.
• A sound understanding of the five domains of animal welfare and their relevance in a modern zoo.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver excellent customer service including keeper talks and behind the scenes tours.
• Commitment to and understanding of the World Zoo Conservation Strategy 2015.
• Strong organisational skills, aptitude for creative problem-solving and a ‘can-do’ attitude.

If you have proven ungulates husbandry experience, a desire to deliver tangible conservation outcomes and relish the opportunity to positively contribute to the work of a devoted team of zoo professionals, then this is the opportunity for you. High priorities for this position include delivering the highest standards in husbandry and welfare, actively contributing to a cohesive team culture, and demonstrating adaptability within an ambitious and dynamic section environment.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou: What we offer

This is a permanent fulltime role, working on a rotating roster system including weekends and public holidays. A high level of energy and physical fitness will enable you to meet the daily challenges of the role. We are a fun and enthusiastic team, who thrive in this challenging and rewarding area and who work in innovative areas on an international level.

If you have a passion for ungulates, a high level of energy and physical fitness and a desire to achieve conservation outcomes through your zoo-based career, then this is the opportunity you have been waiting for – apply now.

This position is deemed a safety sensitive position and will require pre-employment drug testing.

For further information on Auckland Zoo, please visit our website: https://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz or contact Aimee Johnson at email [email protected] for a position description.

Applications close Suday 31st of July 2022

Please note that if you are applying from overseas, we strongly recommend you seek advice from immigration New Zealand on the visa application process and your likely eligibility before applying https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas.

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and we are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application to assist you through the recruitment process.

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited strongly encourages our employees to be fully vaccinated.