Assistant Team Manager Aquarium

Assistant Team Manager Ectotherms - Aquarium Team

Full time, permanent contract working on-site at Chester Zoo.

We are Chester Zoo

We’re not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that’s home to 20,000 incredible animals inside 128 acres of stunning gardens. We’re not just the UK’s most popular zoo. We’re a major wildlife charity that’s committed to the recovery of endangered species, globally. And, as the world faces an extinction crisis, we’re making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it’s needed most. We are Chester Zoo and we prevent extinction.

The Role

We now have an exciting new role for an outstanding Assistant Team Manager of the Aquarium. Reporting to the Team Manager, you’ll lead a small team of dedicated aquarists. You’ll be part of the Ectotherms department and will assist other teams across site when needed.

We’re looking for someone who can:

• Manage, maintain and develop exciting aquarium displays and systems
• Committed to ensuring the highest possible standards of animal health and welfare are met
• Manage and develop a team, providing individual training and development opportunities and ensuring effective performance management with available resources Focus on creating safe ways approaches to work
• Find solutions to novel problems and develop new ways of working
• Assist the Ectotherm teams as required to support and develop projects
  
  

What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?

Well, where do we start? Here goes…

We’re a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal welfare experts, marketeers, visitor experience professionals, environmental policy influencers; the list goes on. Each and every one of us is on a mission to make Chester Zoo the best in the world, and our planet a better place.

As the UK’s biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans, and there’s always lots going on here. We’re an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of nearly 500 permanent and 500 seasonal team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us for the long term on our exciting journey.

Our working environment could not be more different from a typical office – where else can you see critically endangered orangutans from your office window, or stroll among rare giraffes and tigers on your lunch break?

The Package

• Permanent contract
• 40 hour week on a rota basis including every other weekend and some bank holidays
• Salary of £31,535.28 per annum to include pay award active from January 2025
• 33 days annual leave plus the option to buy or sell up to 5 days
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off, plus multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family
• Cycle to work scheme
• Healthcare plan and employee assistance programme
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks
• Pension scheme with generous employer contributions up to 9%
  
  

Our Requirements

• An HND or degree level qualification in a zoological related science or equivalent practical experience
• Extensive knowledge and expertise in animal husbandry with freshwater and marine organisms in a public aquarium setting
• Experience of supervising a team and will be able to organise and prioritise tasks in a dynamic environment
• Adaptability to different team dynamics, working across the Ectotherm Department
• A sound understanding of managing populations for in-situ and ex-situ conservation and an understanding of the contribution that ex situ populations can make to education and applied research
• A good understanding of risk assessments and safe working practices
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and confident in delivering presentations and participating in disseminating information
• Competency in the use of computers and basic software packages
  
  

Although not essential, the following would be desirable:

• Understanding of ZIMS
• Full and clean driving licence
• Field experience in conservation (national and/or international)
  
  

We reserve the right to close this ad early should we receive a high number of applications. We plan to hold interviews on 3 January 2025.