Trainee Keeper

Hogshaw Farm & Wildlife Park

The successful candidate will undertake the day to day tasks of a range of livestock, reptile, small mammals, and European wildlife dependent on experience. This will include some general maintenance and all aspects of facilities.

The main responsibilities include:

• Feeding and mucking out.

• General animal care.

• Animal handling & welfare sessions with the public and schools.

• Public talks and engagement in line with company event and daily schedules.

• Engage with social media content.

• Maintenance including fencing repairs and field maintenance, weeding etc.

• Maintaining the cleanliness of all public areas, washing stations and walkways.

• Use of utility vehicles, safety checks and maintenance.

• Perform medical assessment, liaise with OM on animal health ailments and act on agreed veterinary consultation. Administer medication when necessary. (Training provided).

• Complete all records, daily reports and dispense mediation.

• Perform invasive intervention with lambing, farrowing, kidding, calving etc.

• Implement animal training and enrichment regimes in line with Senior and Management requirements.

• Maintain animal feed stores and place food and supply orders in the absence of Senior staff members.

• Follow all safety procedures when working with category 1 animals.

• Ensure that seasonal diets are implemented, and preventative medicine regimes are in place.

• Ensure that the annual faecal screening plan is on time and processed correctly.

• Ensure that all public areas are ready to receive customers by opening times.

• Ensure all equipment is maintained and kept in good working order.

• Other duties as requested by the Senior Staff and Senior Management.

All members of staff are expected to be flexible with their working hours, adaptable and organised, with good attention to detail. They will be working as part of a team and also working alone, so will often have to use their own initiative. As we are open to the public, staff need to be presentable, friendly, and personable with good communication skills.