About the role: Senior Animal Keeper We are currently recruiting a Senior Animal Keeper to join our animal care team at Merrist Wood College. The role will involve promoting and maintaining high standards of husbandry and welfare daily through progressive animal keeping, along with ensuring visitors and guests are provided with an informative and friendly experience. As a Senior Animal Keeper you will help mentor and train new staff members and volunteers. You will also lead practical learning sessions to develop learners' wider skillsets within industry and assist with the supervision of external work experience students undertaking practical exercises in the facility, ensuring the development of industry standard safety practice, animal related skills and attributes. Our Animal centre is nestled in a beautiful 400-acre campus and comprises of Rare Breed Survival Trust Accredited Farm, small domestic mammals, exotic mammals, birds and reptiles including Roti Island Turtles, Box Turtles, Hog-Islands Boa, Marmosets, Armadillo, Schalow’s Turaco and Hornbills. Merrist Wood has a national and international reputation amongst employers and industry specialists and a long history of providing unrivalled education in the land-based sectors. You would be joining a well-established teaching and events team and will have the opportunity to help support study tours worldwide. This is a p ermanent, full-time position. The candidate will be expected to work 5 days out of 7 (37 hours per week) which may include weekends and bank holidays in order to provide care for the animals. What do you need to be successful as an Animal Keeper at Activate Learning? You will have experience of working within the animal industry, with an animal related qualification at HND or above and at least three years paid experience as an animal keeper. You will be able to demonstrate experience with a wide range of taxa, be well versed in animal training, record keeping and providing environmental enrichment. The Senior Animal Keeper will have a positive mindset and ‘can do’ attitude and experience in mentoring other staff members. The successful candidate will also have excellent communication skills and demonstrate the ability to engage and develop students, along with role modelling the attributes that we develop within our learners. Previous experience of an educational role within an animal environment is desirable, but not essential. Who we are: Activate Learning is a pioneering education group with a global reach, committed to transforming lives through our approach to learning. We see our employees as individuals, empowering them to make the right choices for their ambitions and careers. We value our people as vital to our continued success and aspire to a diverse, open and inclusive environment that provides the motivation for everyone to pursue their career goals and flourish. When you work for Activate Learning, you’re working for an organisation that provides you with the advantages of a large employer, a trusted partner in your career development, and a transformational way of working whilst also investing in building a community environment for everyone. Together, we will bring out the best version of yourself. Why work with the Activate Learning Group? Here are some of our benefits: Monthly Staff Appreciation Awards: Celebrating staff for their dedication and accomplishments aligned to our award-winning Learning Philosophy. Wellbeing & Resources Groups: Comprehensive range of resources, guides and tools to support staff wellbeing Company benefits: Including free eye tests and will writing, plus access to a Health Cash Plan covering optical, dental, health screening, and therapy treatments for you and your dependents. Learning and Development : continuous opportunities for teachers' professional growth and skill enhancement through our in-house L&D team. Teaching Support : Tailored Three-day induction program, and development programs for teaching staff. Pension Schemes : Teacher pension scheme for AL teaching staff Generous Annual Leave : Up to 6 weeks paid leave Flexible Working : Options include hybrid and remote, term time only, and flexible working patterns. Competitive salaries: Annual incremental progression and a twelve point pay scale for teachers. On-Site Facilities : Free parking at all campuses, refectories, hair and beauty salons & gym access. Applicants should apply at the earliest opportunity, closed vacancies will prevent application form submission. Applications are reviewed and shortlisted on a rolling basis, we reserve the right to interview, appoint and close adverts. Activate Learning is committed to safeguarding and expect all our staff to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to undergo a DBS check at the appropriate level. Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK, we do not sponsor work permits. Work permits from other organisations are unacceptable as proof of right to work in the UK. Applications are encouraged from all candidates who meet or exceed minimum criteria, regardless of age, disability, gender, orientation, race, religion or ethnicity. Activate Learning are committed to employing people with disabilities and will ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. If you require any reasonable adjustments either at application or interview stage please contact the talent team directly. Recruitment agencies who submit unsolicited CVs to any partner or employee at Activate Learning, have no authority to enter into an arrangement. Recruitment agencies engaging with Activate Learning Talent Team will be on our PSL.