Animal Care and Welfare Manager (Two Specialized Positions)

Job details

Location

Dak Lak, Vietnam

Hours of work

Full-Time

Contract

Permanent

The Role

Animals Asia is seeking two dedicated Animal Care and Welfare Managers to be based in Dak Lak, Vietnam. These pivotal roles are responsible for providing oversight and technical support to our animal care teams across all of Animals Asia’s Vietnam projects.

While both managers will support our overall mission, each position has a distinct primary focus.

• Animal Care and Welfare Manager – Government Rescue Centres Focus
  This role concentrates on advising and supporting our partners at government run facilities. This role requires a professional who excels at building capacity, managing stakeholder relationships, and providing technical guidance in a resource constrained environment with varying protocols. Success in this role hinges on strong collaboration and expectation management.
• Animal Care and Welfare Manager – Elephants Focus
  This role concentrates on providing direct technical support and oversight to the care team for our elephant project, where elephants are primarily managed in a free contact setting within a national park. This role requires deep expertise in elephant management to ensure the highest standards of welfare are met.

Shared Key Responsibilities

Both Managers report to the Veterinary and Behavioural Husbandry Services Director, and work closely with the Sanctuary Managers, and the Captive Wildlife Manager to:

• Proactively develop the professional skills and technical expertise of the animal care team, with a focus on building capacity within the Vietnamese team.
• Keep abreast of industry best practices in behavioural husbandry and implement new protocols where feasible.
• Provide feedback and advice on all protocol updates related to behavioural husbandry, animal care, and welfare.
• Contribute to the departmental strategic plan, work plans, and key performance indicators.
• Provide technical sign-off on behavioural husbandry content for press releases, reports, and other materials, and represent the department in media as requested.
• Collaborates with the Captive Wildlife Manager in interviewing, training, and performance management of animal care staff.

Role-Specific Key Responsibilities

Government Rescue Centres Focus

• Supports and develops Animals Asia’s staff within Government Rescue Centres to meet strategic objectives, fostering effective partnerships and building capacity through technical guidance and training.
• Provides technical support to the Government Rescue Centres, and works closely with the Animals Asia Captive Wildlife staff to ensure recommendations align with Animals Asia welfare standards.

Elephants Focus

• Provides technical support and oversight of animal care operations for the elephant project’s animal care staff, ensuring welfare standards are maintained.
• Provides technical support through in-person visits to analyse and assess elephant care and welfare, alongside review of reports and records.

Requirements

Skills/Abilities

• Strong people management and leadership skills with the ability to motivate and inspire staff.
• Proven experience in staff training and development.
• Experience in strategic planning.

Knowledge

• Technical expertise in behavioural husbandry, animal welfare, animal training, and cooperative care.
• Experience in developing Standard Operating Procedures and implementing changes to improve team efficacy.
• For Elephant Focus: Experienced in all aspects of elephant management (preferably captive Asian elephants) including foot healthcare, training, and behaviour, in both protected and free contact.

Experience

• At least 5 years of hands-on experience in husbandry/behavioural management in a captive wild animal facility or similar.
• For Elephant Focus: Must include 3 years of direct experience with elephants.
• Experience communicating with a diverse range of stakeholders, including external parties and the media.
• Working experience in people management or leadership.
• Working experience in Asia, preferably in Vietnam.
• Working with a variety of taxa, preferably including primates, reptiles, and small carnivores.
• For Government Rescue Centres...

Forest Operations Technical Lead

West Midlands

Job details

Location

Warwickshire

Salary

£40,000–£45,000 per year

Hours of work

37.5 hours per week

Contract

Permanent

Closing date

January 31, 2026

Join us in growing England’s largest new native forest!
The Heart of England Forest is on an ambitious mission to create and conserve a vast woodland for generations to come. We’re looking for a passionate and experienced Forest Operations Technical Lead to help us deliver this vision.

Location

Colletts Farm Office, Dorsington and other forest sites

About the Role

As our Forest Operations Technical Lead, you’ll be at the heart of our woodland creation and management efforts. Reporting to our Director of Forest Operations, you’ll oversee operational programmes, ensure best-practice forestry standards, and lead on health and safety compliance. From managing contractors and supporting our forestry teams to guiding our tree nursery operations, this is a role where your expertise will make a lasting impact.

What you’ll do

• Plan and oversee delivery of woodland creation, management, wildlife enhancement, and tree nursery programmes.
• Manage contractors from tendering to completion, ensuring quality, cost, and safety standards.
• Provide technical input for woodland planning and use GIS for mapping and surveys.
• Lead the Tree Nursery team, ensuring compliance and efficient stock distribution.
• Champion health and safety across all operations, aligning with FISA guidance.

What we’re looking for

• Degree or diploma in Forestry Management, Woodland Ecology, or a related subject. (or equivalent)
• Proven experience in practical forestry and woodland creation.
• Strong knowledge of UK Forestry Standard and native woodland management.
• Contract and health & safety management experience.
• GIS competence and professional membership of ICF (or willingness to achieve).

Desirable:

• Experience in tree nursery operations.

How to Apply

Head to the Heart of England Forest website to apply

Join us in growing England’s largest new native forest!

The Heart of England Forest is on an ambitious mission to create and conserve a vast woodland for generations to come. We’re looking for a passionate and experienced Forest Operations Technical Lead to help us deliver this vision.

About the Role

As our Forest Operations Technical Lead, you’ll be at the heart of our woodland creation and management efforts. Reporting to our Director of Forest Operations, you’ll oversee operational programmes, ensure best-practice forestry standards, and lead on health and safety compliance. From managing contractors and supporting our forestry teams to guiding our tree nursery operations, this is a role where your expertise will make a lasting impact.

What You’ll Do

• Plan and oversee delivery of woodland creation, management, wildlife enhancement, and tree nursery programmes
• Manage contractors from tendering to completion, ensuring quality, cost, and safety standards
• Provide technical input for woodland planning and use GIS for mapping and surveys
• Lead the Tree Nursery team, ensuring compliance and efficient stock distribution
• Champion health and safety across all operations, aligning with FISA guidance.

What We’re Looking For

• Degree or diploma in Forestry Management, Woodland Ecology, or a related subject (or equivalent)
• Proven experience in practical forestry and woodland creation
• Strong knowledge of UK Forestry Standard and native woodland management
• Contract and health & safety management experience
• GIS competence
• Professional membership of Institute of Chartered Foresters (or willingness to achieve).

Desirable:

• Experience in tree nursery operations.

Apply here

Trainee Urban Forest Coordinator

Contract: Fixed-term (12 months). Part-time (4 days per week) Working arrangements: Site-based, working from our operations yard; The Old Depot, Myatt's Fields Park, Cormont Rd, London SE5 9RA Salary: £26,936 per annum (pro rata)Deadline to apply: February 6th 2026 

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Trainee Urban Forest Coordinator will support the Urban Forest team deliver planting projects and tree establishment/maintenance activities.

The traineeship will include:

• Learning on the job key skills such as tree planting & maintenance best practice, storing & handling trees, using & maintaining tools and leading volunteers
• Supporting the efficient and high-quality delivery of Trees for Cities’ Urban Forest projects
• Supporting the Urban Forest team to deliver projects using contractors, volunteers and in-house staff to carry out the planting, maintenance and habitat management of a range of urban tree planting projects
• Supporting Trees for Cities’ maintenance programme, ensuring successful establishment of our tree stock and carrying out regular health checks

ABOUT TREES FOR CITIES

Trees for Cities is an ambitious, far-reaching organisation.

Trees for Cities is the only charity that focuses on planting, protecting and promoting urban trees across the UK. We are a rapidly growing and developing organisation that suits ambitious, dedicated and passionate staff.

ABOUT YOU

The successful candidate will have an interest in learning about planting standard trees and whips and maintaining urban tree planting projects. They will be motivated and ambitious, with a strong interest in environmental work, horticulture and/or Urban Forestry. They will have a positive approach and interest to learn & develop within the role. They must also be able to undertake manual handling tasks associated with the role & happy to work outside 5 days a week in all weather. Experience using hand tools and working with volunteers is beneficial but not essential.

Trees for Cities is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. We value diversity and are committed to promoting diversity within the workplace. We aim to ensure that our employees achieve their full potential and that all employment decisions, including recruitment, are taken without reference to irrelevant or discriminatory criteria. A full copy of our Equal Opportunities Policy can be provided on request.

How to apply

Click here to view the full job description. To apply, use the application link below to submit your CV and supporting statement (no more than 2 sides of A4) outlining why you are interested in the role and your fit with the Person Specification.

If you experience any issues during the application process, please email hr@treesforcities.org. Please note, we do not accept applications via email therefore only contact us if you have any questions or issues.

Please note we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role, you must therefore have a valid right to work in the UK to apply.

• The deadline to apply is Friday 6th February
• Interviews are scheduled for w/c 16th February
  

If you are shortlisted for an interview, you will normally be contacted within two weeks after applying. If you do not hear from us within this period then you should assume that on this occasion you have not been selected for interview.

Trees for Cities is the first UK environmental organisation to have been awarded social value certification. Trees for Cities is an equal opportunities employer. Registered Charity No: 1032154.

Previous applicants need not reapply. No Agencies Please.

Woodland Ranger

South West

Job details

Location

Gloucestershire

Salary

£27,000-£31,000

Hours of work

08:00 to 16:30 Monday - Thursday, 08:00 to 15:30 Friday

Contract

Permanent

Closing date

February 8, 2026

The Ernest Cook Trust is a landowning organisation and an educational charity – one of the
UK’s foremost providers and funders of Outdoor Learning. We see a future where land and lives
enrich each other, a future where anyone can find their place, purpose and potential through
connections to thriving land.

We’re seeking a Woodland Ranger to play a hands-on role in caring for and enhancing the natural environment across our Home Estates in Gloucestershire. Based at our new Estate Yard near Quenington, this varied, seasonal role focuses on woodland management and tree safety in the winter, alongside vegetation management and estate maintenance during the summer months.

Working closely with the Conservation & Woodland Manager and Estates team, you’ll help deliver woodland and habitat management plans, maintain public footpaths and bridleways, and respond to issues such as fallen trees or storm damage. You’ll also support conservation projects, wildlife management and on-site contractors, while helping to promote safe and responsible public access.

This role is ideal for someone with experience or a strong interest in arboriculture, forestry or conservation, who enjoys practical outdoor work and takes pride in high standards of land stewardship. If you’re passionate about wildlife, woodland management and working as part of a collaborative land management team, we’d love to hear from you.

The Role

Main Accountabilities:

Woodland Management and forest habitats
• Support the implementation of Woodland Management Plans and habitat management strategies to promote strong woodland compartments, biodiversity and ecological health.
• Wildlife management focusing on control of squirrel population, embracing technology and innovation
• Identify and assist with tree work and other tasks, using initiative and as directed by the Conservation and Woodland Manager

Access and Pathway Maintenance
• Review and maintain public footpaths to ensure they remain clear, accessible, and safe for use throughout the year.
• Respond to issues such as fallen trees, wind damage, and other environmental challenges that may impact estate access.
• Seek opportunities to engage with the public, welcome access and promote safe and responsible ways of doing so

Collaboration with wider teams
• Work closely with the wider estates team, property management teams, and the Trust as a whole, covering a broad area of land and river management tasks.
• Provide direct support to the Conservation & Woodland Manager, particularly with tree work and other conservation-related projects.
• Contribute to project working across the Trust, with a willingness to bring ideas and expertise to bear.
• Willing to lead and support volunteer working parties.

Take a look on the Ernest Cook Trust website for the full job description and details on how to apply.

Woodland Ranger

JOB LOCATION

This role is primarily based at our Home Estates in Gloucestershire
(Filkins, Hatherop, Barnsley & Fairford)
This role will be operating from our new Estate Yard near Quenington

HOURS

08:00 to 16:30 Monday - Thursday, 08:00 to 15:30 Friday

SALARY

£27,000 - £31,000

REPORTS TO

Conservation & Woodland Manager

The Ernest Cook Trust

The Ernest Cook Trust is a landowning organisation and an educational charity - one of the
UK’s foremost providers and funders of Outdoor Learning. We see a future where land and lives
enrich each other, a future where anyone can find their place, purpose and potential through
connections to thriving land.

The Role
The Woodland Ranger will play a key role in maintaining and enhancing the natural
environment across the Home Estates, with responsibilities that shift seasonally. During the
winter months, the primary focus will be on woodland management and tree safety, while the
summer months will involve vegetation management and mowing.

The Woodland Ranger will work closely with the Estates team to ensure the effective
implementation of woodland and habitat management plans, as well as maintaining public
access to footpaths and bridleways across the estates and works required at tenanted
properties. The Woodland Ranger will also provide support to third-party contractors and
stakeholders on-site as required.

Main Accountabilities:

Woodland Management and forest habitats

•  Support the implementation of Woodland Management Plans and habitat
management strategies to promote strong woodland compartments,
biodiversity and ecological health.

•  Wildlife management focusing on control of squirrel population, embracing

•

technology and innovation
Identify and assist with tree work and other tasks, using initiative and as
directed by the Conservation and Woodland Manager

Access and Pathway Maintenance

•  Review and maintain public footpaths to ensure they remain clear, accessible,

and safe for use throughout the year.

•  Respond to issues such as fallen trees, wind damage, and other

environmental challenges that may impact estate access.

•  Seek opportunities to engage with the public, welcome access and promote

safe and responsible ways of doing so

Collaboration with wider teams

•  Work closely with the wider estates team, property management teams, and
the Trust as a whole, covering a broad area of land and river management
tasks.

•  Provide direct support to the Conservation & Woodland Manager, particularly

with tree work and other conservation-related projects.

•  Contribute to project working across the Trust, with a willingness to bring ideas

and expertise to bear.

•  Willing to lead and support volunteer working parties.

Woodland Ranger

Person Specification

•  Familiarity and confidence in working safely to industry best practice

for tree works

•  Experience of or willing to learn wildlife control methods

•  Good map reading and orientation

Specific
Requirements

•  Experience in maintaining green space to a high standard, alongside

estate maintenance skills.

•  Proficiency in use of machinery for maintenance of vegetation

•  Necessary competencies and experience in: mowing, tree works,

tractor, brush cutter, chipper

•  Ability to effectively communicate complex concepts and findings

•  Ability to work independently, use initiative and problem solve

•  Strong communication and interpersonal skills

•  Adaptability and flexibility, managing responsive workload alongside

core seasonal responsibilities

•  Ability to thrive under pressure and meet tight deadlines

•  Willingness to switch between independent and team work flows

•  Passion for wildlife and conservation

•  Strong professional background in arboriculture, forestry or
conservation, supported by study or industry experience

•  Desirable skills competencies;

- Aerial tree work
- Winching
- Tractor forwarder
- Tree inspection
- Digger
- MEWP
- Chapter 8
- PA1/PA6 spraying

Personal
Qualities

Skills and
Knowledge

Working at The Ernest Cook Trust

ABOUT US

As both a landowning organisation and an educational charity, the Ernest Cook Trust is rooted
in the land. Our mission is to cultivate deep-rooted connections with the land, through outdoor
learning and experiences in nature. We believe that land can deliver multiple benefits united by
a unique ability to enrich both lives and livelihoods.

Through our learning programmes, collaborative partnerships, and progressive land
management, we are working to change the way people across the UK understand and
experience land and nature. This is not an opportunity for the few – land is for all of us.

The Trust’s Estates

The Trust owns and manages over 9,000 hectares of land and property made up of mainly let
farmland but also 584 hectares of woodland, houses, cottages and a growing commercial
portfolio. Land is owned in six counties: Buckinghamshire, Cumbria, Dorset, Gloucestershire,
Leicestershire...

CAREERS AT CHESTER ZOO

Conservation Physiology and Reproduction Industry Placement

Job reference:001570

Salary:Unpaid Placement

Closing date:30/01/2026

Department:Science

Location:Chester

Employment type:Temporary

Hours Per Week:40

Job Description

Conservation Physiology and Reproduction Industry Placement – Full-time 12-month industrial placement commencing September 2026

Are you excited by the prospect of gaining invaluable work experience with one of Europe’s leading Zoological collections?

This placement is based in Chester Zoo’s Wildlife Endocrinology Diagnostic Lab, part of our International Centre for Zoo Science. We conduct applied research to support animal management here at Chester Zoo and with wider European breeding programmes, developing and applying techniques to measure hormones and biomarkers to help assess and manage reproduction, health and well-being in a wide variety of species. This placement will provide experience working in a busy laboratory environment focused on supporting our focus areas of Animal Health and Wellbeing and Sustainable Populations. It is most suited to a placement student interested in reproductive physiology and animal well-being, who is looking to gain unique lab-based training at one of the leading zoological collections in Europe with an international reputation for achieving its mission of Preventing Extinction.What you’ll be doing… 

Working with the Conservation Physiology and Reproduction Team to accomplish tasks, the industrial placement student will:

• Assist with the day-to-day activities of Chester Zoo’s Wildlife Endocrinology Diagnostic Lab 
• Gain laboratory skills, including: sample preparation, hormone extraction and enzyme‐immunoassay
• Learn how to interpret and analyse hormone data
• Participate in diagnostic and research projects that aim to understand factors that influence reproductive health and well-being
• Conduct a specific Conservation Physiology research project to support animal management at Chester Zoo. This could be in an area related to non-invasive wildlife endocrinology methodology, reproductive or adrenal physiology. There will also be an opportunity to present the findings to Chester Zoo staff.
 The Work Placement 

• The year in industry placement is for a period of up to 12 months commencing in September 2026
• Full Training with the Conservation & Science Teams
• Uniform provided, along with lunch vouchers for the days you attend 
• Monthly stipends of up to £120 per month may be payable based on appropriate expenses
• Full Time Hours (40 hours per week), alternatives can be discussed if you are successfully shortlisted

Our Requirements 

• Strong interest in learning or advancing a range of laboratory skills
• Interest in reproductive physiology/endocrinology or animal well-being
• A desire to learn how science can be used to support conservation breeding programmes 
• Good organisational skills, an ability to work independently, prioritise tasks and take pride in what you do
• Excellent communication skills, via written and oral methods
• The ability to search for, and synthesise, scientific literature
• Experience using basic Microsoft Office programs (e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and statistical software such as R

This opportunity is only available to those studying at a UK university on a degree programme with an industrial year.

All industrial placements are full-time voluntary positions for 12 months, commencing September 2026. Although no direct animal contact takes place in this role, you will attend monthly workshops to gain wider knowledge of modern zoo management.

We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse organisation and encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Interested in applying? 

To apply for this opportunity, click the ‘apply for job’ button on this page where you’ll need to submit an academic CV detailing your relevant skills and university and degree programme, and a 1-2 page covering letter detailing your interest in and suitability for this placement.

As part of your application, we would also like you to create a short, 2-minute video answering 2 questions. Further details on this will be included within the application form.

Do you want to find out more about these placements? Speak to our experts? Register for our Zoom webinar on 13/1/26 at 5pm!