Experienced or Trainee Animal Keeper - Gorilla Section
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Full-Time, or Part-Time Position Available Onsite accommodation may be available dependent on occupancy
We are recruiting for a single position, which may be offered at either Senior Keeper or Trainee Keeper level depending on the successful candidate’s experience.
Howletts Wild Animal Park, situated near Canterbury in Kent, is home to the largest captive breeding group of Western Lowland Gorillas in the world with over 150 births to date.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced or trainee Gorilla Keeper to care for our western lowland gorillas. You’ll be hands-on with all aspects of their care - from preparing and presenting feeds to monitoring health and behaviour, providing enrichment, and administering medication under supervision.
The Senior Keeper role is based on 32 hours per week (4 days), with a salary of £24,593.92 per annum (£14.78 per hour). Alternatively, the Trainee Keeper role is a full-time position of 40 hours per week (5 days), with a salary of £26,500.00 per annum (£12.74 per hour).
You’ll help create a stimulating environment that promotes the gorillas’ welfare, while keeping enclosures, vehicles, and equipment clean and well-maintained. Accurate record keeping is essential, including daily logs, weekly reports, and key health and breeding data. As part of our team, you’ll also manage feed supplies, engage professionally with visitors, VIPs, and media, and follow all safety procedures, including escape protocols.
Who we are looking for:
We’re seeking an experienced or trainee keeper with hands-on experience working with great apes and/or primates in a recognised zoological collection. This role calls for someone with expertise in primate husbandry, sharp observation skills, and the confidence to engage with the public, VIP guests, and media in a professional manner.
You’ll be passionate about animal welfare, committed to gorilla conservation, and able to combine meticulous care with a proactive approach to enrichment and habitat management. Strong communication skills are essential, along with the ability to work both independently and as part of a close-knit team. Ideally, you’ll hold a recognised zoo animal management qualification or be willing to work towards one. You must be physically fit and capable of carrying out cleaning and maintenance duties both indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions. A full, valid UK driving licence is essential, and experience operating trailers, tractors, or dumpers would be a bonus.
Contract details:
We are recruiting for a single position, which may be offered at either Senior Keeper or Trainee Keeper level depending on the successful candidate’s experience. The Senior Keeper role is based on 32 hours per week (4 days), with a salary of £24,593.92 per annum (£14.78 per hour). Alternatively, the Trainee Keeper role is a full-time position of 40 hours per week (5 days), with a salary of £26,500.00 per annum (£12.74 per hour).
Working hours are generally 8am to 5pm, including weekends and bank holidays. All applicants must have the right to work in the UK.
The location:
Howletts Wild Animal Park is located near Canterbury and set within 90 acres of land to explore. Howletts is home to over 300 rare and endangered species, including Kents only giant anteaters, the largest herd of African elephants in the UK, and more gorillas, leopards and monkeys than any zoo in the county! Most importantly, every one of our employees is part of real conservation in action and their efforts have contributed to animals such as black rhino and western lowland gorillas being returned to their natural habitats in collaboration with our partners at The Aspinall Foundation.
Why you should join us:
We’re on a mission to create memorable experiences that matter, and our Core Values ‘One Team’, Customer’ and ‘Pride’ are what drive us each day to become part of something extraordinary. As well as walking to work surrounded by the calls of Howler monkeys and the roars from our pride of Lions, you will join a supportive team who are passionate about their place of work. Be part of the Port Lympne and Howletts family and join our pride.
You can also expect a host of other roarsome benefits including:
- 28 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays, rising with length of service (Pro-rata to start date and working hours).
- Comprehensive training and development opportunities, including workshops and e-learning.
- Enhanced Sickness, Maternity and Paternity Policies.
- Unlimited free entry for you and a person of your choice into both of our parks as well as friends and family tickets.
- Exceptional discounts on food, retail and accommodation at our parks.
- Numerous retail discounts and access to a 24-hour counselling line through our Healthy Extras Scheme.
- Company Pension
- And many more length or service-related rewards and Benefits.
To apply: Please email a CV along with a covering letter to recruitment@howlettsandportlympne.com
Please note, this role may close early if we receive a high volume of applications.
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