Jobs at Colchester Zoo

Winner of the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year and Sustainable Tourism Award in the East of England Tourism Awards

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Careers at Colchester Zoo

For more information about becoming an animal keeper at Colchester Zoo Click Here.

All our current vacancies at Colchester Zoo are listed below.

Current Zoo Vacancies

To apply for any of the positions below, click on apply by email next to the position that you are interested in. You may paste your CV into the email. Please also click on this link to download an application form which should be completed and sent with your application. Employment Application Form.

If necessary you may also apply in writing please print out the application form send it with your CV to: The Directors, Colchester Zoo, Maldon Road, Stanway, Colchester, Essex, CO3 0SL

Job Title	Job Description
WORK EXPERIENCE - YEARS 10 + Apply by email	We are able to offer work experience placements within either our Retail Department, working in our busy Gift Shops, or in our Catering Department, in our Self Service Restaurant to students in Year 10 or above, as part of the Trident Work Experience programme. Please apply in writing, marking your application clearly with either RETAIL or CATERING.
CARPENTER - TEMPORARY 1 YEAR CONTRACT Apply by email	Colchester Zoo are looking for a Carpenter on a 1 year contract to assist their current team in the contstruction of new buildings and enclosures together general maintenance and repairs to existing structures around the park. Please apply online marking your application clearly "CARPENTER". Closing date for applications Friday 10th September 2010
GENERAL LABOURER - TEMPORARY 1 YEAR CONTRACT Apply by email	Colchester Zoo are looking for someone to join their Construction Department as a General Labourer on a Temporary 1 year contract. To assist in the building of new enclosures and outlets around the park, together with maintaining and repairing existing structures. The ideal applicant must be physically fit and enjoy working outdoors in all weathers. Previous labourer experience together with experience of driving a tractor would be preferred but is not essential. Please apply online marking your application clearly "GENERAL LABOURER" Closing date for applications Friday 10th September 2010
WORK EXPERIENCE - ANIMAL SECTIONS Apply by email	Applications for 2011 placements within our animal sections will be taken in November. These placements are available to students studying animal science courses at College or University, and run for a minimum period of 4 weeks; 5 days per week on a 7 day rota. These placements are unpaid, and unfortunately we are unable to offer any assistance towards accomodation or travel expenses.
Are you interested in volunteering on UmPhafa? Apply by email	The UmPhafa Private Nature Reserve, situated in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, is a 5,000 hectare reserve comprised of three farms, Gevonden, Geluk and Vertrek. The reserve encompasses a wide range of habitats from bushveld to mountainous terrain. A number of species inhabit the reserve, including kudu, impala, mountain reedbuck and black-backed jackal and several species have been released including giraffe, zebra, blesbok, red hartebeest, waterbuck, common reedbuck, nyala and white rhino. Action for the Wild is currently offering placements at UmPhafa Reserve, in particular to those seeking to gain experience before pursuing a career in conservation. This will not be a glorified safari and successful applicants will be shadowing the research coordinators as their assistants, to collect valuable data necessary to make key management decisions. This in itself is much more fulfilling than simply visiting Africa as a tourist and research assistants will have the satisfaction of being close to the animals and knowing that their contribution is having a direct influence on the wellbeing of the fauna of UmPhafa Reserve. This is an opportunity to gain valuable experience in the field and learn new skills from qualified staff members over a wide range of aspects involved in the running of a reserve. Days will be varied with duties including the conduction of behavioural observations on game species, as well as aiding the current research projects in order to complete the species list of the reserve and to monitor populations. At certain times in the year, vegetation surveys will be an important undertaking, as will the general maintenance of the reserve’s roads, fences and structures. The programme is open to anybody with a genuine love of nature and the environment, in particular African ecosystems. As competition is expected to be high for these positions, placements will be offered following a successful interview process, which will be held at Colchester Zoo. The minimum age of prospective research assistants is 20 years by the time of deployment to UmPhafa. Due to limited facilities, the maximum number of available positions is 4 placements at any one time. The minimum period of stay is 4 weeks with a maximum of 90 days and, after successful application, dates of deployment will be allocated based on the applicant’s preferred month of commencement. A contribution of £1,000 for stays of four weeks, with an additional contribution of £500 per four weeks thereafter, will be required to a maximum of a total 12 week period of stay. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Rebecca Perry, Director of Conservation, Education and Research at Colchester Zoo on rebecca.perry@colchester-zoo.co.uk for more details.

To apply for any of the above jobs please Telephone 01206-331292 extension 221 during office hours, or apply in writing quoting the specified reference number.

If you are interested in working for Colchester Zoo in the future please send in a CV for consideration
Please send CV to The Directors, Colchester Zoo, Maldon Road, Stanway, Colchester, Essex, CO3 0SL

All existing staff have been, and new staff will be, issued with the appropriate individual statements of Main Terms of Employment (SMT) and will be issued with, or have access to an Employee Handbook and sign either an Existing Employee or Induction Checklist From to confirm their understanding of, and compliance with it.

We operate an Equal Opportunity Policy and ensure that staff are aware of this policy, and reinforce it at training sessions, giving examples of the appropriate areas of conduct to avoid discriminatory behaviour and the penalties for breaking the policy.

Legislation changes notified to us will be used to keep our documentation up to date.