Animal Keeper
Location
St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
Work type
Onsite
Employment
Full Time
Experience
2-5 years
Compensation
£26K - £26K per year
Posted
5h ago
Summary and responsibilities
Role overview
Summary
This role involves the daily care and husbandry of aquatic and terrestrial animal collections, including cleaning exhibits, feeding, monitoring animal health, and maintaining life support systems. The Animal Keeper will also engage with the public through presentations and educational sessions, contribute to site maintenance, and assist in training new staff and volunteers.
Aquarist / Animal Keeper
Position Summary
The Aquarist / Animal Keeper is responsible for the daily care and welfare of aquatic animal collections, ensuring high standards of husbandry, exhibit maintenance, animal health, water quality, and guest engagement. This role supports conservation, education, and operational excellence while maintaining a safe and enriching environment for animals, staff, and visitors.
Key Responsibilities
Animal Care & Husbandry
Provide daily care for marine and freshwater fish, invertebrates, mammals, and reptiles.
Clean and maintain animal exhibits, quarantine areas, food preparation spaces, and support facilities.
Prepare diets, feed animals, monitor nutrition, and maintain food inventories.
Observe animal health and behavior, report abnormalities, and assist with veterinary procedures and treatments.
Maintain accurate husbandry, medical, feeding, and welfare records.
Monitor water quality in exhibit and quarantine systems and maintain testing records.
Support enrichment, behavioral conditioning, and welfare initiatives.
Assist with research projects, animal transfers, and collection management as needed.
Exhibit & Life Support Systems
Assist with routine maintenance of life support systems (LSS).
Monitor exhibits and equipment, identify operational issues, and report defects promptly.
Maintain high standards of cleanliness, safety, and presentation across exhibits and operational areas.
Team & Operational Support
Assist in training and mentoring interns, volunteers, work experience participants, and new animal care staff.
Collaborate with colleagues to ensure efficient daily operations and excellent animal care.
Participate in emergency procedures, drills, and special projects.
Support inventory management of animal feeds, equipment, and supplies.
Guest Engagement & Education
Deliver engaging keeper talks, public feeding demonstrations, and educational presentations.
Interact professionally with visitors, answering questions and promoting conservation awareness.
Support themed events, outreach programs, and media activities when required.
Maintain a professional appearance and comply with uniform and PPE requirements.
Additional Duties
Attend required training and assist at other facilities when needed.
Support seasonal events and other operational activities.
Perform additional duties as assigned to meet business needs.
Qualifications
Required
Strong knowledge of animal husbandry, welfare, and safety practices.
Experience observing animal behavior and supporting enrichment programs.
Ability to work with both aquatic and terrestrial species.
Good physical fitness and ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
Strong communication, teamwork, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Preferred
Experience as an animal keeper or aquarist in a zoo, aquarium, or accredited animal care facility.
Knowledge of Life Support Systems (LSS) or willingness to develop expertise.
Completion of a Zookeeper/Aquarist Apprenticeship, Diploma in the Management of Zoo and Aquarium Animals (DMZAA), or equivalent qualification.
Experience delivering educational presentations or public outreach programs.
Updated 5h ago
Candidate fit
Skills and qualifications
Additional skills
Experience
2-5 years
Certifications
How this role is positioned
Role classification
Job domains
Industries
Employment
Full Time
Contract duration
Permanent
Hiring type
Direct
Global hiring
Location specific
Offer details
Compensation and benefits
Compensation
£26K - £26K per year
Location, schedule, and role shape
Work setup
Work conditions
Bandwidth profile
Context on the employer
Company snapshot
Company
St Andrews Aquarium
Team size
Growing team
Location
St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
St Andrews Aquarium is an animal care facility located in Scotland, dedicated to the daily care and husbandry of aquatic and terrestrial animal collections.
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Animal Keeper
St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom • Full Time