Team Leader Ectotherms (Herpetology)
Location
London, City of London, United Kingdom
Work type
Onsite
Employment
Full Time
Experience
5-10 years
Compensation
Compensation not disclosed
Posted
1d ago
Summary and responsibilities
Role overview
Summary
This role involves leading the Ectotherms Department at London Zoo, focusing on the care and conservation of critically endangered amphibians and reptiles. The Team Leader will champion high standards of animal welfare, develop husbandry protocols, and support team development through training and mentorship, while actively participating in daily animal care.
ZSL is looking for a dedicated and experienced Team Leader to join our Ectotherms Department at the iconic London Zoo, Regent’s Park.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the care and conservation of an extraordinary collection of ectotherms, including critically endangered amphibians and reptiles. You’ll work with species such as Lake Oku Frogs, Mountain Chickens, Chinese Giant Salamanders and Darwin’s Frogs, alongside Komodo Dragons, Ethiopian Mountain Vipers and Galápagos Tortoises. You will also have opportunities to support the husbandry of our coral, terrestrial invertebrates and live food collections, giving you the chance to work across a diverse and fascinating range of species.
As Team Leader, you’ll help champion high standards of animal welfare and best-practice husbandry, while supporting the development of the team through training, mentoring and day-to-day leadership. You will work closely with the Section Manager and fellow Team Leader, contributing to the ongoing development of husbandry protocols and helping ensure the department operates safely, effectively and to a consistently high standard.
The role also offers plenty of opportunity to collaborate across ZSL, working with colleagues in areas including facilities, purchasing, animal health, health and safety, animal encounters and visitor-facing activities.
This is a full-time role, working 37.5 hours per week on a rota basis, including weekends and bank holidays.
Key responsibilities:
Team Planning & Rotas: Manage and monitor section rotas, ensuring appropriate staffing levels at all times and agreeing any overtime in advance with the Section Manager.
Protocols & Best Practice: Develop and implement safe systems of work, risk assessments, training processes, and animal husbandry best practice procedures.
Health & Safety Leadership: Champion a strong health and safety culture by regularly reviewing risk assessments, identifying training needs, and ensuring the safety of staff, visitors, and animals.
Staff Training & Mentorship: Train, mentor, and supervise team members, maintaining high standards of welfare, cleanliness, safety, and maintenance across the section.
Hands-on Animal Care: Work as an active member of the keeper team, supporting daily husbandry duties and maintaining excellent hygiene and housekeeping standards.
Animal Health & Record Keeping: Monitor animal health, administer veterinary treatments as directed, and maintain accurate records and follow-up observations.
About You
Extensive practical experience working with Reptiles and Amphibians including fresh water aquatics within a zoological collection, ideally qualified to DMZAA level (or equivalent).
Strong taxonomic knowledge, with particular expertise relevant to the section, and an understanding of breeding programmes, population management, and evolving husbandry practices including positive reinforcement training and enrichment.
Demonstrable Category 1 reptile experience, including the safe handling, care and management of venomous species and large reptiles.
Proven ability to supervise, motivate and develop a team, maintaining high standards of animal welfare, biosecurity, and health & safety compliance.
Confident in animal health monitoring, handling techniques, veterinary procedures, and maintaining accurate records, with sound knowledge of life support systems and species-specific requirements.
Proactive, innovative and organised, with excellent observational, problem-solving and workload management skills, and strong IT literacy.
A collaborative communicator, comfortable engaging with colleagues, visitors and external partners, with flexibility to work weekends, bank holidays, travel when required, and occasionally work across sites.
Updated 1d ago
Candidate fit
Skills and qualifications
Additional skills
Experience
5-10 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
Compensation not disclosed
Location, schedule, and role shape
Work setup
Work conditions
Bandwidth profile
Context on the employer
Company snapshot
Company
ZSL
Team size
Growing team
Location
London, City of London, United Kingdom
We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.
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Team Leader Ectotherms (Herpetology)
London, City of London, United Kingdom • Full Time