Keeper and Aquarist Apprentice (Dudley Zoo)

DUDLEY ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY LIMITED

WEST MIDLANDS (DY1 4QF)

Closes in 11 days (Tuesday 17 June 2025)

Posted on 3 June 2025

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Contents

Summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Level 3 Keeper and Aquarist to join our team at Dudley zoo- do you have the passion to learn?

Wage

£11,778 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Keeper and aquarist (level 3)
Hours
30-40 hours. 5 day working week, including weekends and bank holidays

30 hours a week

Start date

Monday 30 June 2025

Duration

1 year 4 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Duties include but not limited to:

  • Animal nutrition across a range of species.
  • Animal Enrichment & HusbandryEnclosure cleaning and maintenance.
  • Assisting with professional visits, such as vets.
  • Medication and rehabilitation of animals when required.

Where you'll work

DUDLEY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS
CASTLE HILL
DUDLEY
WEST MIDLANDS
DY1 4QF

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

KEITS TRAINING SERVICES LTD

Your training course

Keeper and aquarist (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Work effectively in a safe and healthy working environment following current/relevant health and safety legislation and work place policies such as working safely with wild/higher risk animals and higher risk environments, working at height, working with chemicals, working with tools, manual handling, risk assessment, fire safety, relevant PPE
  • Demonstrate how the 5 welfare needs of an animal can be used as a basis to provide the animal with opportunities to display positive welfare, including providing a suitable environment and diet (including water), housing the animal in appropriate social groupings and protecting it from fear, pain, suffering, injury and disease and providing an environment where normal behaviour can be displayed
  • Prioritise more critical and less critical activities and tasks using scheduling techniques that enable them to meet deadlines and allow for unexpected tasks, such as an animal medical emergency, daily animal husbandry, visitor safety and staff absence
  • Communicate information clearly and within a timely manner with internal audiences such as colleagues, vets, managers and contractors, concisely, accurately and in ways that promote understanding – verbally as well as in writing (e.g. daily reports, diaries) adjusting and prioritising information and being mindful of the impact
  • Communicate effectively with external audiences such as the scientific community, general public/ visitors and media in a range of contexts including presentations, public speaking, visitor engagement, conservation education activities, customer service and delivering keeper experiences in order to educate about animal life histories and conservation issues, promoting awareness of the role of zoos in conservation and encouraging sustainable behaviour change
  • Actively listen, process and prioritise information, confirm understanding and react according to level of risk e.g. lost child procedure, animal escape, instruction from senior staff
  • Devise and deliver a talk/presentation using a range of appropriate resources such as audio/visual equipment, PowerPoint slides, physical props
  • Deal appropriately with difficult issues (e.g. visitor/internal conflicts and complaints) following workplace policies and procedures
  • Accurately record, retrieve and monitor information and write reports using a range of systems relevant to zoo/aquarium keeping within your organisation, such as diaries, ZIMS, Tracks, Excel following instruction to retrieve data or update information and follow workplace procedures designed to keep data secure
  • Use information from reliable sources using scientific nomenclature of taxa for a variety of purposes such as gathering information to share with the public and/or science community, researching information to underpin enclosure/tank design and husbandry plans including use of recognised assessment tools to identify species or habitat conservation status
  • Observe, describe and interpret animal behaviour (innate, learned, abnormal), including species specific behaviours for species in their care, taking response action where appropriate, including reporting to the supervisor or recording in animal records system
  • Develop, implement and evaluate (including safety evaluation) appropriate sensory and cognitive enrichment in accordance with enclosure/tank design and species-specific needs e.g. simulating hunting behaviours in big cats, stingrays and sharks
  • Identify individual animals through transponders, photos, ear tags, leg bands, individual markings, sex determination
  • Create a plan using the principles of population management in line with the organisation collection plan, such as the introductory meeting of a species, taking into consideration individual suitability (e.g. health status, age, social hierarchy, reproductive status), practical set up, potential issues and solutions e.g. introducing a males and females for breeding or forming single sex groups/mixed species
  • Interpret diet sheets and safely store, prepare and present diets in a manner which promotes species-specific natural behaviours, also considering individual needs (e.g. geriatric, disabled, etc.)
  • Evaluate diets and propose modifications e.g. to minimise the amount of uneaten food and contingent wastage, promote physical and psychological health and welfare meeting nutritional needs
  • Correctly follow procedures for waste management and disposal including hazardous materials, biosecurity risks, legally regulated materials
  • Identify which equipment, methods of approach, capture, handling, restraint and loading are best for specific situations and species, create plans for and make informed decisions to facilitate this e.g. fish species that are net sensitive or elasmobranchs that are trained to go in to a stretcher.
  • Show confidence in assisting with the capture and restraint of wild and high-risk species
  • Identify the most appropriate methods of successfully transporting animals, considering: species, level of risk, duration, animal welfare considerations, health and safety, legislation e.g. maintaining the temperature of the water for an overnight transport
  • Train animals’ using positive reinforcement-based techniques in various situations (e.g. target training with a single animal) and apply these techniques in the animal’s routine, monitoring and recording the results and giving feedback to the responsible supervisor
  • Identify, assess severity of and report potential health issues in animals in a timely manner. Monitor changes in health of animals and report their findings to a supervisor or veterinarian e.g. signs of ill health or injury, behaviour monitoring, body condition scoring, faecal scoring, food intake
  • Correctly collect, document and store suitable samples as part of veterinary health monitoring e.g. hair, faeces, urine, gill
  • Administer treatment following instruction from a veterinarian/competent staff member (e.g. administration of medication to an individual/group, parasite treatments, nail/hoof trimming) e.g. salt treatment, Aquatet etc.
  • Assess the strengths and weaknesses of different enclosure designs from the point of view of each stakeholder group (e.g. animals, keepers, vet team, visitors, educators, researchers) and propose improvements, if required
  • Select optimal enclosure substrates and furnishings and maintain them within the enclosure/tank e.g. clean appropriately, monitor condition and replace as appropriate e.g. coral chip and a siphon schedule
  • Identify potential and existing physical and bio hazards within an enclosure and associated areas, responding and participating in alterations/solutions where possible, reporting more complex issues to the relevant staff, all within a timely manner
  • Use, maintain and store a range of tools correctly, including electrical tools, appropriate to the workplace
  • Monitor and take responsibility of the health and safety of the visitors and welfare of the animals in enhanced animal contact situations, especially with higher risk and wild species, such as visitor encounter, keeper for a day experiences, walkthrough enclosures, animal handling sessions, taking action when required to minimise risks and stress
  • Comply with and support other staff in complying with emergency protocols e.g., animal escape drills, fire etc.
  • Carry out safe housekeeping regimes including the safe use and disposal of products used, cleaning of enclosures/tanks, public areas, Life Support Systems maintenance, and their associated hazards, frequency of cleaning based on situation, species and individual considering factors such as sent marking or removal of body fluids to required standard, according to species specific standard
  • Design and implement research projects; including a small number of variables or indicators, using tried and tested research methods e.g. single animal case studies of behaviour challenges
  • Analyse results and summarise findings using reporting tools including descriptive statistics, listing methods of dissemination of results including where relevant research might be published and considering the implications of findings for practices within their organisation
  • Work effectively in a safe and healthy working environment following current/relevant health and safety legislation and work place policies such as working safely with wild/higher risk animals and higher risk environments, working at height, working with chemicals, working with tools, manual handling, risk assessment, fire safety, relevant PPE
  • Demonstrate how the 5 welfare needs of an animal can be used as a basis to provide the animal with opportunities to display positive welfare, including providing a suitable environment and diet (including water), housing the animal in appropriate social groupings and protecting it from fear, pain, suffering, injury and disease and providing an environment where normal behaviour can be displayed
  • Prioritise more critical and less critical activities and tasks using scheduling techniques that enable them to meet deadlines and allow for unexpected tasks, such as an animal medical emergency, daily animal husbandry, visitor safety and staff absence
  • Communicate information clearly and within a timely manner with internal audiences such as colleagues, vets, managers and contractors, concisely, accurately and in ways that promote understanding – verbally as well as in writing (e.g. daily reports, diaries) adjusting and prioritising information and being mindful of the impact
  • Communicate effectively with external audiences such as the scientific community, general public/ visitors and media in a range of contexts including presentations, public speaking, visitor engagement, conservation education activities, customer service and delivering keeper experiences in order to educate about animal life histories and conservation issues, promoting awareness of the role of zoos in conservation and encouraging sustainable behaviour change
  • Actively listen, process and prioritise information, confirm understanding and react according to level of risk e.g. lost child procedure, animal escape, instruction from senior staff
  • Devise and deliver a talk/presentation using a range of appropriate resources such as audio/visual equipment, PowerPoint slides, physical props
  • Deal appropriately with difficult issues (e.g. visitor/internal conflicts and complaints) following workplace policies and procedures
  • Accurately record, retrieve and monitor information and write reports using a range of systems relevant to zoo/aquarium keeping within your organisation, such as diaries, ZIMS, Tracks, Excel following instruction to retrieve data or update information and follow workplace procedures designed to keep data secure
  • Use information from reliable sources using scientific nomenclature of taxa for a variety of purposes such as gathering information to share with the public and/or science community, researching information to underpin enclosure/tank design and husbandry plans including use of recognised assessment tools to identify species or habitat conservation status
  • Observe, describe and interpret animal behaviour (innate, learned, abnormal), including species specific behaviours for species in their care, taking response action where appropriate, including reporting to the supervisor or recording in animal records system
  • Develop, implement and evaluate (including safety evaluation) appropriate sensory and cognitive enrichment in accordance with enclosure/tank design and species-specific needs e.g. simulating hunting behaviours in big cats, stingrays and sharks
  • Identify individual animals through transponders, photos, ear tags, leg bands, individual markings, sex determination
  • Create a plan using the principles of population management in line with the organisation collection plan, such as the introductory meeting of a species, taking into consideration individual suitability (e.g. health status, age, social hierarchy, reproductive status), practical set up, potential issues and solutions e.g. introducing a males and females for breeding or forming single sex groups/mixed species
  • Interpret diet sheets and safely store, prepare and present diets in a manner which promotes species-specific natural behaviours, also considering individual needs (e.g. geriatric, disabled, etc.)
  • Evaluate diets and propose modifications e.g. to minimise the amount of uneaten food and contingent wastage, promote physical and psychological health and welfare meeting nutritional needs
  • Correctly follow procedures for waste management and disposal including hazardous materials, biosecurity risks, legally regulated materials
  • Identify which equipment, methods of approach, capture, handling, restraint and loading are best for specific situations and species, create plans for and make informed decisions to facilitate this e.g. fish species that are net sensitive or elasmobranchs that are trained to go in to a stretcher.
  • Show confidence in assisting with the capture and restraint of wild and high-risk species
  • Identify the most appropriate methods of successfully transporting animals, considering: species, level of risk, duration, animal welfare considerations, health and safety, legislation e.g. maintaining the temperature of the water for an overnight transport
  • Train animals’ using positive reinforcement-based techniques in various situations (e.g. target training with a single animal) and apply these techniques in the animal’s routine, monitoring and recording the results and giving feedback to the responsible supervisor
  • Identify, assess severity of and report potential health issues in animals in a timely manner. Monitor changes in health of animals and report their findings to a supervisor or veterinarian e.g. signs of ill health or injury, behaviour monitoring, body condition scoring, faecal scoring, food intake
  • Correctly collect, document and store suitable samples as part of veterinary health monitoring e.g. hair, faeces, urine, gill
  • Administer treatment following instruction from a veterinarian/competent staff member (e.g. administration of medication to an individual/group, parasite treatments, nail/hoof trimming) e.g. salt treatment, Aquatet etc.
  • Assess the strengths and weaknesses of different enclosure designs from the point of view of each stakeholder group (e.g. animals, keepers, vet team, visitors, educators, researchers) and propose improvements, if required
  • Select optimal enclosure substrates and furnishings and maintain them within the enclosure/tank e.g. clean appropriately, monitor condition and replace as appropriate e.g. coral chip and a siphon schedule
  • Identify potential and existing physical and bio hazards within an enclosure and associated areas, responding and participating in alterations/solutions where possible, reporting more complex issues to the relevant staff, all within a timely manner
  • Use, maintain and store a range of tools correctly, including electrical tools, appropriate to the workplace
  • Monitor and take responsibility of the health and safety of the visitors and welfare of the animals in enhanced animal contact situations, especially with higher risk and wild species, such as visitor encounter, keeper for a day experiences, walkthrough enclosures, animal handling sessions, taking action when required to minimise risks and stress
  • Comply with and support other staff in complying with emergency protocols e.g., animal escape drills, fire etc.
  • Carry out safe housekeeping regimes including the safe use and disposal of products used, cleaning of enclosures/tanks, public areas, Life Support Systems maintenance, and their associated hazards, frequency of cleaning based on situation, species and individual considering factors such as sent marking or removal of body fluids to required standard, according to species specific standard
  • Design and implement research projects; including a small number of variables or indicators, using tried and tested research methods e.g. single animal case studies of behaviour challenges
  • Analyse results and summarise findings using reporting tools including descriptive statistics, listing methods of dissemination of results including where relevant research might be published and considering the implications of findings for practices within their organisation

Your training plan

  • Full training to be provided by the employer and KEITS at the place of employment.
  • The applicant will be working towards a Level 3 Keeper and Aquarist Apprenticeship Standard.
  • The learner will be allocated an industry specific training consultant who will provide both remote and on site visits throughout the apprenticeship.
  • The apprentice will work towards an End Point Assessment (EPA) at the end of their apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

Other in:

Animal care (grade Pass)

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

English and maths (grade Grade C/4)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Team working
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness
  • Previous Animal Experience

Other requirements

KEITS Training Services Ltd reserves the right to close the vacancy earlier than the listed closing date should the need arise. Historical ground. Amazing opportunity within the zoo environment. Daily mentoring and progression opportunities. The apprentice will be working to build a portfolio of evidence and will be required to pass a knowledge test and an End Point Assessment (EPA) to complete the apprenticeship. Due to the popularity of these apprenticeships you may not hear from the employer until after the closing date or if unsuccessful. Only successful applicants will be notified for interview.

About this company

The zoo First opened in May 1937, it covers an area of approximately 40 acres. This unique site includes two scheduled monuments – an 11th century castle and limestone caverns – and 12 Grade 2 listed Tecton buildings (four Grade 2*). Original owner the Third Earl of Dudley converted Dudley Castle's grounds into zoological gardens. A team of Modernist architects to design the zoo. Using reinforced concrete, they created a revolutionary new design of building: Tectons. The structures have stood the test of time and eight decades on Dudley Zoo has the world's largest single collection of Tectons, which in 2009 received World Monument Status. Dudley Zoo now has a variety of animal housing, paddocks and enclosures which are home to our wide variety of 200 species. We are proud that, the animal collection is linked to international conservation and breeding programmes and several of our global projects have received awards. Endangered species include Asiatic lions, Sumatran tigers, Bornean orangutans, Tibetan red pandas, Rothschild giraffes, Madagascan lemurs and Humboldt penguins. We are now looking for a new Animal Care Level 2 Apprentice, to join our team- do you have the passion to learn, in such a historical place and come and help look after our wonderful animals?

After this apprenticeship

  • Employment for the right candidate would be considered if a position is available.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

KEITS TRAINING SERVICES LTD

Heidi Clear and Bethany Wylie

recruit@keits.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000324020.

Apply now

Closes in 11 days (Tuesday 17 June 2025)

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After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.