Animal Keeper - Birds of Prey

Job title: Animal Keeper – Birds of Prey

Location: Blair Drummond Safari & Adventure Park, FK9 4UR

Salary: From £21,500 p.a. (Based on Experience)

Benefits: Company Pension, Life Insurance, Staff Family Passes, EAP, 20% Staff discount in Park, free parking, uniform.

Hours: 40 hours per week (10 days in 14)

The Company

Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park was opened to the public in 1970 and was, at the time, one of Britain’s first safari parks. We are now one of the most popular visitor attractions in Scotland. The park has a strong focus on conservation, education and the local community. We also run a successful fundraising program for conservation “Link to the Wild”.

We are currently looking for an enthusiastic and confident animal keeper to join our team working within with our Bird of Prey section. This position is offered on a full time, permanent basis.

The Role

To contribute to and assist Blair Drummond’s bird staff team, ensuring that operations run smoothly and our birds are cared for to the highest standards. To provide a thrilling and educational experience for our visitors and guests.

This exciting opportunity involves working as part of a small team, delivering high quality free flight bird demonstrations for our visitors. Each demonstration showcases the unique natural behaviours of our birds whilst increasing awareness of their vital role within ecosystems. Our aim is also to highlight the need to conserve them in an educational and entertaining manner.

The position involves general husbandry tasks, such as feeding, cleaning aviaries, health monitoring and some aviary maintenance which are all delivered to a high standard.

The successful applicant must be highly motivated, flexible and hard-working. Your role will be to ensure that high standards of bird welfare and visitor experience is sustained. You will work as a valued member of the team and, in collaboration with staff across the organisation, ensure the smooth running of our visitor attraction.

All of our team are expected to be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of; operant conditioning training methods for educational presentations, carrying out health checks on birds and general husbandry.

You will be responsible for maintaining a safe environment for both yourself and the visitors by adhering to associated risk assessments and protocols without exception.

Applicant Requirements

This person must be a pro-active individual that will take a hands-on approach within the department with an eye for detail and presentation.

The candidate ideally should have experience of handling various bird of prey species and delivering engaging and educational talks to large audiences.

The successful candidate will be able to work well as part of a team, have the ability to use their initiative, display an interest in and commitment to animal welfare, environmental enrichment and conservation.

Weekend, bank holiday working and flexibility in working hours is essential in this role. Some evening work will be required during special events throughout the year.

Ensuring the safety of our visitors, staff and animals is of key importance and ensuring that health & safety protocols are followed at all times.

Applicant Essentials

• Experience of working with various bird of prey species.

• Promote and support the conservation mission of Blair Drummond Safari Park and it’s aims of being a leading Scottish visitor attraction.

• Experience working/training medium to large eagle species (preferred not essential)

• Experience working/training (lure swinging) different falcon species (preferred not essential)

• Good observation and communication skills.

• Self-motivated and enthusiastic

• High understanding of following safe working protocols

• A current full driving licence.

• Animal related qualification.

• The zoo animal management qualification (DMZAA) is desirable but not essential for this position.