The Meadows Farm Village Zoo Manager

Job content

The Meadows Farm Village Zoo Manager

37.5 hours per week including weekends, school holidays and bank holidays.

Starting wage £13 per hour. Rate depends on qualifications and experience.

Requirements

Postholder able to carry out full duties of the post with minimal supervision.

Postholder and the availability of work at the appropriate level.

• (a) 37.5 hours within 5 working days including weekends, school holidays and bank holidays as required by the managing director.
• (b) The post holder is required to hold and maintain a current full driving licence.
• (c) Satisfactory clearance of a standard Disclosure and Barring check will be a condition of employment

RESPONSIBLE TO:

Managing Director

Board of Directors

RESPONSIBLE FOR (POSTS):

Senior Farm Manager

Farm manager

Farm deputy managers

Shift Managers

Farm assistants

Volunteers

Events Team

Coffee Shop Team

Grounds maintenance Team

Work Experience placements

MAIN PURPOSE OF POST:

Overall management and development of The Meadows Farm Village ensures the service meets the purpose of ‘safe, clean and well maintained’ including managing the education offer, guest expectations, guest and staff health and safety and security.

Lead the team by example and role model the corporate values and behaviours. Provide appropriate coaching support and training, personal development, guidance and challenge. Responsible for safe working practices and environments.

Support and deliver the current and future Business Plans for The Meadows Farm Village and work with the management team to provide a cost neutral budget.

SPECIFIC DUTIES OF POST:

(a) Manage and develop The Meadows Farm Village by:

SAFE –

• Ensure compliance with regulatory and statutory obligations
• Proactively inspecting and risk assessing sites and working practices to ensure they are fit for purpose and safe for all staff and visitors. Including e.g. gritting and clearing snow and ice.
• Ensure The Meadows Farm Village and associated working areas, equipment and work practices comply with relevant Health and Safety Law.
• Ensure areas are inspected and faults rectified as appropriate.
• To ensure that all staff have received timely appropriate and adequate training on safe working practices including risk assessments etc.
• To ensure that all staff at all times are suitably dressed with correct PPE and corporate uniform.

CLEAN –

• Removing litter, detritus, leaves, animal faeces, hazardous waste and fly tipping
• Ensuring public and working areas such as toilets, kitchens, reception, barns, reptile room, quarantine areas, pathways and tack room are clean and fit for purpose.

WELL MAINTAINED –

• To be responsible for all aspects of the Zoo’s management and overall animal collection. Ensure all enclosures are presented in an ethically acceptable and safe way.
• Ensure ‘best practice’ husbandry that exceeds the requirements in the Zoo Licence and other relevant legislation e.g. housing and enclosures, furnishing, diets, enrichment, hygiene, record keeping, veterinary care, general health, welfare and wellbeing.
• Ensure that zoo procedures and practices are up to date, relevant, adhere to current legislation and react accordingly to ensure compliance at all times.
• To operate a responsible and ethical policy for the breeding, acquisition and disposal of stock in compliance with our regulatory body and zoo inspectors.
• To establish a formal ethical review system for decision-making on sensitive issues such as euthanasia.
• To provide educational resources in relation to animal and conservation / environmental issues.
• To identify, research, formulate and implement interpretative information for The Meadows Farm Village. This may include writing texts, commissioning artwork, signs, displays, leaflets, press and social media releases, website content and other publications.
• To carry out administrative duties including those connected with purchasing, finance, grant applications, zoo licences, wildlife registrations, maintaining an inventory and any associated legal matters.
• To seek external funding, both for capital works and staffing, wherever possible (eg Government Grants), and for increasing income generation (eg commercial sponsorship).
• To liaise with all organisations relevant to this work area eg CCBC, NRW, Zoo Inspectors, environmental health, trading standards and to attend meetings as required.
• To act as a source of specialist ecological information and advice for colleagues, other Council Departments and the general public, schools etc.
• To oversee the operation of the farms retail offer and continue to explore further opportunities in this area with the farms staff, management team and Managing Director

Working collaboratively with colleagues in Neighbourhood Services and other service areas to secure support services as required e.g. HR, Payroll, Finance etc,

Responding effectively and in a timely manner to customer, Members and stakeholder feedback, enquiries and complaints, Freedom of Information and Subject Access requests.

Liaising and working effectively with ‘Friends’ and volunteer groups

Making changes to the service based on factual information, evidence, data and feedback from stakeholders.

Continuously improving the service within budget, and add value to the customer experience.

In conjunction with Managing Director, create and implement management and business development plans for The Meadows Farm Village.

(b) Lead manage support train and coach the team

Work with your team to continuously evolve and improve the service, removing wasteful and unnecessary work practices and bureaucracy and identifying new streams of income and savings.

Ensure staff understand how their roles support the services’ purpose and the working practices deliver this in the most effective way;

Ensure that the skills, knowledge, expertise, tools and confidence are adequate and in the right place to meet demand; where there are shortfalls either directly or indirectly train/coach staff.

Understand the capacity to ensure that the relevant resources are available; facilitate and support solution finding.

Own and manage issues that emerge, resolving them to ensure they do not recur;

Adhere to corporate procedures such as absence and performance management, recruitment, disciplinary/capability and induction.

Create and promote a safe, positive and inclusive work culture and environment. Recognise good performance and provide support, guidance and coaching when required.

Be accessible and in the work, actively seeking and giving feedback, listening to and acting on your findings.

(c) Corporate

Understand and adhere to the company procedures e.g. Procurement Code and Financial Management; Absence Management including return to work interviewing and reporting absence; grievance and discipline; bullying and harassment; capability; leave; timesheets; data protection.

Ensure that all accidents,racial incidents and dangerous occurrences are investigated, reportedand acted upon in-line with departmental and corporate procedures.

Ensure that all duties are carried out in compliance with both environmental legislation and the Environmental Policy.

Accounting and accountability for budgets.

To carry out such other duties as the Managing Director may from time to time reasonably require.

NOTE: The duties listed are in general terms only and detailed variation in job content may be expected to occur.

The Meadows Farm Village

CANDIDATE SPECIFICATION

CHARACTERISTICS

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

SKILLS/ABILITIES

(Specific skills and abilities required to undertake the duties)

• Able to carry out all aspects of animal husbandry across a wide range of species, including invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals
• Ability to lead, manage, motivate and empower staff
• Problem solving skills and ability to challenge and change existing operating practices
• Ability to devise and implement mid to long term strategic plans.
• Able to solve problems and devise and implement new ways of working based on factual information and data.
• Able to manage team cohesion and conflict
• Ability to create and maintain positive working relationships
• Excellent IT, report writing, presentation and communication skills
• Able to use and implement Zoo Management software
• Ability to give talks to a range of audiences.
• Able to manage projects on time and within budget.

KNOWLEDGE

(Particular knowledge which will be necessary to perform the work effectively e.g. of specific legislation or regulations)

• Detailed knowledge of husbandry of a wide range of animal species including invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals
• Up to date knowledge of legislation pertaining to zoos e.g. Zoo Licensing Act, DEFRA and Natural Resources Wales etc.
• Academic biological knowledge to degree level or equivalent.
• Facilities management knowledge
• Good knowledge of systems thinking

principals

• Knowledge of how to lead and motivate

staff

• Commercial knowledge
• Managing Health and Safety at Work
• Equal opportunities knowledge
• Waste/Environment/ Conservation
• An understanding of basic Veterinary medicines
• Retail and merchandising

QUALIFICATION AND TRAINING (Educational/vocational qualifications and other training)

Verification will need to be provided

• Degree or equivalent ability in relevant biological subject or animal care/husbandry.

• Health and Safety at Work

• Management

• Full driving licence

EXPERIENCE

(Level and type of previous experience)

• Management and Leadership experience including financial management and budget control
• Experience in wide range of species’ husbandry including invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
• Financial

Experienced in giving presentations and educational talks.

QUALITIES

(Particular qualities necessary to carry out the works e.g. ability to work co-operatively in a team, use own initiative

• Role model of corporate Values and Behaviours
• Role model good leadership and management skills
• Positive and enthusiastic, ambitious and brave - always looking for ways to improve self and the service.
• Passionate about customers, visitors, residents.
• Willingness to challenge and be challenged
• Patient, supportive and helpful, with good listening skills
• Innovative and creative
• Flexible and reliable
• Calm under pressure
• Self-reliant and resilient
• Well organised and punctual

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

(e.g. willingness to work unsocial hours or wear a uniform)

• Some evening, weekend and Bank Holiday and unsocial hours working will be required
• In some circumstances the post holder will be expected to provide a response to out of hours issues and emergencies

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: £13.00 per hour

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

Work Location: One location