About the role: Animal Keeper
We are currently recruiting a dedicated Animal Keeper to join our animal care team at Merrist Wood College.
We are currently looking for a hardworking and enthusiastic Animal Keeper to maintain daily, high standards of husbandry and welfare through progressive animal keeping, along with ensuring visitors and guests are provided with an informative and friendly experience. You will also lead practical learning sessions to develop learners' wider skillsets within industry and assist with the supervision of external work experience students undertaking practical exercises in the facility, ensuring the development of industry standard safety practice, animal related skills and attributes.
Our Animal centre is nestled in a beautiful 400-acre campus and comprises of a Rare Breed Survival Trust Accredited Farm, a small domestic mammal section, and a Zoo. As our livestock enterprise continues to grow, we are looking for an experienced and motivated individual to join our team. Working with our sheep, cattle, pigs, goats, and poultry, you will help deliver exceptional standards of animal care, welfare, and husbandry while supporting breeding programmes, youngstock management, and the preparation of high-quality livestock for our customers. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a progressive farm committed to producing healthy, well-managed animals and continually improving our breeding operation. Merrist Wood has a national and international reputation amongst employers and industry specialists and a long history of providing unrivalled education in the land-based sectors.
This is a casual position. The candidate will be expected to work Saturdays and Sundays each week and there will be the opportunity for other shifts which may include weekdays and bank holidays in order to provide care for the animals.
What do you need to be successful as an Animal Keeper at Activate Learning?
You will have a minimum of one years, full-time, paid experience of working within the farm industry, with an animal/agricultural related qualification ideally to a Level 3 or above. The successful candidate will be involved in all aspects of day-to-day livestock management, including animal husbandry, feeding, health monitoring, breeding support, lambing, calving, farrowing, kidding, handling and moving stock, maintaining clean and safe facilities, and ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare. General farm maintenance, record keeping, and assisting with livestock sales will also form part of the role. You will be comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions and have a positive and flexible approach to physical, hands-on work.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate initiative and a proactive approach to completing tasks that benefit the department, maximising productivity and efficiency.
You will work effectively both as part of a team and independently to carry out duties and demonstrates professionalism through punctuality, reliability, integrity, and a diligent work ethic.
The successful candidate will also have excellent communication skills and demonstrate the ability to engage and develop students, along with role modelling the attributes that we develop within our learners. Previous experience of an educational role within an animal environment is desirable, but not essential.
Who we are
Activate Learning is a pioneering education group with a global reach, committed to transforming lives through our approach to learning.
We see our employees as individuals, empowering them to make the right choices for their ambitions and careers. We value our people as vital to our continued success and aspire to a diverse, open and inclusive environment that provides the motivation for everyone to pursue their career goals and flourish.
When you work for Activate Learning, you’re working for an organisation that provides you with the advantages of a large employer, a trusted partner in your career development, and a transformational way of working whilst also investing in building a community environment for everyone.
Together, we will bring out the best version of yourself.
Activate Learning Group Employee Benefits:
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Monthly Staff Appreciation Awards: Celebrating staff for their dedication and accomplishments aligned to our award-winning Learning Philosophy.
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Wellbeing & Resources Groups: Comprehensive range of resources, guides and tools to support staff wellbeing
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Company benefits: Including free eye tests and will writing, plus access to a Health Cash Plan covering optical, dental, health screening, and therapy treatments for you and your dependents.
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Learning and Development: continuous opportunities for professional growth and skill enhancement through our in-house L&D team.
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Teaching Support: Tailored induction and development programs for teaching staff.
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Pension Schemes: Teacher and Local Government pension schemes for AL staff
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Generous Annual Leave: Up to 6 weeks paid leave
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Competitive salaries: Annual incremental progression and a twelve point pay scale for teachers.
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On-Site Facilities: Free parking at all campuses, refectories, hair and beauty salons & gym access.
For a comprehensive list of all of our benefits & wellbeing offering, please visit our work-with-us/wellbeing
Applicants should apply at the earliest opportunity; closed vacancies will prevent application form submission.
Applications are reviewed and shortlisted on a rolling basis, we reserve the right to interview, appoint and close adverts.
Note: Some positions may require a legally mandated health surveillance check for exposure to hazardous conditions.
Activate Learning is committed to safeguarding and expect all our staff to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to undergo a DBS check at the appropriate level.
Applications are encouraged from all candidates who meet or exceed minimum criteria, regardless of age, disability, gender, orientation, race, religion, or ethnicity. Activate Learning are committed to employing people with disabilities and will ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. If you require any reasonable adjustments either at application or interview stage, please contact the talent team directly.
Recruitment agencies who submit unsolicited CVs to any partner or employee at Activate Learning, have no authority to enter an arrangement. Recruitment agencies engaging with Activate Learning Talent Team will be on our PSL.
