Job Description
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Job Title: Animal Attendant
Posting Start Date: 07/08/2026
Posting End Date: 17/08/2026
Department: Environment
Office Location: Animal Reception Centre Heathrow
Level of DBS required for this role: Enhanced
Level of vetting required?: No security vetting is required
Is this a politically restricted post?: No
Does this post require a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check?: No
The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required have also been included. Workplace role categories describe our approach to workplace attendance
Salary: £33,622 - £37,319 per annum inclusive of all allowances
Contractual hours: 35 hours per week
Hours of Work/Work Pattern: Average of 35hrs per week over a 7 week shift rota, to include earlies, lates, nights and weekend shifts. Inclusive of bank holidays. See attached rota pattern
Basis: Full -Time, 9 Months Fixed Term Contract
Workplace category: Work place based
Workplace role categories describe our approach to workplace attendance.
Attachments: Job Description and Person Specification
Summary of Terms and Conditions of Employment
We reserve the right to close the advert earlier should we receive a high number of applications. We encourage you to apply early.
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An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the team at the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre.
The City of London Corporations Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC) provides care and accommodation to the huge variety and quantity of animals that pass-through Heathrow airport each year. The HARC team are at the forefront of enforcing the welfare of animals in transport legislation and ensuring that animal health and public protection is upheld.
This is an exciting time to join this busy team as an Animal Attendant, as we see more pets and other animals at the airport than ever. Typical daily duties include kennel and cattery husbandry, conducting welfare checks and ensuring compliance with animal health and welfare regulations. Caring for exotic species on site is also a key task, with several reptiles and other taxa regularly accommodated on site. And the non-typical days are often extraordinary, with zoo animals and other special arrivals also needing care.
You must have a qualification in a relevant animal related subject or equivalent experience and be able to demonstrate at least 3 years’ experience working with domestic pets and one other group of captive animals. Significant training is also available as the role includes liaising with pet owners, working on the airport, using machinery to transport large shipments, safe handling of hazardous species and more. You must hold a driving license and be able to work within a regulatory environment, checking documentation against multiple legislative requirements.
We are looking for dynamic individuals with high attention to detail, who can demonstrate strong customer service and great interpersonal skills, alongside their animal welfare skills and knowledge.
We are recruiting two positions to start as soon as possible. As you would expect working at one of the world’s busiest international airports there are significant working hours outside the normal 9-5.
The role averages 35 hours per week across a 7-week shift rota, with shifts providing 24-hour cover, 365 days a year. (Please see rota included in the job desription).
Please refer to the job description pack for more details.
You will be required to undergo security clearance and be vaccinated against rabies for this role, which the City of London will organise and provide.
HARC is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
This role requires an Enhanced DBS Disclosure & Barring Service check and a 5 year background check will be completed by site by an external company to work in a CAA facility which the team will carry out if successful.
If this role is advertised as a secondment, secondments are subject to the agreement of your department releasing you, therefore, you need to discuss this with your line manager prior to applying. The purpose of this will be to discuss what, if any, impact your secondment might have on the service and service delivery should your application be successful, and how this might be addressed.
The City of London Corporation is currently undergoing a programme to ensure that our pay and reward practices are competitive and equitable across the whole organisation, to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the work that we do.
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To apply online please click the Apply online button below. Please ensure to include your experience of working with domestic pets and one group of captive animals in your supporting statement.
Alternatively, please contact 020 7332 3978 (24 hr answerphone) quoting reference number OENV1378 if you experience any difficulties. A minicom service for the hearing impaired is available on 020 7332 3732.
The City of London Corporation is committed to Equal Opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
We reserve the right to close the advert earlier should we receive a high number of applications.
Because our roles are so varied, we don’t have a ‘one size fits all’ policy for workplace attendance. How many days a week you’ll be required to attend your workplace will depend on the requirements of your role. It’s important that you understand the requirements before applying to ensure you are able to meet them. We are committed to considering requests to work flexibly and job share. Requests will be considered by the recruiting manager in line with our policies and business needs.
For more information on our categories for workplace attendance, please view our guide here.
We will be reviewing this policy and approach at regular intervals to ensure we’re meeting our attendance needs.
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