Casual Animal Keeper

Job description

Casual Animal Keeper

Application Deadline: 13 October 2026

Department: Animal Care and Equine

Employment Type: Flexible

Location: Middleton

Compensation: GBP 13.92 per hour

Description

To facilitate the learning process by supporting staff and students in an effective learning environment.

Key Responsibilities

• To maintain and repair specialist animal enclosures and be responsible for the security of enclosures and tools.
• Be flexible in supporting the sections requirements and cross college tasks.
• To oversee the Animal Care Apprentices, and interns, whilst working on site and designate the workload.
• To follow the current Life Sciences Animal Standard Operating Procedures.
• To be responsible for the day to day care of all the animals within the Centre for Life Sciences.
• Maintain animal food stock levels to ensure all animals have food and water available as stated in the standard operating procedures.
• To assist in the planning of breeding programmes both for sustainability and food sources.
• To maintain all animal areas within Life Sciences to include the internal animal rooms and external enclosures.
• Undertake Health & Safety risk assessments and ensure all working practices are compliant with industry legislation (e.g. COSHH).
• To ensure that accurate records of animals are kept and the data inputted onto computer systems and paper systems.
• Ensure continuous development and improvement of professional knowledge.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Qualifications
Essential Criteria
Minimum of a full level 2 Science/animal management/care qualification.

How Identified: By application

Desirable Criteria

A1 assessor award or willing to achieve the qualification within 12 months.

How Identified: By application

Experience

Essential Criteria

Experience of handling/ caring and maintaining a wide range of animals to include exotics, mammals and birds.
Experience of handling/ caring for and maintaining a wide range of taxa to include Mammalia, Reptilia and Aves.

How Identified: By application

Desirable Criteria

Experience of handling/ caring and maintaining larger animals.

How Identified: By application

Specialist Knowledge

Essential Criteria

The daily responsibilities of an Animal Technician (Lantra 08/01/2013).
Knowledge of current legislation including the Animal Welfare Act and the Health and Safety at Work.

Basic Animal First Aid.

How Identified: By application/ interview

IT Skills

Basic Level in Microsoft applications particularly Word, Outlook and Excel. Willing to undertake training appropriate to the role.

How Identified: By application/ interview