Senior Keeper

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert: Salary range: $ 78,665.60 ( Hourly: $37.82 ) Auckland is a global city with stunning scenery, wonderful beaches, and sub-tropical islands. It is also a city with one of the most progressive zoos in the world. Auckland Zoo’s mission is to ‘Bring people together to build a future for wildlife’. Through science, learning & training, and strengthening our relationship with Te Ao Māori, we strive for excellence in animal care & welfare, conserve wildlife in the wild and nurture a lifelong connection with nature to enhance the well‑being of our communities. We are looking for a Senior or Lead Bird Keeper to join our Animal Care & Conservation team. This is an exciting opportunity for a dedicated professional with 5 + years of zoo‑keeping experience to take on a leadership role, ensuring the highest standards of animal care and welfare while mentoring and guiding keepers across our animal sections. The successful candidate will: Be responsible for the daily husbandry, care, and welfare of the animals in your section Support the Team Leader in operational and strategic leadership. Provide training, supervision, and mentorship to keepers Assist in exhibit planning and species action plans to enhance conservation outcomes. Engage with the public through talks, tours, and conservation advocacy. Ensure health and safety standards are upheld across all aspects of zoo operations. Participate in field conservation projects in New Zealand and abroad. You will report to the Team Leader of your section. Note: this position will be required to work some weekends and public holidays. We are looking for looking for applicants with: Proven leadership experience within a zoo‑keeping or wildlife environment. A minimum of 5 years’ experience in bird husbandry and zoo operations. Relevant qualifications in biological/conservation sciences or zoo‑keeping. A passion for conservation and bird welfare, with in‑depth knowledge of best practices. In depth knowledge of avicultural skills Strong communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to train and mentor others. A high level of physical fitness, as the role involves working outdoors in all weather conditions. Ability to obtain a Full New Zealand Driver’s License (manual preferred). Salary range: $ 78,665.60 ( Hourly: $37.82 ) per annum based on skillset and experience. We are a fun and enthusiastic team who thrive in this challenging and rewarding area and who work in innovative areas on an international level. Applications close on Sunday 9 August 2026 TātakiAuckland Unlimited is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and we are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application to assist you through the recruitment process. Employees in receipt of salary protection and/or on the predecessorTātakiAuckland Unlimited terms and conditions of employment, please note that the salary protection and/or predecessor Auckland Unlimited terms and conditions, including relocation, apply to your current position. Should you change to a new position (other than any secondment) you will be issued with a new employment letter of offer with current Auckland Unlimited terms and conditions. Please note you may be required to conduct Police Vetting, MOJ and/or Drug and Alcohol testing checks if your role requires this and any other pre‑employment checks required including eligibility to work in NZ, references and qualification checks if you are the preferred candidate. Tātaki Auckland Unlimited is part of the Auckland Council whānau, responsible for Auckland Live, Auckland Zoo, Auckland Conventions, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, New Zealand Maritime Museum, Auckland Stadiums, and many of the festivals and events that make Auckland a great place to live and visit. Our people are driven by passion and a sense of service to Aucklanders. What we share is our love of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and our passion about the work we each do to make it a dynamic and exciting place. Each part of Tātaki is important, but when we come together, we bind into something more powerful than the sum of our parts. We all work in partnership with each other and our delivery partners, to make Tāmaki Makaurau a vibrant place where everyone can thrive. #J-18808-Ljbffr