- Experience
- Any
- Salary
- GBP 27,500 – GBP 27,500 / year
- Openings
- 1
- Posted
- 4 days ago
- Work mode
- In office
- Education
- HND or degree in a zoological-related science
- Eligibility
- Applicants should have relevant zoological or aquatics experience and be able to work a full-time, fixed-term onsite contract in Chester, including rostered weekends and Bank Holidays.
- Resume
- Required to apply
Where you'll work
Job description
Overview
Chester Zoo is looking for an experienced and highly capable Aquarist to join its aquarium team on a fixed-term 6-month full-time contract. The post sits within the wider Ectotherms department and reports to the Aquarium Assistant Team Manager. The successful person will also support other teams across the site when operational needs require it.
About Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo is an award-winning visitor attraction, home to 30,000 animals across 128 acres of landscaped gardens. It is also the UK’s most popular zoo and a major wildlife charity working to help recover endangered species around the world. The organisation’s wider mission is to prevent extinction through conservation-led work.
The Role
This position focuses on maintaining aquatic habitats throughout the zoo, including work on systems and displays that range from 20-litre breeding tanks to 200,000-litre mixed-species exhibits. The role includes daily care of display habitats and off-show holding areas, alongside actions to improve water quality monitoring and management.
You will also help maintain breeding and live food cultures, contribute to conservation projects, monitor fish health, and share information through internal and external dissemination activities.
Working Pattern and Package
This is a 40-hour-per-week role worked across 10 days out of 14, with weekends and Bank Holidays included as rostered. The contract runs for 6 months. The salary is £27,500 per year pro rata. Benefits include 33 days of annual leave pro rata, a staff pass for zoo visits during time off, complimentary tickets for friends and family, discounted gym membership, retail and leisure discounts through Perks, and a pension scheme.
Why Work Here
Chester Zoo offers a collaborative environment made up of conservationists, scientists, educators, welfare specialists, policy professionals, and visitor experience teams. The organisation is diverse, ambitious, and strongly focused on career development. The workplace is far from a standard office, with access to an exceptional animal care and conservation setting.
Application Deadline
Applications close on 2 August 2026.