Dartmoor Zoo is seeking placement students for the role of Engagement Assistant for the 2024-2025 academic year.

To learn the importance of formal and informal education in a zoo and assist the Education Officers in developing and delivering the zoos engagement activities. You will gain experience within an award winning BIAZA and WAZA accredited zoo education department, receiving regular training and tutorials from professional zoo staff.

This will include, but not be limited to, the following tasks:
• Learning and presenting public talks.
• Assisting in the management of the volunteer team.
• After sufficient training, running the volunteer team.
• Help to produce education resources using a range of media.
• Opportunities to assist the department in all areas of zoo education including taught school sessions and outreach, use of education animals and assist with the running of the zoo’s conservation academy which includes our popular programmes Rangers and Rangers Academy.
• After sufficient training, leading animal experiences.
• Leading activities around the zoo.
• Helping to design public programmes.

The perfect fit:
• Someone with a keen interest in conservation education.
• Some confidence in public speaking.
• Good communication skills.
• Flexibility and adaptability – this is a diverse role!
• Someone who is kind, patient and a team player.
• Willingness to work some weekends and evenings.
• Willingness to work through bank holidays and school holidays.

Applications now closed.

Find out more here.

Dartmoor Zoological Society is seeking placement students for the role of ‘voluntary research assistant’ for the 2024-25 academic year.

Candidates must be undertaking an animal or zoo-related degree, environmental science or psychology degree, be highly
motivated and forward thinking. In return you will gain experience within a BIAZA and WAZA accredited zoo research
department, receiving regular tutorials from professional zoo staff.

The main responsibilities for this role include:
• Assisting the research department and representing the zoo in a positive, forward-thinking manner that will enable the department to be highly productive.
• To conduct, analyse and write up at least one research project whilst at the zoo with the guidance of the Research Officer.
• To be trained to collect data for any ongoing research projects currently being carried out by the research department.
• To present your research to staff at Dartmoor Zoo.
• You may have the opportunity to represent Dartmoor Zoo at relevant zoo conferences and present your research findings.

Current and previous research topics include assessing the impact of visitor talks on animal behaviour, determining whether an overnight feeder is beneficial for dik dik, evaluating auditory enrichment for otters and birds, evaluating enrichment for tapir and assessing an enclosure move on the behaviour of an iguana.

Applications now closed.

Find out more here.