Zoo Science Industrial Placement

Hertfordshire Zoo

Hertfordshire Closing date for applications is: 12th Jan 2026

Contact: Zoo Science Manager ([email protected]) Sector: Research Type: Volunteer Contract type: Full-time Salary: Voluntary

Hertfordshire Zoo is a wildlife charity working to deliver the best standards in animal care and visitor engagement, united by a mission of sharing the wonder of wildlife.

The Zoo Science Industrial Placement is a full-time, 10-month programme covering a wide range of zoo science topics, providing a chance for a student to join in this mission and develop their zoo science skills.

Placement Opportunities

• Contributing to the Hertfordshire Zoo science programme, featuring topics relating to animal care and welfare, species conservation and conservation engagement.
• Carrying out routine observations of animal behaviour alongside collecting other data to inform best-practice in our conservation activities.
• Developing and leading on a research project that addresses a priority area of zoo science; gaining experience in research design, methodologies, data analysis techniques and dissemination (including peer-reviewed publications and work presented at relevant conferences).
  
  

Placement Details

• Offered on a voluntary basis, typically Monday-Friday and mirroring hours of the zoo team; however, with some flexibility required e.g. options to be available for some evenings or weekends depending on needs of the projects.
• Requests for flexible approaches to days on-site per week will be considered at the application stage.
• Placement will commence in September 2026 (specific dates to be agreed with student) and conclude in July 2027.
• Based within the zoological team, though not involving routine animal husbandry, there will be chances to engage with activities across Hertfordshire Zoo including global conservation initiatives, public engagement and conservation education to name a selection.
  
  

Requirements Of Applicants

• Must be undertaking an undergraduate degree at a UK institution, with an official placement year component.
• Must be able to arrange own accommodation for the duration of the placement, and transport to Hertfordshire Zoo.
• Must be organised, have the ability to carry out tasks independently, within a team and with attention to detail, and have the ability to handle sensitive data.
• Must have experience in the use of standard Microsoft Office software, with awareness of statistical analysis being desirable.
• Should have an understanding of the importance of evidence-based practice in modern conservation, ideally with an interest in and awareness of how this applies in zoos.
  
  

We celebrate the value of having a team with diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds and actively encourage applications from disabled and ethnic minority candidates, as well as those from low-income households, as these groups are currently underrepresented within the conservation sector.

Apply For This Job

Instructions on how to apply:

To apply: Please submit a CV and covering letter, detailing your experience and interest in the placement opportunity to the Zoo Science Manager at [email protected] by Monday 12th January 2026. Applicants will be contacted soon afterwards, with those successful being invited for an interview in Feb/March 2026.