Do you have a passion for animal care, conservation, and creating outstanding visitor experiences?

Council is seeking a dedicated and experienced Zoo Curator to join our Botanic Gardens Team and play a key role in the day-to-day operation, coordination, development and maintenance of Council's Zoo.

Working collaboratively with a Zoo Keepers and the Botanic Gardens Team Leader, you will help lead the daily operations of the Zoo, ensuring high standards of animal welfare, visitor experience, workplace safety and legislative compliance. You will also contribute to habitat and facility maintenance, conservation initiatives, and the ongoing presentation and enhancement of the Zoo and broader Botanic Gardens precinct.

• Full-time permanent position, based on 38 hours per week.
• Remuneration package of $2,801.00 gross per fortnight with the opportunity to progress to $3,361.20 gross per fortnight + superannuation (12%).
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.

Key Responsibilities:

As a Zoo Curator, you will undertake a diverse range of responsibilities, including:

• Providing day-to-day operational leadership of Council's Zoo, working collaboratively with Zoo Keepers and the Botanic Gardens Team Leader to coordinate staff, volunteers, animal care activities, maintenance programs, visitor services and legislative compliance requirements.
• Providing leadership, supervision and direction to Zoo staff, casual employees, volunteers and other personnel working within the Zoo, fostering a positive team culture, ensuring safe work practices, supporting staff development and maintaining high standards of animal welfare, customer service and operational performance.
• Providing daily care for zoo animals, including feeding, watering, health monitoring, enrichment activities, and maintaining animal welfare standards.
• Cleaning and maintaining animal enclosures, yards, exhibits, pathways, and associated infrastructure.
• Assisting with enclosure construction, maintenance works, and exhibit development.
• Conducting guided tours and engaging positively with visitors to enhance their zoo experience.
• Maintaining records and registers, including animal, chemical, and treatment records.
• Supporting the establishment and maintenance of gardens, lawns, and landscaped areas throughout the Botanic Gardens precinct.
• Undertaking horticultural activities including planting, pruning, irrigation, mowing, weed and pest control, rehabilitation works, and facility maintenance.
• Safely operating and maintaining plant, equipment, power tools, and personal protective equipment.
• Adhering to seasonal roster arrangements and contributing to a safe, collaborative, and customer-focused team environment.

Essential Requirements of the Position:

As the successful applicant, you will bring a strong mix of qualifications, skills and professional experience, including:

• Qualifications relevant to the role e.g. Certificate III in Captive Animals.
• Current Class C Driver's Licence.
• General Construction Induction Certificate (White Card).
• AQF III Chemical Application Certificate.
• Substantial experience relevant to the role in zoo, animal husbandry, environmental, parks or similar operational environments, including responsibility for animal care, site maintenance and operational activities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team and work effectively in a team and independently.

In accordance with Work Health and Safety legislation, the successful applicant is required to be vaccinated for Q-Fever and will be asked to provide evidence of this.

What is next?

Applications close Sunday, 23 August 2026 at 11.59pm AEST with interviews to be held in the week commencing Monday, 31 August 2026.

If you are interested in this role and would like more information, please contact Jonathan Nicoll, Team Leader on 0424 750 206.

As part of the recruitment process, pre-employment checks will be conducted in line with requirements of the position.

All selected candidates for this position will be asked to consent to a police check. Please note that people with a criminal record are not discouraged from applying for the position. Each application will be considered on its merit.

For more information and to apply, please visit: https://wagga.pulsesoftware.com/Pulse/jobs

https://wagga.nsw.gov.au/the-council/careers/why-work-in-wagga

Council is an inclusive employer. We strive to reflect the community in which we work, as a result we welcome and encourage applications from skilled people from all walks of life. This includes women, men, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culturally and linguistically diverse people, people with a disability, veterans, sexually and gender diverse people, people with lived experience and people of all ages.