We are Chester Zoo. We’re not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that’s home to 20,000 incredible animals inside 128 acres of stunning gardens. We’re not just the UK’s most popular zoo. We’re a major wildlife charity that’s committed to the recovery of endangered species, globally. And, as the world faces an extinction crisis, we’re making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it’s needed most. We are Chester Zoo, and we prevent extinction.
The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) is the world’s largest regional zoo and aquarium organisation, with more than 450 Members in Europe, Western Asia and beyond. EAZA zoos and aquariums share a common philosophy that zoos and aquariums can and should be important centres of animal species conservation, and that we can make the greatest possible contribution by working together as a network. The EAZA Reproductive Management Group (RMG) is an active part of the EAZA community, formed to gather knowledge on the use of contraception in ex situ animals within Europe, producing contraceptive guidelines for institutions, EAZA Ex situ Programme (EEP) coordinators, and Best Practice Guidelines.

OUR REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor of Science, Master’s or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
• A strong commitment to reproduction, animal health, animal welfare and conservation.
• Demonstrated ability to innovate, lead, resource and deliver research projects on time and to a high standard.
• Experience with database management and data handling is preferrable.
• Ability to present information clearly and concisely in verbal presentations and written communications, including scientific writing and media communications to a variety of stakeholders.
• Ability to maintain partnerships and collaborations to enable project delivery.
• Proven ability to effectively work in and contribute to a team environment.
• Have knowledge of zoos and their conservation function.
• Experience of working with diverse stakeholders, preferably in the zoo and aquarium community is desirable.
• Fluent written and spoken English and the ability to communicate with diverse audiences, including non-experts is essential. The ability to communicate in another European language is preferred.
• Evidence of peer-review publications is desirable.

We have an exciting vacancy for a Reproductive Biology Support Officer to join the Chester Zoo Science Department on a 12-month fixed-term basis and work within our Conservation Physiology and Reproduction Team, in partnership with EAZA. This role will have a particular focus on evidence-based reproductive management, responsible for the maintenance of the EAZA contraception database, providing guidance to the EAZA community, facilitating reproductive management research, and providing a liaison role to the EAZA RMG. The successful candidate will report to both EAZA and Chester Zoo, with day-to-day line management provided by Chester Zoo.
The Reproductive Biology Support Officer will be based within Chester Zoo’s International Centre for Zoo Science. In addition to travel for approved meetings and conferences, the Reproductive Biology Support Officer will be expected to travel to the EAZA Executive Office, Amsterdam, The Netherlands three to four times per year to meet with relevant EAZA staff to ensure the RMG is meeting the agreed desired impact.