Opportunities currently available

• Centre and Operations Manager (employed)
• Seasonal part time bird team keeper (employed)

Centre and Operations Manager

Location: Bath, Somerset, UK

Salary: £30,000 – £38,000, dependent on experience

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Closing on: 5pm 27/05/2025

Ideal start date: 01/08/2025

We are seeking an inspiring leader to build on the success of our award-winning charity. Are you an experienced bird keeper with experience in a public facing role, looking for a leadership and management opportunity, with the chance of making a proactive difference for wild raptors and habitats in the UK?

The Bird of Prey Project is a registered charity and multiple award-winning visitor centre and zoo working to conserve birds of prey, restore habitats and make wildlife education accessible. At this exciting time for the organisation, we are looking to recruit a new Centre & Operations Manager who can manage the visitor centre and lead the senior bird team whilst working alongside the Board of Trustees develop strategy and objectives for the charity. You will have the incredible opportunity to lead a team shaping new standards for restraint-free ethical management of birds of prey and contribute to nature recovery and wildlife education in the local area and community.

What is the role about?

The Centre & Operations Manager works directly with the Board of Trustees to manage the charity and visitor centre. This is a role for an experienced bird keeper and confident manager who will be in charge of a team of three to five employees and upwards of 20 volunteers, resident bird care and welfare delivery for over 20 species, legal compliance and accountability, financial management alongside the charity treasurer, and delivery of the charity’s objectives.

The visitor centre receives over 10,000 visitors per year who provide the majority of the charity’s income. Providing a high standard of care and welfare, and the use of the restraint-free R+ training techniques to work with resident birds, are at the core of The Bird of Prey Project’s values and are things that the Centre & Operations Manager would be expected to lead on.

You would also oversee the work carried out as part of:

• The Cavity Nesting Species Programme – this programme works with eight project areas to monitor four target species affected by climate and land use change.
• The accessible wildlife education initiative – this consists of the provision of free learning materials for local authority funded schools and/or community groups, including virtual learning opportunities, career discussions and, occasionally, wildlife workshops.
• The Biomagnification Project – this consists of supporting Bath Spa University to facilitate research into imidacloprid through specimens collected as part of wildlife rehabilitation.

You would also be responsible for line managing both Deputy Centre Managers. You should be confident in making decisions and able to balance opportunity and risk. An ability to operate within and develop governance, finance and risk frameworks is also a key part of the role, and whilst a background in nature recovery or wildlife conservation is not necessary, you should be passionate about The Bird of Prey Project’s mission.

About you

You’ll have experience and confidence to manage a team of bird keepers and the smooth operation of the day-day running of the organisation, and be passionate about the objectives of The Project with capability to communicate and represent this to our key partners, stakeholders and visitors.

The table below dictates the key skills, knowledge and experiences that we will be looking for throughout the application and interview process.

	Experience, skills and knowledge	The part of the application/interview process this will be assessed
Essential	Education to A-level, college level or equivalent workplace experience.	Application
	Experience in housing, training and providing general care to a variety of raptor species (ideally using restraint-free R+ training techniques and if not, commitment to learning and working under this form of practice).	Application & second interview
	Knowledge of The Bird of Prey Project and its mission.	Application & first interview
	Visible, inspiring and empathetic leadership of employees and volunteers.	Application & both interviews
	Proven leadership and project management skills.	Application & first interview
	Excellent written and verbal communication skills to represent the organisation to external groups and bodies.	Written – application, verbal – interview
	Business management and financial skills to understand budgets, forecasting, income generation, business function and strategy, or a willingness to learn these skills.	First interview
	Confidence in reviewing and/or developing policies and procedures.	First interview
	Collaboration skills to work cohesively in a team and build new relationships on behalf of the charity.	Application and second interview
	Confident using a variety of IT software including all major Microsoft programmes.	Application and first interview
	Ability to understand and use a marketing strategy.	First interview
	A full UK driver’s licence.	Application
Desirable	Experience managing birds of prey using restraint-free R+ training techniques.	Application and second interview
	Confidence meeting UK zoo licence requirements.	Application and both interviews
	Experience in the successful use of social media, website development, mailing lists and other forms of digital media.	Application and first interview
	Some experience in fundraising or appealing for individual giving.	First interview

Apply

This is a permanent, full-time role for 40 hours per week. We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from w/c 26^th of May – we will screen and interview applicants as applications come in, so we’d advise you to apply as soon as possible. We reserve the right to close the post early in the event of appointing a candidate.

Before applying, please read the Job Description.

To apply, please download and complete the application form and email the completed form, with a CV and cover letter to naomi@birdofpreyproject.org.

The Bird of Prey Project is an equal opportunities employer.

To apply for this post, you must have the right to live and work in the UK. We’d advise that you download and read the job description and candidate guidance notes before applying.

2025 Seasonal part time bird keeper

The Bird of Prey Project currently has a vacancy an 8 hour a week weekend position as a bird keeper.

Salary: £12.21 per hour

We are looking to recruit a new member of senior bird team to work on a weekend day from June to September to support the provision of flying displays, experiences and education to centre visitors, and continue the progression of advanced ethical welfare standards for the birds in our care.

The Senior Bird Team is responsible for managing the care and welfare of the birds resident at The Project. This includes:

• Provision of a clean, comfortable and safe environment
• Preparing and feeding appropriate diets
• Carrying out R+ training activities to enhance welfare and positive relationships between birds and keepers
• Keeping facilities and equipment in good working in order through cleaning and maintenance

You’d also be responsible for delivering a high calibre of engaging education with our visitors, including the running of multiple experiences and flying displays a day.

Managing a volunteers is a key aspect of the role, and you’d be expected to act as a leadership role for the volunteers working on site when you are in.

The successful applicant should have an enthusiasm for learning, working as part of a varied team and confidence to develop skills in communicating with the public.

Key responsibilities

• Act as Duty Manager on site in the absence of a more senior lead
• Carry out training activities with a range of resident birds
• Clean and maintain on-site facilities
• Lead displays and experiences for the public
• Manage a volunteer team – including the delegation of workload

Essential skills, knowledge and experiences

• Knowledge of The Bird of Prey Project and its mission
• Confident communication to public audiences
• Some experience working with birds of prey and owls

Desired skills knowledge and experiences

• Experience managing birds of prey in an R+ restraint free training practices
• A full UK drivers license

How to apply

This is fixed term contract (June – September) for 8 hours per week. We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from w/c 12^th May 2025. For further information please contact naomi@birdofpreyproject.org. 

To apply, please download and complete the application form and email the completed form with a CV and cover letter to naomi@birdofpreyproject.org.

The Bird of Prey Project is an equal opportunities employer.

The successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract. We would advise that you read the candidate guidance notes before completing your application.