Zookeeper jobs

About the Role

Tropical Marine Centre is a world-leading marine livestock business, and our Chorleywood site is at the heart of our UK operations. We’re looking for a Junior Aquarist to join a passionate, hard-working team who take the welfare of every animal in their care seriously.

This is a hands-on role where attention to detail and a genuine care for animals matter more than prior experience with marine species specifically. Whether you come from an aquatic background or simply have a deep love of animals and a meticulous, methodical approach to everything you do — we’d like to hear from you.

You’ll be working across all aspects of daily livestock husbandry — from acclimating new arrivals and maintaining life-support systems, to feeding, tank and system care, and supporting our customers. Full training is provided; what we need from you is a strong work ethic, the ability to stay calm and focused under pressure, and a real commitment to the animals in your care.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Acclimating incoming livestock shipments — precision and care from the moment they arrive
• Hands-on maintenance of our fish-house systems (sumps, filtration, water chemistry — the works)
• Feeding livestock and monitoring fish welfare to our high standards
• Tank cleaning and housekeeping of the fish-house environment
• Coral fragging — an interest or experience here is a real bonus
• Picking and packing livestock for sales deliveries and calling customers, accurately and on time
• Supporting face-to-face customer interactions in the Fish-House
• Quarantine room protocols: unpacking and acclimating new arrivals safely

What We’re Looking For

You don’t need a CV packed with qualifications — you need the right attitude and a genuine passion for marine life. Specifically:

• A real interest in aquatics or animal care (marine experience is a bonus, not a requirement)
• Hands-on, proactive approach — you see something that needs doing and you do it
• Flexibility: livestock doesn’t follow a 9–5, and neither does this role
• Ability to work to deadlines and stay cool under pressure — animal welfare can’t wait
• Positive ‘can do’ attitude and strong attention to detail
• Good communication skills — you’ll be working closely with the team and with customers
• Interest in coral fragging is advantageous

Hours, Salary & Benefits

This is a full-time role working 42.5 hours per week. Fish-house shifts include early starts and late finishes, and weekend support is required on a rolling rota basis

Salary starts at National Minimum Wage, with additional shift and weekend payments introduced after a successful probationary period. You’ll be joining a team that genuinely loves what they do, in a growing business with real opportunities to develop your skills in marine husbandry.

We can accommodate an immediate start.

Job Types: Full-time, Temporary
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: Up to £26,450.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking
• Store discount

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Chorleywood WD3: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Application question(s):

• State your Pet keeping or fish-keeping experience

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person