[28/10/2025] Animal Welfare and Ethics Manager

Overview

Join Perth Zoo, a global leader in wildlife conservation, and be part of one of the world’s best inner‑city zoos. Our purpose is clear: empowering a future where wildlife and humanity thrive together. With significant changes and developments underway, there has never been a better time to join our dynamic and passionate team.

Applications

APPLICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION CLOSE AT MIDDAY ON TUESDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 2025

About You

We are seeking a highly skilled and qualified veterinary professional with a passion for animal welfare and conservation. You will provide expert advice and oversight on animal welfare practices, ensuring compliance with statutory obligations, accreditation standards, and Perth Zoo’s strategic objectives.

About the Role

Lead animal welfare practice within Perth Zoo, working in a leading leaders context to drive positive change in the public sector.

Responsibilities

- Provide specialist advice on animal welfare, ethics, and compliance, ensuring adherence to the Animal Welfare Act 2002, the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, and ZAA accreditation standards.

- Apply veterinary knowledge to assess and enhance animal welfare outcomes, including participation in ethical review processes and welfare audits.

- Lead the development and implementation of animal welfare policies, SOPs, and monitoring frameworks to maintain best practice standards.

- Collaborate with internal teams, regulatory bodies, and external partners to promote animal welfare excellence and continuous improvement.

- Support staff capability by delivering training and guidance on welfare compliance and ethical practices.

Selection Criteria

- Degree in Veterinary Science and registration (or eligibility for registration) with the Veterinary Practice Board of Western Australia.

- Veterinary specialist status in a relevant field (e.g., Zoological Medicine, Wildlife Population Health, Animal Welfare, Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law) or post‑graduate qualification in those fields.

- Demonstrated clinical expertise in zoo or wildlife veterinary medicine, including diagnostics, emergency care and preventative health management.

- Comprehensive knowledge of legislative and regulatory governance relating to animal welfare and animal ethics, including the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes.

- Proven ability to provide strategic advice and lead initiatives related to animal welfare, ethics, and veterinary governance with the ability to build collaborative relationships across internal and external stakeholders.

- Experience supervising research students and contributing to academic programs.

About Us

We are a statutory authority of the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), one of Western Australia’s largest state government agencies, providing exciting and challenging career opportunities in biodiversity conservation and park and natural resource management.

For more information on what we do, our recruitment process, and why working at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is an attractive proposition, please visit our website.

Why Work at Perth Zoo

- 12 % superannuation, full employer contribution

- Salary packaging options

- Discounted health insurance

- Free entry to the Zoo for you and four other people

- Free Behind the Scenes offering to Perth Zoo staff

- Access to flexible working arrangements

- Three days additional public sector holidays each year

- Leave for study, bereavement, foster caring and parenting

- Free access to a confidential employee assistance program (EAP) for you and your family, which includes psychology and counselling services.

How to Apply

- A covering letter.

- A statement addressing the above requested six (6) criteria (in no more than three (3) pages).

- A current CV, including the details of two referees with one being a recent or current manager/supervisor.

All applications are to be submitted online.

Note: Interviews will not commence until early – mid December 2025.

Contact

For further job‑related information, contact John Lemon on (08)9474 0304 or for further information about Perth Zoo, visit https://perthzoo.wa.gov.au/.

Attachments

- DBCA Job Application Form.docx

- DBCA Job Application Kit.docx

- Job Description Form ZPA3173041.pdf

Eligibility

To be eligible for permanent appointment, it is essential to have Australian citizenship, New Zealand citizenship or Australian permanent residency status. To be eligible for contract employment, it is essential to have a visa with entitlement to live and work in Australia for the term of the contract.

Substantive Equality Statement

Perth Zoo is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages Indigenous Australians, young people, people with disabilities, people from culturally diverse backgrounds and women to apply for positions within our agency. The Department also promotes flexible working arrangements. People with disability will be provided with reasonable adjustments in our recruitment processes and in the workplace.

Applicants with a disability who require adjustments in the recruitment process, including an alternative to applying online, can contact the Senior Recruitment Officer on (08)92199879 or recruitment@dbca.wa.gov.au. Do not send applications to this email; they will not be accepted.

If you are an Aboriginal person who would like assistance with your application, please contact Jobs and Skills WA on 13 64 64.

Additional Information

Similar appointments may be made from this process within a 12‑month period to positions that may be permanent or contract, including contract appointments with the possibility of subsequent permanency.

We have a detailed Job Application Kit to provide information about us, the values of the department and practical guidance on the process for you. Please ensure you have saved your documents in MS Word (.docx files only) or PDF format and have allowed plenty of time to submit your application, as late, emailed and proforma applications will not be accepted.

Prior to commencement, the successful applicant will need to possess or obtain a current (issue date not older than six months) satisfactory National Police Check, a pre‑employment medical and zoonosis vaccination program, a current Western Australian Driver’s Licence.

#J-18808-Ljbffr