Animal Welfare and Ethics Manager

Position No: ZPA3173041

Salary/Level: Specified CallingLevel 3, $129,211 - $142,460 p.a. plus Superannuation

Tenure: Permanent, Full-time

Location: Perth Zoo, Western Australia

Reporting to the Director of Life Sciences, this role leads Perth Zoo's animal welfare, ethics, and veterinary science functions. It provides expert advice, supports the Animal Ethics Committee, and ensures compliance with relevant legislation and ethical standards. The role delivers high-quality veterinary care, contributes to conservation and emergency wildlife response, and advances welfare science through research and collaboration. It also supports staff training and student supervision, helping position Perth Zoo as a leader in animal care and welfare.

At Perth Zoo, we have adopted Leadership Expectations which provides a common understanding of the mindsets and expected behaviours required of all our employees. In this role, you will be working in a Leading Leaders context to help drive positive change in the public sector.

The successful applicant will be required to possess or obtain a current and satisfactory National Police Check, a pre-employment medical and Zoonosis vaccination program and a current Western Australian Drivers Licence prior to commencement.

Application Instructions:

To allow the selection panel to make an accurate assessment of your application, please submit the following:

• A covering letter.
• A statement addressing the below 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.
• Upload a copy of industry qualification (per Criteria 1)

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

Selection Criteria

1. Degree in Veterinary Science and registration (or eligibility for registration) with the Veterinary Practice Board of Western Australia.
2. 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 the above fields.
3. Demonstrated clinical expertise in zoo or wildlife veterinary medicine, including diagnostics, emergency care and preventative health management.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Experience supervising research students and contributing to academic programs.

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.

A search for additional applicants may be conducted for this position where necessary to provide a more diverse and/or competitive field.

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 or  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

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.

Please click "Apply" and you will be redirected to the WA Government Jobs Board website at where you can submit your application online.

For further information about the Zoological Parks Authority, please visit

For further job-related information, please contact John Lemon on

Closing date: Tuesday, 25 November 2025 at 12 noon AWST (3pm AEDT). No late or pro forma applications will be accepted.