Living Collection Manager

Scotlink; Burscough; On-site; GBP 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A conservation organization located in Burscough is seeking a passionate Living Collections Manager. This role involves overseeing a diverse collection of wetland birds and mammals, ensuring exceptional animal husbandry and public engagement. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in animal management and team leadership. Competitive salary, generous leave, and other perks are offered, alongside a mission-driven work environment focused on wetland restoration.

Benefits

33 days annual leave (increasing with service)

Free entry to all wetland centres

Colleague discounts

Cycle to work scheme

Contributory pension scheme

Life Assurance of three times salary

Qualifications

• Educated to A level standard with an Animal Management qualification or equivalent.
• Extensive animal husbandry experience, especially in aviculture.
• Experience with team management and engaging people management skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the care and management of a collection of wetland birds and mammals.
• Ensure high levels of animal husbandry and grounds presentation.
• Public engagement and participation in duty management team.

Skills

Animal husbandry

Team management

Excellent communication skills

Planning and organization

Education

A level standard or equivalent with an Animal Management qualification

Relevant degree (desirable)

Tools

Knowledge of UK zoo legislation

Experience in exhibit design

Horticultural management experience

Job description

£34,405 per annum
Permanent
WWT Martin Mere, Burscough, Lancashire
Closing Date: 23/02/2026

About The Role

Exciting times are coming to Martin Mere, where we are planning considerable investment in redeveloping our zoological collection. As a result, we are looking to recruit a creative Living Collections Manager, with avicultural, grounds and people management experience, to take responsibility for our outstanding collection of wetland birds and mammals, to support our exciting development plans and to bring a team of keepers along for the ride.

The successful candidate will ensure that your team performs at the highest level, be instrumental in improving animal husbandry, build strong working relationships with other departments and contribute to developing new exhibits.

Other duties will include public engagement, keeping the grounds to a high standard of presentation and you will be part of the duty management team.

This is a permanent, full time position, working 37.5 hours per week including some weekends and bank holidays.

There is the possibility of short term rental of an on-site cottage, at a reasonable rental rate, for a period of up to 6 months for anyone who may need to relocate for the role.

We reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive a sufficient number of applications from candidates who meet the required skills and experience. We therefore encourage early applications.

About You

The successful candidate will:

• Be educated to A level standard, or equivalent, with an Animal Management qualification. A relevant degree being desirable
• Have extensive animal husbandry experience, in particular, aviculture
• Have knowledge of UK zoo legislation and animal welfare
• Have demonstrable experience of team management and be an engaging people manager with excellent planning and organisation skills
• Have excellent communication skills
• Experience of the design and development of exhibits and horticultural management are desirable.
• If this sounds like you then click apply to be join of our dedicated team.

About Us

We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.

Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.

Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?

Why you’ll love working at WWT

• Wake up every day knowing your work is helping to restore wetlands, and our world
• Be surrounded and inspired by our team of passionate, dedicated people
• 33 days annual leave (which goes up to 38 days after 5 years of service) – this includes bank holidays and you have flexibility to take those days whenever you want
• Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
• Free car parking and secure bike storage areas
• Colleague discount on shopping and memberships
• Cycle to work scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life Assurance of three times your salary, for peace of mind for your loved ones
• Independent personal, workplace and financial advice from Care first

WWT is an equal opportunities employer and all applications will be considered solely on merit.

Apply here