Title:  Trainee Animal Trainer-Presenter

He angitūtanga: The opportunity

An incredible opportunity waits for an Animal Trainer-Presenter to join the Animal Experiences Team. We connect visitors with our animals and ignite a passion for wildlife and conservation through free-flight bird displays and up-close encounters.

Day to day responsibilities include communicating Auckland Zoo’s conservation messages in a fun and entertaining way, implementing animal training plans and maintaining high animal welfare standards by providing exemplary care. You will commit to ensuring a safe and enjoyable environment for animals, staff, and zoo visitors.

This is a permanent part-time weekend position of 16 hours per week (Saturday and Sunday) with additional hours available during school holidays including some public holidays. It would be suited to a candidate current studying in a related subject who is looking for part-time work to fit around their studies. 

Click this link to access the Position Description

He kōrero mōu: About you

You will have excellent communication skills and some experience with public presentations. Your passion for wildlife conservation will inspire the same enthusiasm in our visitors. The nature of this fast-paced high energy role will require you to be adaptable, quick-thinking, motivated and to work well with your team while having fun!

You will demonstrate the following skills/experience:

• Aptitude for maintaining trained animal behaviours. These are all natural behaviours, trained using positive reinforcement to enable storytelling of their wild counterparts and habitats. Previous experience of animal training would be an advantage.
• Proven experience and enjoyment of public speaking in a range of contexts. We deliver small intimate VIP interactions to public demonstrations with hundreds of zoo visitors.
• Experience in delivering animal encounters and displays for public audiences would be an advantage.
• Active participation in team development through mutual sharing of skills and peer reviews.
• A driver's licence recognised in New Zealand is also essential. 

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou: What we offer
The Animal Experiences team is a vital part of our zoo, playing an important part in ensuring visitors to Auckland Zoo not only have a memorable experience, but a connection with animals that leaves them wanting to make a positive impact on our environment and the conservation of species within New Zealand, and around the world.

The salary for this role is $62,192.00 – 63,169.60 (per annum, skills and experience dependant), four weeks annual leave, rising to five weeks after five years, and a range of partnership discounts and benefits; a snapshot of which can be viewed Here

Tono mo te mahi/To Apply

• Please provide a bespoke cover letter and CV
• No need to add your roles in the non-mandatory fields if your CV is up to date
• You need to have the right to work in NZ already. We are unable to support visa applications for this role.

Closing date for this role is Sunday 4 October 2026

This role is deemed safety sensitive and in line with Auckland Council policy, you will be required to complete pre-employment drug and alcohol testing.

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and we are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application to assist you through the recruitment process.