Lead Wildlife Emergency Response - Conservation & Science

• Ongoing full-time position 
• Salary Band 5 from $106,623 p.a. + 12% superannuation
• Based at Zoos Victoria Corporate office Parkville with travel required to other sites/locations

Zoos Victoria operates four landmark zoos, Healesville Sanctuary, Kyabram Fauna Park, Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo. Victoria's zoos are made up of passionate, energetic and driven employees committed to fighting wildlife extinction. Every person, from the extensive range of disciplines, plays an important role in helping the organisation realise its vision to become a world leading zoo-based conservation organisation.  

The Lead, Wildlife Emergency Response provides operational leadership for Zoos Victoria's response to wildlife emergencies, including coordination of the Marine Response Unit and broader emergency events such as heat stress incidents, bushfires, oil spills, floods and disease outbreaks. Working closely with the Manager Wildlife Welfare, the role oversees the readiness, deployment and day-to-day operation of emergency response activities, ensuring timely, coordinated and effective action to support wildlife welfare outcomes in dynamic and often high-pressure environments. 

Key accountabilities of the role:

• Lead and coordinate the Marine Response Unit, ensuring readiness, deployment and effective response to marine wildlife welfare incidents. 
• Lead and support Zoos Victoria's response to wildlife emergencies, including heat events, bushfires, oil spills, floods and disease incidents. 
• Coordinate marine and emergency responses with partner agencies, ensuring aligned roles, communication and operational delivery. 
• Support robust evaluation of marine and emergency response programs to implement continuous improvement.?? 
• Manage risks associated with marine and emergency response programs and partnerships, including safeguarding, reputational risk, and values?alignment.? 
• Lead, support, and coordinate team members, including workforce planning, rostering, approval of timesheets, and ensuring compliance with industrial, workplace, and organisational requirements.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Certificate or other relevant degree in veterinary nursing or medicine 
• Demonstrated experience in wildlife rescue, emergency response and/or rehabilitation, including field-based situations.
• Proven experience in the management, capture and restraint of wildlife. 
• Experience assessing, reporting and communicating observations related to animal behaviour, health and welfare.
• Advanced technical skills in wildlife handling, restraint and welfare focused management. 
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of wildlife emergency response in Victoria. 
• Valid Working with Children check 

For more information on this role, please refer to the position description available on our current vacancies webpage at www.zoo.org.au/about-us/careers/  

Please submit a maximum two page cover letter, and resume by clicking on the 'Apply' link below. 

If you have any questions about this role, please contact Garry Peterson gpeterson@zoo.org.au

Applications close COB 8 October 2026 

At Zoos Victoria we value diversity, celebrate difference and work to be inclusive in everything we do. We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, people with disability and people from the LGBTIQA+ community. In addition, Zoos Victoria will provide reasonable adjustments for individuals with disability, illness or injury. If you require adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process,?please advise via hrhelpdesk@zoo.org.au or visit?https://www.zoo.org.au/about-us/careers/inclusion-and-diversity/ for more information.?