Working with us

We are a relatively small organisation, employing a small visitor services team with seasonal staff in the cafe, shop and gate and just ten full time animal keepers. All our keepers are required to have, or to be training towards, an appropriate zoo animal management qualification. If you are interested in working in zoos you can download this PDF which may give you some useful websites.

About us

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) owns and manages Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park.  Both parks are premier visitor attractions, offering visitors an excellent day out.  The Highland Wildlife Park is located in the Cairngorms National Park, 7 miles south of Aviemore. 

Current Vacancies

Click here for the list of current vacancies at RZSS

Work Placements

Our student work placement programme is especially appropriate for students undertaking an animal-related course of study (such as Animal Management, Animal Sciences, Conservation Education) who need first-hand work experience. We have now expanded our internship programme to include students in our Education Department; please note that you will either be an Animal work placement student or an Education work placement student (there is no overlap); please therefore ensure that you submit the correct application form. Due to the limited places available on our programme and the high number of applications we receive, we normally have to restrict acceptance to students whose course includes mandatory work placement. Note that we take students over 20 years of age only and you must ideally be able to stay for a minimum of one month. As we have only a small team of keepers, it is important that students work well with others and have a good standard of spoken English.

There is free bothy accommodation onsite for students if required (a small non-refundable fee is requested to cover admin & maintenance costs). We can arrange for students to be picked up from our nearest railway station at Kingussie.

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Further information plus full details of requirements, including how to apply, are contained in the application form.

If this information is of interest to you and you decide you would like to spend some time with us, please complete the relevant work placement application form and, following the instructions carefully, return it to us, marking it for the attention of the Animal Department Administrator, or e-mail to [email protected]

> Animal Department Application

> Education Department Application

Research at the Highland Wildlife Park

As part of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, the Highland Wildlife Park is committed to promoting the conservation of threatened species and habitats. We welcome enquiries from students who wish to carry out research projects with regard to our animals or any other issues pertaining to the Park.

For Advanced Higher Biology students please click here and complete the Advanced Higher Biology application form and return it to [email protected]

For tertiary students please contact Mrs Jan Morse via email [email protected]  with specific details of your proposed research project.

Please note that any research students who wish to stay on site must be over 20yrs of age Although we may occasionally be able to offer on-site accommodation, you should make special note of the Park's geographic location and limited transport options before contacting us as a location for your research project.

Associated Organisations

• British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums www.biaza.org.uk
• European Association of Zoos and Aquaria www.eaza.net
• Zoolex Zoo Design Organisation www.zoolex.org

Conservation Organisations and Wildlife Trusts

• John Muir Trust www.johnmuiraward.org
• The Mammal Society www.mammal.org.uk
• The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds www.rspb.org
• Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals www.scottishspca.org
• Scottish Natural Heritage www.snh.org.uk
• Scottish Wildlife Trust www.swt.org.uk
• Deer UK website www.deer-uk.com
• British Deer Society www.bds.org.uk
• International Otter Survival Fund www.otter.org