Jersey Zoo Internships

• A placement at Jersey Zoo will provide the training and experience you need to pursue a career in the conservation or Zoo sector. 

  Am I eligible to apply?

  Applicants must be over 18 years and studying or have completed their studies in a relevant subject (degree or diploma level) and/or can demonstrate their passion for working in a zoo or conservation environment. For our field programme internship, you must be over the age of 21 years and have held a driving license for more than one year.

  Where can I train?

  Interns can train in any of the departments listed below. Click on the files below to read more about what training you might receive in that department and who this placement would suit. Please be aware that many of the departments can only accept one student at a time, so although we try and cater for everyone's first choice of department, this may not always be possible.

  
  

• Bird Intern role description File
• Mammal Intern role description File
• Herpetology Intern role description File
• Field Programme Intern role description File
• Learning/Education Intern role description File
• Hear from our graduates about their internship experience

      

    
  

  Watch a video of A Day in the Life of an Intern

  
     

     
  

• Internship Testimonials Interactive Content
• Sounds great, when can I start?

  Internship training posts are filled a year in advance, so all positions for August 2022 -September 2023 are currently filled. Applications for the next cohort will open on September 1st 2022. You can also keep an eye on our Home page for any announcements of slots opening up during the year or on our Durrell Conservation Academy Facebook Page!
  

  
  

  The next available internships will be July 2023- August 2024. Placement 10-12 month in length will start between July and October 2023. Short placements (6-9 months in length) will typically start later in the year or into early 2024. Placements for all departments except the Learning Department* are available throughout the year, subject to availability. 

  * internships on the Learning Department are only available for 6 months between March-Sept 2024.

  How long can my placement be?

  Applicants must commit to a 6 -12 month placement. Placements of longer than 9 months will automatically take place in two different departments. There are opportunities to carry out research project while carrying out your internship.
  
  

  
  

  Will I be paid?

  Unfortunately not, as we are a charity our internship training programme is unpaid. Interns will be provided with a uniform and offered free bus travel to the zoo and a free lunch pass to eat lunch at our Cafe Dodo for the duration of their internship. As well as hand on experience, the interns will be provided with a lecture each month given by experts in their fields. Interns must be prepared to cover all other food, travel and accommodation costs for the duration of their placement. Unfortunately we do not offer scholarships for these training placements.

  
  

  Do you provide accommodation?

  We do not provide accommodation, so Interns must arrange this for themselves. As Jersey is a costly island to live, we do provide a list of affordable places in family homes that are commonly used by Interns each year.  The approximate cost of this accommodation is £90-£120/week.which is significantly cheaper than the prices on the Jersey open market. Interns must confirm at interview that they are capable of paying these costs for the duration of the placement for which they have applied. The accommodation list is short, therefore it may be necessary for Interns to find their own alternatives.

  
  

• How to apply?

  Applications for September 2023- August 2024 cohort will be open between 1st September and all applications must be in before the 1st December 2023. Applications after this date will not be accepted.

  Our Internship programme is very popular and their are limited places available. Therefore we have an application process that ensures those that will benefit most from the training receive the opportunity, whilst ensuring that the training we offer is right for the applicant as well. There a couple of steps in this process

  Step 1 Complete the Applications form by clicking this link https://forms.office.com/r/6F0LMEnayK. or using the embedded form below. If you are unable to use the form, then please email your answers using the same format of questions to gale.glendewar@durrell.org. A PDF of the List of the questions can be found below the embedded form, if you want to start preparing them before you apply. Some applicants will also be asked to supply their CV before the end of December to support their application.

  Step 2 Candidates through to second stage will be approached in early January to arrange an online informal interview (due to high numbers of applicant we will not be contacting unsuccessful candidates with personalised feedback at this stage)

  Step 3 Successful applicants will be offered internship places in early February (and earlier if this is required by University or ERASMUS applications) 

  We look forward to receiving your application, and wish you the best of luck with your application!

  
  
  

  
  

• List of Internship Application Questions File
• Research Opportunities

  If you are just interested in carrying out Zoo based research as part of a degree research requirement, then there is no need to apply for the Internship. Instead you can contact our Zoo research Coordinator Dr Eluned Price eluned.price@durrell.org to discuss your project proposal or find out about research projects that we need people to carry out. Please read the Research policy PDF below for more details.

  
  

  Vet Internships

  Internships for the Veterinary department are not part of the student/internship programme. Places are only open to 4th Year veterinary students and above. The Student placements are on a first come first served basis and are extremely popular, with all placement filled up to mid 2023. 

  If you are interested in securing a place and are eligible to apply, then please send you application to veterinary@durrell.org to check availability for 2023.

  
  

• Research Policy File