Role:  Senior Veterinarian - Taronga Zoo

Step into a pivotal leadership role at Taronga and shape the future of wildlife health, welfare, and conservation. As Taronga’s (Sydney) Senior Veterinarian, you will provide high‑level clinical leadership, guide a dedicated and skilled veterinary team, and oversee the health and welfare of one of the most diverse animal collections in the region.

• Located at Sydney’s Iconic Taronga Zoo, Cammeraigal Country
• Full-time Ongoing position
• TCSA Salaried Employees Award, Clerk Grade 11/12, annual salary package starting from $169,716 (includes base salary starting from $149,736 + plus superannuation & leave loading)

About the Role…

This role offers the opportunity to influence preventative and clinical care, drive continuous improvement, and contribute to innovative conservation and research outcomes. As a senior leader within the Taronga Wildlife Hospital, you will mentor veterinary professionals, manage critical veterinary and biosecurity services, and support guest engagement and professional training, while upholding the highest standards of animal welfare.

Key Accountabilities:

• Lead veterinary and biosecurity services, ensuring best‑practice clinical care and strong animal welfare outcomes.
• Manage and mentor the Taronga Wildlife Hospital team, supporting capability, performance, and high‑quality service delivery.
• Oversee budgets, procurement, and resources to ensure efficient and sustainable hospital operations.
• Provide expert advice on wildlife medicine, pathology, welfare, and disease risk management to internal teams and external partners.
• Support research, training, and guest‑facing programs, ensuring clinical priorities and welfare standards remain central.
• Maintain a safe, compliant working environment through proactive risk management and adherence to WHS standards.

About You…

• A degree in Veterinary Medicine (or equivalent) and eligibility for registration with the Veterinary Practitioners Board of NSW, along with required vaccinations and a current NSW driver’s licence.
• Experience in zoo, wildlife, or exotic animal medicine, including preventative health programs, complex case management, and emergency response.
• Proven leadership experience overseeing veterinary teams or hospital operations, with a focus on capability building, mentorship, and maintaining high clinical standards.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, able to translate complex veterinary concepts for keepers, executives, students, media, and guests.
• A commitment to safety, ethics, compliance, and Taronga’s values, ensuring high standards in animal welfare, WHS, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience in the treatment and rehabilitation of wildlife, veterinary management of free-ranging wildlife and veterinary research.  
• Pre employment TB screening, Q Fever, Rabies and Tetanus vaccinations are a requirement of this role and must be obtained before employment, at the employees own expense  
• Obtain and maintain a current volunteer NSW Working with Children Check at own expense.

Benefits…

Our employees enjoy generous employment conditions including some of the following:

• Complimentary family and friends passes across both Taronga’s Sydney & Dubbo Zoo’s
• Free onsite car parking, outside of peak periods
• A wide range of discounts on our award winning accommodation across both sites
• Discounted food and beverage purchases across the sites
• Fitness Passport
• We’re a social team - there’s always lots going on around the zoo that we get involved with!
• + more!

We Value Diversity…

Taronga is an equal opportunity employer, where we recognise the diversity of our workforce and community – be it on the basis of gender, age, culture, religion, language or personal circumstances.

Taronga is also committed to building on the perspectives, experience, knowledge and skills that this diversity brings to our organisation.

About Applying…

Please submit your resume and a cover letter of one page. You are also required to complete the two target questions as part of your application.

1. Describe a time when you managed a high influx of clinical cases or simultaneous urgent demands. How did you prioritise workload, allocate resources, and ensure both animal welfare and staff wellbeing were maintained?

2. Describe your experience contributing to decisions around animal population management in a zoo or wildlife setting. In your response, outline how you balanced welfare considerations, genetic or regional program priorities, operational constraints, and the long‑term needs of the population, as well as how you engaged with stakeholders.

Applications Close: 11:59pm, Sunday 15 February 2026