If you've dreamed of being a zoo keeper or you want to work at one of the UK's top attractions, now's your chance.
Around two million people visit Chester Zoo each year to see 27,000 animals. The zoo is often on the lookout for staff and there are currently several jobs on offer - including one role where you work with parrots and penguins.
The zoo also offers a few perks to its employees. This includes a staff pass so that you can visit the zoo during your time off and multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family. You also get 33 days holiday per year.
Keeper - parrots and penguins
Description: You will be involved in the daily care and husbandry of a wide range of bird species including parrots, penguins, passerines, hornbills and pheasants.
Hours: 40 hours a week - three months fixed term contract
Pay: £24,632.63 per year
Qualifications: A HND or degree level qualification in a zoological-related science or equivalent experience.
Events assistant manager
Description: As part of the food and beverage team, the events assistant manager will be responsible for the daily management of the team working across all event spaces at the zoo, including the new wedding and events venue 'The Square'.
Hours: You’ll be working a variety of shifts, including days and evenings for events such as weddings and corporate functions. Contract hours are 40 hours per week, five days out of seven on a rota basis including weekends and bank holidays.
Pay: £29,021.21 per year
Qualifications: Event operation experience operating in a high-volume business, at a mid-management level, preferably in a leading event destination.
Security support officer
Description: You will maintain the highest level of security at the zoo delivering proactive and effective prevention activities and emergency response. Conduct effective security tasks including surveillance, people searches, foot and mobile patrols during the day and night
Support the security team ensuring that regular reviews of security vulnerabilities are identified and highlighted, addressed or suitably mitigated and demonstrate a high level of competency in the use of security systems to maximise their operational benefit.
Hours: Minimum eight hours per week, with up to 40 hours per week available during busy periods.
Pay: £10.98 per hour. Temporary contract until September 2023, with a possibility of this being extended.
Qualifications: Previous experience in a similar role
Horticulturist - projects
Description: The horticulturist will be part of a team who develop and maintain a wide range of horticultural features and activities within Chester Zoo's animal and plant division and the wider zoo environment. The horticulturist will landscape and plant animal enclosures and garden features, maintaining lawns, hedges, bedding displays, mature trees and the zoo’s newly created five-hectare nature reserve and browse areas at Woodside farm.
Hours: Hours of work are 40 hours per week, worked 10 days out of 14, including weekends and bank holidays as rostered.
Pay: £24,632.63
Qualifications: A minimum of NVQ Level 2 in Horticulture is desirable, and proven practical horticultural experience. PA1 and PA6 spraying certificates.
Community engagement manager
Description: The community engagement manager is responsible for developing and managing the zoo’s work with communities, with a particular focus on audiences who are underrepresented in conservation, volunteering and on supporting conservation education work internationally.
You will work on projects both local to the zoo and internationally (mostly via remote means) in support of the zoo's conservation work around the world.
Hours: 32 hours a week
Pay: £32,886.29 per year. Temporary fixed term contract (13 months)
Qualifications: Extensive experience developing community focused programmes and projects, preferably within an environmental education, conservation or similar organisation.
Multi-site food and beverage supervisor
Description: You will be responsible for the zoo's coffee shop and kiosk teams. You will have responsibility for the day-to-day running of two coffee shops, eight kiosks and over 10 pop up units and will be managing a team in excess of 70 during our busy summer period.
You will run your units along with the support of your coordinator and under the supervision of the senior food and beverage team.
Hours: You'll be working a variety of shifts, five days out of seven on a rota basis including weekends and bank holidays. Hours of work will generally be during our core zoo opening hours, although evening work will be required for special events such as ‘Into the night’ and ‘The Lanterns’.
Pay: Salary of £26,487.02 based on 40 hours
Qualifications: Demonstrable experience in a similar role, ideally with multi-site experience
Food and beverage coordinator
Description: You will run your units along with the support of your coordinator and under the supervision of the senior food and beverage team.
Hours: You'll be working a variety of shifts, five days out of seven on a rota basis including weekends and bank holidays. Hours of work will generally be during our core zoo opening hours, although evening work will be required for special events such as ‘Into the night’ and ‘The Lanterns’.
Pay: £22,844.02 based on 40 hours, plus paid overtime
Qualifications: Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Food and beverage assistant/barista
Description: The zoo is looking for an experienced barista to work in their South East Asian inspired House of Sumatra coffee shop, preparing and serving authentic Indonesian food and drinks.
Hours: Minimum 20 hours per week
Pay: £10.49 per hour. Flexible hours with a guaranteed 20 hours per week available.
Qualifications: Barista training, with experience of working in a coffee shop or venue serving hand crafted drinks.
Chef de Partie
Description: Under the direction of the sous chef and lead chef you will be responsible for your own section, preparing meals for a variety of events, including weddings and other special occasions, as well as large corporate functions and bespoke events.
Hours: You’ll work 40 hours per week, five days out of seven.
Pay: £24,632.63 per annum, plus overtime
Qualifications: Previous chef experience, preferably gained in a leading British gastro-pub or events venue and Level 2 Food Safety qualification.
You can win four Merlin Gold Passes for a year of free entry to top attractions
