Job opportunities

Visitor Experiences Keeper

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

We are looking to recruit a qualified Visitor Experience Keeper, to join our Visitor Experiences team to host our popular animal experiences. Our amazing Keeper for a Day experience gives participants a once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with some of ZSL’s most popular animals and also offers a unique insight into the day-to-day life of our keepers and their charges. Our Meet the Animals experiences gives participants aged 8 years and up the opportunity to feed our a range of animals and ask any burning questions that they may have. When not hosting our range of animal experiences you will work on on specific animal team for which there is a large requirement for manual work.

Key responsibilities:  

• Host Visitor Experiences such as Keeper for a Day and Meet the Animals.
• Maintain a sufficient and in-depth knowledge about each individual animal or species which features on the Keeper for a Day/meet the animals programmes.
• Ensure that you have a sufficient knowledge of the work of ZSL as a conservation organisation.
• Maintain a pro-active approach to contact with the public, ensuring communication with guests is friendly and welcoming and pitched at an appropriate level for age, interest and circumstances
• Research, as required animals and new possibilities for inclusion on experiences and contribute towards discussions on the development of new and existing animal experiences.
• Be aware of access issues, modifying the approach to and treatment of individuals and groups with particular needs accordingly.

ABOUT YOU

• A qualification in zoo animal management such as DMZAA or equivalent.
• Proven experience as a qualified or senior keeper working with a range of species.
• Experience hosting experiences or presenting to a variety of audiences.
• Clear and effective oral and written communication skills
• Good computer skills
• Full, clean driving licence (essential)
• An Enhanced DBS check (essential)

We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage. We are committed to ensuring our teams can bring their authentic selves to work without fear of discrimination. ZSL has active equality networks for our staff with lived experience and those who provide active allyship in Race and Culture, Team Pride, Disability Network, and Menopause Network, complemented by our strategic EDI Steering Group.  

Please note: This is a permanent position and will require working every other weekend and bank holidays on a set rota.

ABOUT US

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.  

What do we offer?  

At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits. Our benefits include: 

• Our vision and purpose - you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science-led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct  
• Pension scheme - we offer a generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension
• Flexible working – talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you  
• Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays  Wellbeing – access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme  
• Life assurance – eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL’s life assurance scheme from their first day 
• Complimentary tickets – annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a 30% discount in online and retail shops  
• Cycle2Work - our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle  
• Season ticket loan - we offer an interest free loan for eligibly London-based employees to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work 
• Family friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption packages  

NB: We reserve the right to close our advertisement early or extend the advertising date until a suitable candidate has been found.