Community and Learning Apprentice

Overview of the role:  

As a Community and Learning Apprentice you would be part of the team supporting the activities in Community and Learning and ensuring participants have positive experiences at the Zoo. This role sits within the Community and Learning team (C&L), which includes the ‘Learning Programme’ offering activities for school groups, the ‘Careers and Youth Programme’ offering vocational and work-based learning opportunities to learners from underrepresented backgrounds, and the ‘Community Programme’ offering workshops and events for people in our targeted community groups. Our team also offers professional development opportunities to teachers and other conservation professionals.

Working closely with our digital team, this role will also support a specific project to create and film short, educational videos for a secondary school audience. Your role within this project will be to identify learning objectives, link curricula to video content, write scripts and scientific content to support learning and develop accompanying educational resources such as worksheets and activities.

You will also work with a nominated learning provider to develop occupational standards (knowledge, skills and behaviours) as set out in the Level 3 Cultural Learning and Participation Apprentice standard (Cultural learning and participation officer / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education). The apprenticeship will begin in December 2024, for 21 months. We are planning for an early December start date at ZSL. 

You will be based at Whipsnade Zoo but required to travel regularly (weekly) to the London Zoo site.

Key responsibilities:  

Minimum Requirements or Basic Qualifications

• Confidence using computers.
• Grade 4 or above in GCSE English, Maths and a science subject.
• Experience working with young people in a formal or informal setting.
• Motivated to work towards conservation of animals and their habitats.
• Knowledge of the work of ZSL.

Additional role requirements

• You will be based at Whipsnade Zoo but required to travel regularly (weekly) to the London Zoo site.
• Days onsite each week will be required but flexible working can be discussed.
• This post will require extensive outside working with direct exposure to the weather.
• As the post involves working with children an enhanced DBS check will be required.

This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate's right to work in the UK.

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.  

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