Christmas Event Staff - Head Elf

• Play a Christmas Elf at London Zoo. This would primary be located in our Santa’s Grotto but may be positioned around site at various other Christmas event locations. As an Elf, you will ensure that every visitor both big and small has a truly special experience.
• To assist children with the craft activity in the grotto, and to ensure each child gets their magical time with Santa.
• You will lead in the supervision of a team of Christmas elves, ensuring they all deliver a high-standard of customer service.
• You will take the lead in ensuring all guest queries within the grotto are troubleshooted effectively and managed within a prompt timeframe.
• Ensure the Grotto runs to time and on schedule.
• Assist with the delivery of an expanding programme of the Magic of Christmas event which reflect and support the objectives and long-term strategy of ZSL in building our relationships with all our supporters and to the wider public.
• To assist the Events team in the set-up, running and de-rig of the event on site
• To help manage visitors and assist with direction and participation in activities on event days.
• Be responsible for recording visitor data where required.
• To ensure the safety of our visitors and the event is kept to the highest standards always
• To ensure event materials are kept well stocked throughout event days.

• Working with the public in a face-to-face setting.
• Experience in delivering excellent customer service is essential. Experience working with children or young people in a formal or informal environment is essential.
• Previous experience working as part of an event.
• Previous experience in problem-solving in a customer- or visitor-facing role.
• The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication skills
• Be confident in dealing with the general public
• Flexible to adapt to a constantly changing environment and know when to escalate a situation to higher management
• Ability to multi-task
• Be outgoing and create a positive and fun working environment
• This post will require extensive outside working with direct exposure to the weather and animals.
• This post is zoo based
• This post requires frequent work during weekends and occasional early mornings/evenings
• Strong commitment to creating a culture that lives ZSL values and commitment to safeguarding, equality and diversity (collaborative, inspiring, inclusive, innovative, impactful and ethical)
• To comply with and promote Health and Safety policies and procedures

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.  

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  
• Family friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption packages