Visitor Experience Host

Overview of the role: 

We are looking for Visitor Experiences Hosts to enthral, engage and interact with guests through hosting our popular Lookout Lodge, Nature Night Overnight experiences and Hullabazoo Sleepovers at Whipsnade Zoo. See more details about our experiences here 

We are dedicated to and enthusiastic about our animals and you will have a talent for inspiring that same enthusiasm in our guests, giving them a once in a lifetime experience after hours at Whipsnade Zoo. 

Your days will be spent guiding guests on walking tours, some after dark, whilst inspiring, entertaining and educating them about the animals and work of ZSL. With a variety of animals and visitors at ZSL you will be confident interacting with guests of a wide age range, from our youngest, budding zoologists to our lifetime supporters.

Key responsibilities: 

The Visitor Experiences Hosts are responsible for presenting all of the talks and tours on the overnight experiences (Lookout Lodge, Nature Night and Hullabazoo Sleepovers) at Whipsnade Zoo. They should ensure the safety and comfort of guests throughout the experience whilst endeavouring to go above and beyond to ensure guests have a fantastic experience. They are also responsible for staying overnight to respond to any guest issues and emergencies and being the designated first aider for the guests and staff team.

• Welcome guests, and create a safe, relaxed and fun environment
• Entertain and engage guests with animal talks / tours around the zoo
• Be the first point of call for any guest issues i.e. late comers, complaints etc. Oversee and resolve, liaise with other ZSL staff if needed
• Ensure the talks and tours are exciting and engaging, help deliver the experience effectively to a high standard in order to achieve the educational and visitor enjoyment targets set by ZSL

The ideal candidate will have: 

• Excellent communication skills, an enthusiasm for the natural world and a flexible outlook to ensure that every guest has a great experience.
• Previous experience presenting public tours, talks, shows or events.
• Prior experience of working with children, ideally in an informal learning context.
• An Animal related and/or Performance degree course or equivalent qualification or work experience (desirable).
• A Full UK driving licence (essential).
• An Enhanced DBS Check is required for this role (essential)
• A First Aid at Work certificate/qualification (essential, training will be provided if required).

Contracts will be offered on a permanent annualised hours basis to reflect the needs of the business. Your contract will specify a set number of hours that you will work in a calendar year with the bulk of these hours worked in our peak season (March-October).

Shift patterns are offered on a part-time basis set over a four week working pattern. All patterns will include a combination of early morning (7.00am-10.30am), evening (4pm-10.00pm) and overnight shifts for which an additional allowance of £72.45 per night is paid. Due to the nature of the role there will be regular outside working in all weathers on weekends and bank holidays. Accommodation for overnight shifts is provided and can take the form of a lodge or tent, depending on the experience, and all equipment is provided.

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. 

To Apply: 

Applicants will need to upload their CV and covering letter (detailing relevant experience and skills, stating why they want the position and including details of availability) and can do this by clicking the "Apply for this job online" button. If you require any reasonable adjustments, please contact [email protected] 

Please note: Candidates MUST be available for compulsory training on 1^st March 2025 ahead of their agreed shift patterns starting week commencing 24th March 2025. We will also be holding a further compulsory training session on 26^th April 2025 which all successful candidates must be able to attend.

Closing date for applications: Midnight (23:59) Sunday 5th January 2025

Interviews to be held Friday 31^stJanuary and Tuesday 4^th February 2025

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