Purpose of the role

As an Overnight Experience Host, you’ll play a key role in creating unforgettable memories for our guests, delivering engaging talks, tours, and activities while providing exceptional customer service. Your mission is to ensure visitors feel safe, comfortable, and inspired, leaving with a deeper connection to wildlife and a true understanding of how their visit supports ZSL’s vital conservation work.

In this role, you’ll primarily be part of the Commercial Overnight Experiences team, working on exclusive experiences like London Zoo Lodges, ZSL’s most premium overnight adventure. Set within roaring distance of our Asiatic lion pride, this immersive experience offers guests the rare chance to explore the zoo after hours and wake up to the sounds of wildlife.

This position is a part-time role, offering 15 hours per week for a fixed term of 3 months.

 Key responsibilities:  

  • Welcome and engage guests, creating a safe and enjoyable atmosphere across the Zoo.
  • Deliver animal talks, tours, and activities, providing informative and entertaining experiences.
  • Assist with Front of House duties, including serving refreshments and supporting restaurant staff during events.
  • Provide excellent customer service for the London Zoo Lodges experience.
  • Support event setup and coordinate activities to ensure smooth operations.
  • Handle guest requests with professionalism.
  • Prioritise the health, safety, and security of visitors at all times.
  • Observe and report on animal welfare, ensuring their health and safety.
  • Steward animal exhibits, engaging visitors while ensuring safety for all.
  • Build strong working relationships with the animal care teams to ensure seamless collaboration.

About You

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
  • Experience in delivering exceptional customer service and guest hospitality.
  • Previous experience working with children or young people, either in formal or informal settings.
  • Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a wider team.
  • Flexibility to work varied hours as needed (including weekends and bank holidays). 
  • Knowledge of natural history and animal husbandry is highly desirable.
 
This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate's right to work in the UK. This position is subject to successfully passing an enhanced DBS check, including a child workforce barring requirement, upon becoming a successful applicant.

 

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

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

What our team say...

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