Purpose of the role

We are looking for a friendly, enthusiastic, and safety-conscious Railway Platform Assistant to join our team and help deliver magical experiences at one of Whipsnade's Zoo’s most beloved attractions.

As a Platform Assistant, you’ll be at the heart of the action, greeting passengers with a smile, helping them safely on and off the train, and working closely with our amazing volunteer team to keep queues moving smoothly. You will be responsible for ensuring safety and customer service, guided by our Railway Rule Book and supported by our dedicated Station Staff.

You’ll play a key role in ensuring everything runs smoothly, while creating a fun, welcoming environment for families, children, and visitors of all ages.

This role is offered on a part-time basis, working a minimum of 6 hours per week on a 7 month fixed-term contact. As our zoos are open seven days a week, your schedule will follow a rota which includes weekends and bank holidays. We aim to balance business needs with personal flexibility, so you’ll have advance notice of your shifts to help plan your time. 
 
Interviews for this position are scheduled to take place on the 18th March 2026.
 

Key responsibilities:  

  • Station and Carriage Preparation: Carry out carriage checks and clean as needed between train services to ensure a safe and pleasant experience for passengers before boarding.
  • Platform Duties: Support the smooth and safe running of the platform by working with volunteers, assisting passengers (including wheelchair users), collecting tokens, checking seating and carriage doors, and ensuring all safety procedures are followed before departure and confidently responding to emergencies such as lost children or safety incidents.
  • Gate Duties: Manage the safe arrival of trains by opening the crossing gate, signalling the driver, and ensuring safety protocols are followed at all times.

About You

  • Excellent customer service and communication skills, with the confidence to engage and interact positively with visitors.
  • A proactive and solutions-focused approach, with the ability to use initiative and take responsibility for the smooth day-to-day running of the platform.
  • A strong team player who enjoys collaborating with colleagues and volunteers to deliver a seamless and safe experience for all passengers.
  • Comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions and enjoys being in an active, outdoor environment as part of a busy visitor attraction. 

This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including confirmation of your right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. 

ZSL recognises that conservation is one of the least diverse sectors, and we actively encourage applications from candidates who identify as part of underrepresented communities. We are committed to building a supportive and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage. 

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 We Offer?
 
At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits. Our benefits include: 
  • Purpose driven work – join an organisation where every role contributes to creating a world where wildlife thrives.  
  • 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 (increasing with milestone anniversaries). 
  • Access to ZSL’s staff Equality Networks -Race & Culture, Team Pride, Disability, and Menopause, supporting an inclusive and welcoming workplace for those with lived experience. 
  • 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.
We may close this role early or extend the closing date due to the number of applications we receive, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. 
 
We anonymise applications until interview stage to ensure a fair hiring process. It’s important to highlight your unique skills, experience, and knowledge. Over reliance on AI-generated content may miss key criteria outlined in the job description and reduce the effectiveness of your application. 
 
If you have any questions about this role, we’d love to hear from you! Please get in touch with our recruitment team at – [email protected] 
 

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