Admissions Assistant

THE NORTH OF ENGLAND ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY; Chester; On-site; GBP 5,200 - 5,600; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff pass

Complimentary tickets

Job summary

Chester Zoo is seeking an Admissions Assistant to be the first point of contact for visitors at the main entrance, handling enquiries, sales and some event duties. The role includes evening shifts for Lanterns & Light and occasional cleaning tasks.

The position is temporary, 8 hours per week, with a starting 1st November 2026 and finishing 31st December 2026, paying £12.71 per hour. Flexible weekends, bank holidays and evenings are required to meet peak periods.

Qualifications

• Passionate and engaging; able to deliver exceptional customer service face to face, over the phone and via email.
• Strong communication skills; both verbal and written.
• Organised, with strong IT skills and a good working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Experience of EPOS systems and cash handling.

Responsibilities

• First point of contact for visitors at Chester Zoo Admission Lanes and Ticket Sales windows, or via email and phone.
• Involved in sale and delivery of commercial products and services.
• Evening work for Lanterns & Light event and some cleaning duties.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Organisational skills

Cash handling

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

EPOS systems

Job description

CAREERS AT CHESTER ZOO

Admissions Assistant

Job reference: 001775

Salary: £12.71 per hour

Closing date: 30/09/2026

Department: Admissions

Location: Chester - Main entrance

Employment type: Temporary

Hours Per Week: 8

Job Description

Our working environment could not be more different from your usual setting – where else could you stroll among rare giraffes and tigers on your lunch break?

What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?

As the UK’s biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans and there’s always lots going on here. We’re an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of over 600 permanent and 500 temporary team members.

Each year we have plenty of exciting temporary opportunities within our Admissions, Retail, Operations and Food and Beverage teams, undertaking a variety of tasks such as picking stock in our warehouse, stewarding the car parks, working in our gift shops, welcoming guests, or serving food and drinks to our 2 million visitors. No two days will be the same!

The Role

An Admissions Assistant is often the first person our visitors come into contact with at Chester Zoo; whether that be on the day at our Admission Lanes and Ticket Sales windows or via email enquiries and phone calls before a visit. Our Admissions Assistants are also involved in the sale and delivery of commercial products and services. This role includes evening work for our Lanterns & Light event as well as some cleaning duties.

The Package

• Temporary contract starting 1st November 2026 until 31st December 2026.
• Rate of pay of £12.71 per hour regardless of age.
• Working on a rota basis with a minimum of 8 hours per week up to a maximum of 40 hours per week. Hours will vary and can be significantly more during busy periods. This includes weekends, bank holidays and evenings.
• Annual leave which accrues based on hours of work.
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off, plus complimentary tickets for your friends and family.

Our Requirements

• Passionate and engaging; able to deliver exceptional customer service face to face, over the phone and via email.
• Strong communication skills; both verbal and written.
• Organised, with strong IT skills and a good working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Experience of EPOS systems and cash handling.
• Confident, flexible and approachable with a proactive, “can do” attitude.
• Comfortable standing for long periods on your feet in a static outdoor environment.

Flexibility in these roles is key as the working pattern will include weekends, mid-week, bank holidays and evenings until 10pm during events to cover all needs of the business.

More About Us

We’re not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that’s home to 30,000 incredible animals inside 128 acres of stunning gardens. We’re not just the UK’s most popular zoo. We’re a major wildlife charity that’s committed to the recovery of endangered species, globally. And, as the world faces an extinction crisis, we’re making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it’s needed most. We are Chester Zoo and we prevent extinction.

Please be aware we reserve the right to close our vacancies earlier than the listed date if we have received a high level of applications. We would recommend that if you do wish to be considered that you complete the application as promptly as possible as shortlisting and interviews may be taking place whilst the advert is live.