Events Assistant

ASVA; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 17,000 - 19,000; Part time

Job summary

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland in Edinburgh is seeking an Events Assistant to support Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns event. This outdoor role requires evenings and weekend availability, with pay at £12.72 per hour.

You will help deliver engaging visitor experiences, provide information, and ensure events run smoothly and safely. Key duties include welcoming visitors, handling queries, cash till operations, and assisting across other zoo events as needed.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to deliver first-class customer care and service.
• Strong numerical reasoning and accuracy in handling payments.
• Experience in visitor-facing roles and handling queries.

Responsibilities

• Provide first-class customer service by maintaining a welcoming environment for visitors.
• Act as a point of contact for visitors at the event and escalate issues as needed.
• Ensure the event area is clean and well maintained throughout the shift.
• Respond to unexpected situations professionally and seek guidance when required.
• Assist in other operational areas of wider events and experiences at the zoo.
• Share ideas to increase revenue while minimising environmental impact.

Skills

Customer service

Numerical reasoning

Attention to detail

Engaging customers empathetically

Dealing with queries

Education

Standard grades including English and Mathematics

Tools

Cash till

Job description

Organisation: The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland

Salary: £12.72 per hour

Location: Edinburgh

About us

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is a wildlife conservation charity with a bold vision: a world where nature is protected, valued and loved.

Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park are our gateways to the natural world through which people can experience nature.

Join us this winter as an Events Assistant at Edinburgh Zoo!

The role predominantly supports the delivery of Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns event launching in November 2026 – February 2027. This is an outdoor post, paying £12.72 per hour, with variable hours available at evenings and weekends.

How you you’ll contribute to our mission:

In this role you will provide a first-class customer service to visitors attending Edinburgh Zoo’s Events and experiences providing information and assistance to visitors and ensuring that the events and experiences are taking place in an environment that is engaging and well maintained.

Some of the things you’ll do:

• Provide first-class customer service by maintaining a positive, welcoming environment, proactive and helpful attitude to all visitors at all times.
• Act as a point of contact for visitors at the event and escal
• Ensure the event area is maintained to the highest standard and all areas are clean and clear.
• Respond to unexpected situations in a professional manner and seek advice and support from line manager when required.
• Occasionally provide assistance in other operational areas (wider events and experiences at the zoo).
• Building on previous experience share ideas and suggestions to increase revenue and minimise impact on the environment.
• Ensure compliance with RZSS’s policies, procedures and guidelines, together with all relevant regulatory and statutory requirements.

What we’re looking for:

• Good achievement in standard grades (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
• Accurate numerical reasoning and attention to detail
• Engaging customers empathetically to link or upsell our products.
• Providing first-class customer care and service, including dealing with customer queries.
• Previous use of electronic cash till.
• Experience of providing first-class customer care and service, including dealing with customer queries.
• Previous work in a range of visitor experience activities.

This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate’s right to work in the UK and Basic Disclosure check.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is an equal opportunities employer. Our policy is to recruit a diverse workforce following the guidelines of the Equality Act 2010.

Please see the role profiles for further information on what the role involves and essential/desirable criteria.

Interviews expected to be held: 21 October 2026 (tbc)