Lead Zoo Ranger

TN United Kingdom; Chester; On-site; GBP 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a passionate team at a leading wildlife charity, where you will play a vital role in engaging visitors through educational experiences. As a Zoo Ranger, you will interact with diverse audiences, deliver exciting programs, and help foster a love for wildlife conservation. With a permanent contract and a supportive work environment, you will enjoy competitive benefits, including a healthcare plan, generous annual leave, and opportunities for career development. This is your chance to make a meaningful impact in an inspiring setting surrounded by nature and wildlife.

Benefits

33 days annual leave

Staff pass for zoo visits

Cycle to work scheme

Healthcare plan

Discounted gym membership

Discounts on cinema and restaurants

Pension scheme with employer contributions

Qualifications

• Creative mind to develop engaging public engagement opportunities.
• Excellent communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Experience in tracking KPIs for educational impact.

Responsibilities

• Interact with visitors and deliver engaging educational experiences.
• Manage animal walkthroughs and develop content for programs.
• Mentor seasonal staff and supervise educational activities.

Skills

Verbal Communication

Public Engagement

Organizational Skills

Teamwork

Creative Thinking

Education

Degree in Biology or Conservation

Childcare Qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office

iPads and Apps

Job description

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A work setting like no other - patrolling among rare giraffes and tigers, and within stunning gardens across a 128-acre estate!

The Role
This is a key role working as part of our Conservation Education and Engagement Team and is central to our visitor’s experience at the zoo. The team develop and deliver material to engage our visitors with our plant and animal collection and our worldwide conservation work through a range of diverse, fun and exciting educational experiences.

As a Zoo Ranger you will:

• Interact with visitors of all ages including children, families and other audiences.
• Interact with audiences that vary between one individual and a crowd of 500 on a sound system.
• Delivering our exciting junior programme with a variety of ages including our holiday clubs and weekend clubs.
• Be expected to deliver across a wide range of mediums including talks, table-top activities, Play based activities and storytelling.
• Manage our 2 animal walkthroughs (Fruit Bat Forest and Lemur walkthrough).
• Develop the content for delivery including activities for the Daily programme, Junior programme and larger wide scale projects across the department.
• Mentor and supervise seasonal staff within the Zoo Ranger team.
  

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 nearly 500 permanent and 500 seasonal team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development.

The Package

• Permanent contract
• 35 hours a week, working on a 2 week roster working every other weekend
• 33 days annual leave
• Salary of £25,602.68 per annum
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off plus a number of complimentary tickets for your family and friends
• Cycle to work scheme
• Healthcare plan and employee assistance programme
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks
• Pension scheme with generous employer contributions up to 9%

Our Requirements

• A degree in Biology or a conservation-related field or equivalent experience with a wide ranging knowledge of the natural world.
• A creative mind, and be able to develop and deliver engaging, high quality public engagement opportunities for our visitors
• The ability to confidently deliver stories, shows, games and other playful, interactive engagement styles
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact with a wide range of audiences in a playful and engaging manner
• Experience in tracking KPIs and the ability to use performance data to drive improvement and increase the impact of our in zoo education offer
• A good working knowledge of Windows and Microsoft Office packages, as well as iPads and apps
• Good organisational and time management skills
• The ability to work effectively under their own initiative and as part of a team with a positive attitude

Although not essential, the following would be desirable:

• Experience of working in a childcare setting or a childcare qualification
• A good working knowledge and experience of zoo conservation education, including research
• A good knowledge of our animal collection and conservation work

Due to the nature of the organisation and the role, this post is subject to a DBS check.

Closing date for applications is 16 May 2025 and interviews will take place on 23 May 2025.

Shortlisting of applications and interviews for the role may take place while the advert is live; the advert will close once the successful candidate is found. Candidates are therefore encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible.

More About Us
We’re not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that’s home to 20,000 incredible animals. 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.