Retail Team Leader PL & HL 2025

Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve & Howletts Wild Animal Park; Hythe; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A renowned wildlife and hospitality organization is seeking a Retail Team Leader to oversee operations at multiple parks. The successful candidate will ensure exceptional customer service, lead a dedicated team, and coordinate retail activities. Strong organizational and IT skills are essential, along with the ability to travel between locations in Kent. This position offers a supportive team environment and extensive employee benefits.

Benefits

28 days annual leave

Comprehensive training and development opportunities

Enhanced Sickness, Maternity and Paternity Policies

Unlimited free entry to both parks

Exceptional discounts on food and retail

Qualifications

• Motivated and enthusiastic team leader experience.
• Proven track record of delivering excellent customer service.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office and ticketing systems.

Responsibilities

• Ensure all retail outlets run to high professional standards.
• Lead teams in delivering excellent customer service.
• Plan day-to-day operations of retail and admissions activities.

Skills

Customer service

Team leadership

Organizational skills

Communication skills

IT skills

Tools

Microsoft Office

Ticketing/EPOS systems

Job description

Overview

Retail Team Leader role to join our team. The successful candidate will work across both Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve and Howletts Wild Animal Park, therefore must have the ability to travel to both Parks.

Responsibilities

• Reporting into the Retail & Admissions Assistant Manager, ensure that all outlets run to the highest professional standards and perform in line with budgets and expectations.
• Lead teams delivering excellent customer service to all guests.
• Plan the day to day running of all core retail and admissions activities and requirements, as well as overseeing any other activities and events.

Who We Are Looking For

We’re looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Team Leader to join our Retail & Admissions team. You’ll thrive in a fast-paced environment and bring proven experience of delivering excellent customer service while ensuring the highest standards of health, safety and food hygiene. As a natural communicator, you’ll be confident engaging with guests, colleagues, and managers at all levels, and you’ll lead by example as a dedicated team player. You’ll be highly organised, able to plan ahead in line with bookings, visitor numbers and scheduled activities, and comfortable working both independently and as part of a team. Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office and ticketing/EPOS systems (such as Accesso), are essential. You’ll also need reliable transport to reach both of our parks. If you have experience in retail merchandising, problem-solving, or a passion for wild animal parks, that’s a bonus—but above all, stamina, adaptability and a positive attitude, ready to deliver the best possible guest experience every day.

Contract Details

This is a permanent position, working a minimum of 32 hours per week, four days out of seven. A reliable mode of transport is essential due to our remote location. All candidates must have the right to work in the UK.

The location

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is a world-renowned wild animal park set within 600 acres of Kentish savannah. The Reserve is home to some of the world’s most rare and endangered animals and offers luxury short breaks accommodation, free roaming animal safaris, once-in-a-lifetime animal encounters and exquisite dining experiences. Our sister park, Howletts Wild Animal Park, is located near Canterbury and set within 90 acres of land. Howletts is home to over 300 rare and endangered species, including Kent’s only giant anteaters, the largest herd of African elephants in the UK, and more gorillas, leopards, and monkeys than any zoo in the county!

Most importantly, every one of our employees is part of real conservation in action and their efforts have contributed to animals such as black rhino and western lowland gorillas being returned to their natural habitats in collaboration with our partners at The Aspinall Foundation.

Why You Should Join Us

As well as walking to work surrounded by the calls of Howler monkeys and the roars from our pride of Lions, you will also join a supportive team who are passionate about their place of work.

Benefits

• 28 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays (pro rata to start date and working hours) rising with length of service.
• Comprehensive training and development opportunities, including workshops and e-learning.
• Enhanced Sickness, Maternity and Paternity Policies.
• Unlimited free entry for you and a person of your choice into both of our parks as well as friends and family tickets.
• Exceptional discounts on food, retail and accommodation at our parks.
• Numerous retail discounts and access to a 24-hour counselling line through our Healthy Extras Scheme.
• And many more length or service-related rewards and Benefits.

A full job description is available on request.

How to Apply

To apply: Please email a CV along with a covering letter to: [e-mail]