Zoo Experience and Education Team Leader

Merlin; Greater London; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Merlin Annual Pass

Merlin Magic Pass

Company bonus

Private pension

Lego discount

On-site discounts

Training & development

Job summary

Merlin is recruiting for a Zoo Experience & Education Team Leader at Chessington World of Adventures. You will lead a team of Zoo Hosts, delivering engaging educational experiences and outstanding guest service.

Working with the Zoo Education & Experience Supervisor, you’ll manage day-to-day operations, coordinate resources, build team capability and drive operational excellence across the department.

Qualifications

• Genuine passion for wildlife, conservation and public education.
• Leadership or team coaching experience in guest-facing environments.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with group talks.
• Strong people leadership: motivate, develop and support teams.
• Provide positive recognition and constructive feedback.
• Excellent organisational skills; prioritise in fast-paced settings.
• Proactive, solutions-focused approach to operational challenges.
• Commitment to health and safety, guest experience and standards.
• Experience developing educational content or talks is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of Zoo Hosts and ensure engaging educational experiences.
• Support day-to-day operation of guest-facing zoo activities and talks.
• Coordinate resources and develop team capability across the department.
• Drive operational excellence and high guest service standards.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Public speaking

Team management

Organisational

Health and safety

Educational content

Wildlife passion

Tools

None

Job description

What you'll bring to the team

Zoo Experience & Education Team Leader

Location: Chessington World of Adventures, Leatherhead Road, Chessington, Surrey, KT9 2NE

Contract Type: Permanent, hourly paid

We are recruiting for a Zoo Experience & Education Team Leader to join our team at Chessington World of Adventures Resort. This exciting opportunity is ideal for a passionate and energetic leader who is committed to delivering exceptional guest experiences, inspiring others through wildlife education, and supporting conservation messaging across the Resort.

As a Zoo Experience & Education Team Leader, you will lead and develop a team of Zoo Hosts, ensuring the delivery of engaging educational experiences and outstanding guest service standards. Working closely with the Zoo Education & Experience Supervisor, you will support the day-to-day operation of guest-facing zoo activities, coordinate resources, develop team capability, and help drive operational excellence across the department.

This is a fantastic opportunity to combine your leadership skills with a passion for wildlife, education, and guest engagement while helping create unforgettable experiences for our visitors.

Qualifications & Experience

We're looking for someone who brings:

• A genuine passion for wildlife, conservation, and public education
• Previous leadership, supervisory, or team coaching experience within a guest-facing environment
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with confidence delivering talks to groups and large audiences
• Strong people leadership skills, including motivating, developing, and supporting teams
• The ability to provide both positive recognition and constructive performance feedback
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise effectively in a fast-paced environment
• A proactive and solutions-focused approach to operational challenges
• Strong commitment to health and safety, guest experience, and professional standards
• Experience developing educational content, talks, activities, or visitor experiences would be advantageous

Benefits

• Enjoy the Ride Merlin Annual Passes - 6 in total per year, 1 for you, plus 5 to gift to loved ones!
• Merlin Magic Pass - 20 free tickets for you, your family and friends to enjoy all of our Merlin Attractions across the world rising to 40 after a year's service
• Company bonus
• Private pension scheme
• 40% discount online off LEGO
• 25% discount in our on-site retail shops and restaurants
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Plus, many more...

Pay Range

GBP £12.80/Hr.