CAREERS AT CHESTER ZOO
Business Support Administrator
Job reference:001683
Salary:£15,862.20 per annum
Closing date:21/05/2026
Department:Admin Support
Location:Chester
Employment type:Permanent
Hours Per Week:24
Job Description
A rewarding, administrative role in a workplace like no other – where else could you glimpse critically endangered orangutans from your office window or pass rare giraffes and tigers on your lunch break?
As Business Support Administrator, you’ll provide comprehensive day-to-day support to the Senior Management team and the wider zoo team as part of our Admin Support team. From maintaining accurate electronic and paper records to ensuring the smooth coordination of key processes, you’ll play a vital role behind the scenes, enabling our frontline conservation work to thrive. If you’re someone who loves bringing order to complexity, takes pride in getting the details right, and wants your skills to contribute to meaningful environmental change, this could be the perfect opportunity for you!
The Role
This is a key role working as part of our professional Admin Support team, responsible for:
• Providing support to the Executive Assistant team, Senior PA & Senior Management team, dealing with complex administrative tasks on a range of zoo projects and governance
• Maintaining accurate data records, in both paper and electronic filing systems
• Facilitating both in person, hybrid and fully virtual meetings, including coordination and creation of agendas, meeting papers, and taking accurate minutes
• UK and overseas travel arrangements
• Assisting with purchasing requests, raising of purchase orders and liaising with the Finance team to resolve account queries
• Assisting with the day to day running of the Admin Support office and to being a point of contact for queries from internal and external parties
• Assisting with organising diaries and events
• Providing cover for the Reception team 1 day per week
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 700 permanent and 500 temporary team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development.
The Package
You’ll work 24 hours per week 8.45am – 5.15pm over 3 days, including every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
• Permanent contract
• Salary of £15,862.20 per annum based on 24 hours (FTE £26,437)
• 20 days annual leave per annum (FTE 33 days)
• Annual holiday buy/sell scheme
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off plus a number of complimentary tickets for your family and friends
• Cash healthcare plan and employee assistance programme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted gym membership at local gyms
• Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks
• Pension scheme with generous employer contributions.
Our Requirements
• Proven experience working in an administrative or similar role.
• Excellent communication and reporting skills to engage and communicate with Directors, senior managers and a wide range of other internal and external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of standard Microsoft packages including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Teams
• Experience of meeting coordination, agenda creation and providing timely and accurate minutes.
• Strong customer service skills, with experience of working in a reception or front facing environment.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy is essential.
• Ability to handle enquiries with discretion, ensuring confidentiality and compliance with GDPR requirements.
• Relevant administrative qualification (e.g. NVQ level 2 or higher) or ICT qualification (e.g. ECDL) would be desirable but not essential.
More About Us
We’re not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that’s home to 37,000 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.
Shortlisting of applications and interviews for the role will 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.