About the Role
Hours: Full-time, 5 days per week (37.5 hours) on a rota system. Part-time job share will be considered.
You will help ensure the smooth, efficient day‑to‑day running of the restaurant and retail front‑of‑house areas. In a manager’s absence, you will take the lead on the floor, supervising teams, maintaining high standards, and ensuring every visitor enjoys a positive and memorable experience.
Why Join Dartmoor Zoo?
Dartmoor Zoo isn’t just a place to work — it’s a unique setting where hospitality and retail directly support conservation. As a Restaurant & Retail Supervisor, every service you deliver and every customer interaction you lead helps fund vital conservation work, education programmes, and the care of endangered species across our 33‑acre zoo on the edge of Dartmoor.
Main Tasks
Supervise and lead front-of-house restaurant and gift shop operations, ensuring excellent service standards at all times
Take responsibility for day-to-day operations in the absence of a manager
Organise and motivate the team through service, preparation, and close-down
Deliver outstanding customer service and effectively handle feedback or complaints
Maintain high standards of cleanliness across restaurant, toilets and visitor-facing areas
Ensure the shop and restaurant areas are well stocked, attractively merchandised, and commercially optimised
Monitor product performance and support initiatives to improve sales
Drive upselling opportunities across food, drink and retail areas as well as experiences and donations.
Work collaboratively to enhance the overall visitor experience
Support recruitment, onboarding, and training of team members
Monitor stock levels, place orders, and maintain supplier relationships
Manage cash handling, tills, and daily reconciliations
Support delivery of events including corporate functions and weddings
Ensure compliance with health & safety and organisational policies
Employment criteria
We’re looking for someone who is:
An experienced supervisor within hospitality, retail, or a visitor attraction environment
A confident and supportive team leader who can motivate, coach, and lead by example
Passionate about delivering consistent excellent customer service
Friendly and professional, with strong interpersonal and communication skills
Commercially minded, with experience in retail merchandising, up‑selling, and driving sales
Highly detail‑oriented, with a commitment to excellent standards of presentation and cleanliness
Well organised, proactive, and able to remain calm and focused in a busy, fast‑paced setting
Experienced in cash handling, till reconciliation, and EPOS systems
- IT‑literate, with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365
Flexible and reliable, with the ability to work weekends, bank holidays, and occasional evenings
It would also help if you:
Have an NVQ in Hospitality Management (or equivalent)
Experience of working in a zoo, tourism, or visitor attraction setting
Have a First Aid qualification
Benefits of Working with Us
Alongside joining an inspiring conservation charity, you’ll enjoy:
• 30 days annual leave
Enhanced sick pay
• Free onsite parking
Discounts in our restaurant, shop and on zoo experiences
• Free entry to the zoo for your immediate family
• Free entry to other BIAZA zoos across the UK
Be Part of Something Wildly Meaningful
If you’re ready to take the next step in your hospitality career and help shape unforgettable experiences for our visitors, we’d love to hear from you.