CAREERS AT CHESTER ZOO

Zoo Ranger

Job reference:001619

Salary:£25,396.80 pro rata (based on 40 hours per week).

Closing date:08/03/2026

Department:Conservation Education & Engagement

Location:Chester

Employment type:Fixed Term

Hours Per Week:30

Job Description

We have multiple exciting opportunities for a number of Zoo Rangers to join our team and play a central role to the world class experience that our visitors enjoy here at Chester Zoo.

The roles vary as per below:
• Fixed term (weekend, 14 hours per week ending October 2026)
• Fixed term (30 hours per week ending October 2026)

Please advise your preferred role (if you have one) in your cover letter.

The Role

Within the Conservation Education & Engagement team we are proud to 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.
• Be expected to deliver across a wide range of mediums including talks, table-top activities, Play based activities and storytelling.
• Delivering engagement in fun, novel ways such as mascots, puppets, and roleplay.
• Deliver our range of Junior programme activities for a variety of ages.
• Manage our 2 animal walkthroughs (Fruit Bat Forest and Lemur walkthrough).
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 600 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

• Multiple contracts (details above).
• Regular weekend, evening and early morning hours as required. This will include Bank Holidays. Working hours are flexible across 7 days, rostered to support zoo opening hours and extra events. Flexibility is required. Additional hours will be expected during busy periods.
• Generous annual leave entitlement (33 days including bank holidays based on 40 hours, to be pro-rated)
• £12.21 per hour regardless of age
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off plus a number of complimentary tickets for your family and friends
⦁ 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 contribution
Our Requirements

• 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
• 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
• Excellent customer service skills
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
• A degree or qualification in a relevant field e.g. biology, education etc.

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

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.

Closing date for applications is 8 March 2026.

It is expected that interviews will take place on 19 March 2026

Please be aware we reserve the right to close our vacancies earlier than the listed date if we have received a high level of suitable applications. We recommend that if you do wish to be considered that you complete the application as promptly as possible.