Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Engage visitors with fun activities and deliver exciting educational experiences about wildlife.
- Company: Chester Zoo, the UK's biggest and best zoo, dedicated to conservation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 33 days leave, staff pass, healthcare plan, and pension scheme.
- Why this job: Work in a vibrant environment surrounded by amazing animals and contribute to global conservation efforts.
- Qualifications: Creative, excellent communication skills, and a passion for the natural world.
- Other info: Join a diverse team and enjoy opportunities for career development.
The predicted salary is between 20000 - 25000 £ per year.
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
- 2 x 30 hours temporary contract 1 July – 31 August 2026
- 2 x 30 hours temporary contract 1 August – 31 August 2026
- 1 x 30 hour temporary contract immediate start – 31 August 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.
- 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.
- Deliver 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
- 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)
- £12.71 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
- Discounted gym membership
- Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks
- Pension scheme
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 24 April 2026.
It is expected that interviews will take place on 6 May 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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Contact Detail:
Chester Zoo Recruiting Team
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Conservation: When writing your application, let your love for wildlife and conservation shine through! We want to see how your experiences and knowledge align with our mission at Chester Zoo. Share any relevant stories or projects that highlight your commitment to protecting endangered species.
Engage Us with Your Creativity: Since the role involves delivering fun and engaging educational experiences, don’t hold back on showcasing your creative side! Whether it’s through storytelling, games, or interactive activities, give us a taste of how you can make learning exciting for our visitors.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to tailor your application to the specific requirements listed in the job description. Highlight your relevant skills and experiences that match what we’re looking for, especially your communication skills and ability to engage diverse audiences.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you’re serious about joining our team at Chester Zoo!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chester Zoo
✨Know Your Animals
Brush up on your knowledge of the zoo's animal collection and conservation efforts. Being able to discuss specific animals and their habitats will show your passion and understanding of the role, making you stand out as a candidate.
✨Engage with Enthusiasm
Since the role involves interacting with visitors of all ages, practice delivering engaging stories or activities. Use playful language and think about how you can make your interactions fun and memorable, just like you would in a real zoo setting.
✨Showcase Your Creativity
Prepare examples of how you've used creativity in past roles, especially in educational or engagement settings. Think about how you could incorporate mascots, puppets, or roleplay into your presentations to captivate your audience.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
This role requires working as part of a team, so be ready to share experiences where you've collaborated effectively. Highlight your positive attitude and ability to work under your own initiative while still being a supportive team member.