At a Glance
- Tasks: Engage visitors at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo with exciting talks and activities.
- Company: Join the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, a leader in wildlife conservation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, discounts, and free zoo entry for you and friends.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in conservation while providing top-notch customer service.
- Qualifications: Good grades in English or similar experience; strong interpersonal skills required.
- Other info: Flexible contracts available with opportunities for personal growth and development.
The predicted salary is between 23868 - 23868 £ per year.
The role involves providing a first-class service to visitors at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, engaging with visitors and communities while ensuring a high standard of customer service. You will deliver a range of innovative and creative activities, talks, and tour programmes to engage and excite visitors in support of RZSS’ vision and mission.
Some of the things you’ll do include:
- Deliver discovery and learning talks and presentations, acting as an RZSS ambassador in accordance with our vision and mission to protect, value, and love nature.
- Provide first-class customer service by maintaining a positive, welcoming environment and a proactive attitude towards all visitors and colleagues.
- Engage with and support a diverse range of visitors and audiences, ensuring your message is engaging and consistent with team objectives.
- Proactively ensure your knowledge of RZSS, our conservation work, and species within the collection is thorough and up to date.
- Contribute ideas for creating positive visitor engagement and suggest developments.
- Work closely across relevant teams to deliver and support an agreed range of activities and events.
- Support the wider discovery and learning team in their engagement activities.
- Respond to unexpected situations (minor customer complaints) professionally and seek advice from your line manager when required.
What we’re looking for:
- Good achievement in standard grades (or equivalent), including English or equivalent experience in a similar role.
- Knowledge and understanding of what makes five-star customer service.
- First-class customer service skills, including interpersonal skills and the ability to engage with a wide range of individuals.
- Ability to adapt and tailor delivery of messages to diverse audiences.
- Confident presentation skills about animals, their welfare, and care.
What you’ll get in return:
- Starting salary of £23,868 (pro rata).
- 34 days annual leave (pro rata).
- Discount in both retail and catering.
- Access to a healthcare plan.
- Employer contributory pension scheme.
- Staff membership providing free (and discounted) entry to both the Highland Wildlife Park and Edinburgh Zoo, as well as other zoos across the UK.
For further information on what the role involves and essential/desirable criteria, please see the ‘related documents’ section under the site location map. Closing date is midnight Friday 13 February. Interview date will be on Wednesday 25 February. Start date to be Monday 23 March (7 month contract), and Monday 1 June (3 month contract). This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate’s right to work in the UK and PVG Check. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is an equal opportunities employer, committed to recruiting a diverse workforce following the guidelines of the Equality Act 2010.
Discovery Ambassador employer: Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
Contact Detail:
Royal Zoological Society of Scotland Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Discovery Ambassador
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know RZSS inside out! Familiarise yourself with their conservation work and the animals in their care. This knowledge will not only impress during interviews but also help you engage visitors effectively.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your presentation skills! Whether it’s talking about animals or delivering engaging activities, being confident and clear is key. Try rehearsing in front of friends or family to get comfortable.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your customer service skills! Think of examples from past experiences where you’ve gone above and beyond for customers. This will demonstrate your ability to provide first-class service.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and eager to join our team at RZSS.
We think you need these skills to ace Discovery Ambassador
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Nature: When writing your application, let your love for nature and wildlife shine through! We want to see how you connect with our mission to protect and value nature, so share any relevant experiences or interests that highlight this passion.
Highlight Your Customer Service Skills: Make sure to emphasise your customer service experience. We’re looking for someone who can provide first-class service, so include examples of how you've engaged with visitors or handled queries in a positive and proactive way.
Be Creative and Engaging: Since the role involves delivering talks and activities, don’t hesitate to showcase your creativity in your application. Share any innovative ideas you have for engaging visitors, as we love fresh perspectives that align with our vision!
Tailor Your Application: Take the time to tailor your application specifically for this role. Use the job description as a guide to ensure you address all the key points and demonstrate how your skills and experiences make you the perfect fit for the Discovery Ambassador position.
How to prepare for a job interview at Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you brush up on RZSS's mission and conservation work. Familiarise yourself with the animals in the collection and any recent news about the zoo. This knowledge will help you engage confidently with the interviewers and show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Customer Service Skills
Prepare examples from your past experiences where you provided excellent customer service. Think of situations where you went above and beyond to help someone or turned a negative experience into a positive one. This will demonstrate your understanding of what five-star service looks like.
✨Engage with Enthusiasm
During the interview, let your passion for wildlife and visitor engagement shine through. Use engaging body language and maintain eye contact. Remember, this role is all about connecting with visitors, so showing your enthusiasm will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Be Ready for Scenarios
Expect to be asked how you would handle unexpected situations, like a minor customer complaint. Think through some scenarios beforehand and practice your responses. Showing that you can remain calm and professional under pressure will highlight your suitability for the role.