Tiggywinkles, the World’s busiest Wildlife Hospital, is seeking a friendly and outgoing person who enjoys working with visitors of all ages. We are a small team focused on providing a great visitor experience and are looking for someone to join us on a casual, zero hours basis, working as a Visitor Centre Assistant.
This is a casual position covering shifts in the Visitor Centre on an ad hoc basis. There are no specified hours of work and the shifts offered will vary from week to week. You will be able to accept or decline each offer of work.
In this casual position you will assist in the smooth running of our busy educational visitor centre and talk to our visitors about wildlife and our work, maximising the enjoyment of all who visit. Your duties will include assisting and serving in the shop, serving hot drinks and food, talking with the general public about all British wildlife, our work and answering questions. During the school holidays we also run extra children’s holiday activities – mainly papercrafts – which you will be involved in supporting.
You will be involved in running the on site coffee shop and also undertake daily Visitor Centre maintenance; cleaning and tidying indoor and outdoor areas, and working indoors and outdoors in all weathers. You will assist with the smooth running of group visits and have the opportunity to handle and show hedgehogs to visitors and deliver talks and presentations to groups of all ages (after training).
To succeed in the role, you will have a professional manner, a confident and friendly personality, and ideally have some previous customer-facing experience. In addition, you will have a high level of attention to detail, work effectively as part of a team and on your own initiative, and be an excellent communicator.
Located in the village of Haddenham in rural Buckinghamshire, Tiggywinkles offers an outstanding working environment along with the chance to be part of a friendly, passionate and highly skilled patient-focused team at our world-leading wildlife hospital. As well as the opportunity to develop your skills and experience within this specialist environment, you’ll benefit from 28 days leave including bank holidays (pro rata for part year and part time) and, if applicable, the opportunity to join our pension scheme, free on-site parking, good road and rail links, and fun staff social events.
The closing date for this vacancy is Wednesday 14th October 2026.
If you are interested in applying to join the team, please complete our application questions and upload your CV via our online system – start your application by clicking the green ‘Apply for this Job’ button in the top right corner of this page.
If you have any questions or difficulties applying, please contact Steph Broadribb at [email protected]
As a BAME and LGBTQ+ inclusive employer we are keen to hear from candidates from all minority and diverse groups. We are keen to hear from candidates with disabilities and long-term health conditions and would be happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments needed during the recruitment process.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Responsible to: Visitor Centre Manager
Job Purpose: This position is to assist in the smooth running of a busy educational visitor centre and to maximise the enjoyment of all who visit.
Key Accountabilities:
Assisting with the smooth running of the visitor centre, engaging confidently with visitors of all ages and talking to them (after training) about the work of Tiggywinkles and how to support hedgehogs and wildlife.
Assisting and serving visitors in the Visitor Centre shop.
Working in the coffee shop, keeping due diligence paperwork up to date and assisting with cleaning.
Supporting children’s holiday activities – mainly papercrafts.
Showing hedgehogs and answering questions. Handling of some animals in the Visitor Centre, whilst in their enclosures (full training will be given).
Assisting with group tours (after full training) with the opportunity to give talks and presentations to groups of all ages.
Undertaking daily Visitor Centre maintenance including jet washing, sweeping, cleaning/scrubbing rails and play equipment, mopping, dusting, cleaning the kitchen and tidying indoors and outdoors.
Communicating with guests, visitors, staff and contractors on site in a professional, courteous and friendly manner.
Attending to other tasks, as required by the Visitor Centre Manager and Team Leader.
Complying with all policies and procedures, including data protection, food hygiene and safeguarding.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential:
Friendly and engaging. Enjoys working with visitors of all ages.
Confident in talking to members of the public.
A positive disposition and effective problem solving skills.
A high level of attention to detail.
Able to take responsibility for own work.
Ability to work effectively both on own initiative and as part of a team.
Desirable:
Previous experience of working in a public facing and/or customer service role.
Previous experience of food preparation.
Happy to work indoors and outdoors in all weathers.
Contact Details:
The Wildlife Hospital Foundation Recruitment Team
