Grounds & Logistics Operative in Harrow

Join our Site Operations team at London Zoo as a Grounds & Logistics Operative. You’ll play a key role in maintaining the zoo’s immaculate grounds, ensuring they are always welcoming and of the highest standard for our visitors. Your day will be varied with routine and special maintenance tasks, responding to ever‑changing priorities. Exceptional customer care and confident problem‑solving are essential, as you assist visitors and tackle issues independently. The position also requires you to drive a range of fleet and plant vehicles, so a full UK or international driving licence with at least one year’s road experience is essential.

This role is offered as a 1‑year fixed‑term contract. As our zoos are open seven days a week, your schedule will follow a rota that includes weekends and bank holidays. We aim to provide advance notice of your shifts to help plan your time.

Key responsibilities

• Interaction with visitors by answering questions and providing directions while promoting professionalism and ZSL values and behaviours in customer care.
• Help keep site signage and picnic benches clean and dry off items that may become wet due to weather conditions.
• Litter picking, bin changing and weeding/deep cleaning of areas whilst promoting high standards of hygiene and cleanliness.
• Drive utility, fleet and plant vehicles for collecting, delivering and removing items around site and often off‑site.

Qualifications and experience

• Able to work well within a team environment and have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience of dealing with the public and demonstrating high level customer satisfaction.
• Comfortable working outdoors for extended periods in all weather conditions, including safely lifting and moving equipment where required.
• A full manual driving licence, with at least one year’s driving experience, as you will be operating a range of utility, fleet and plant vehicles.

This role is subject to standard pre‑employment checks, including confirmation of your right to work in the UK. A DBS check is required.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

What we offer

• Our vision and purpose – you’ll work alongside colleagues passionate about science‑led conservation, knowing that you will help inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct.
• Pension scheme – generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension.
• Flexible working – discuss flexible working requirements so you can work in a way that suits you.
• Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance plus UK bank holidays.
• Wellbeing – access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Life assurance – eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL’s life assurance scheme from their first day.
• Complimentary tickets – annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a 30% discount in online and retail shops.
• Cycle2Work – our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle.
• Season ticket loan – interest‑free loan for eligible London‑based employees to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work.
• Family‑friendly policies – enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption packages.

We may close this role early or extend the closing date due to the number of applications we receive. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

We anonymise applications until the interview stage to ensure a fair hiring process. It’s important to highlight your unique skills, experience and knowledge. Over‑reliance on AI‑generated content may miss key criteria outlined in the job description and reduce the effectiveness of your application.

If you have any questions about this role, please contact our recruitment team at recruitment@zsl.org.