Event Ambassador - Whipsnade in London

Events at Whipsnade Zoo are a powerful way for ZSL to connect with audiences, share our conservation mission, and support commercial goals. As an Events Ambassador, you’ll play a key role in delivering memorable experiences that inspire visitors and strengthen their connection to nature. Working within the Events team and closely alongside the Visitor Activities and Volunteer teams, you’ll bring our events to life through engaging talks, interactive workshops, and creative pop-up activities. You'll be a visible and enthusiastic point of contact for visitors, delivering excellent customer service and representing ZSL with energy and professionalism. It's an exciting opportunity to play a direct part in fulfilling ZSL’s vision of a world where wildlife thrives, one visitor at a time.

This role is offered on a part-time basis. As our zoos are open seven days a week, your schedule will follow a rota, which includes weekends and bank holidays. We aim to balance business needs with personal flexibility, so you’ll have advance notice of your shifts to help plan your time.

Key responsibilities:

• Event Delivery & Operations: Assist with the preparation, set-up, delivery, and de-rig of a wide range of events that support ZSL’s strategic goals and audience engagement.
• Visitor Engagement & Public Speaking: Deliver engaging talks and share event-related information with visitors and educational groups to deepen public connection with ZSL’s mission.
• Volunteer & Stakeholder Coordination: Brief volunteers and liaise with internal teams and external suppliers, including caterers and performers, to support seamless event execution.
• Data & Donation Management: Oversee the collection and accurate recording of donations, raffle funds, and visitor data to support fundraising and reporting efforts.
• Safety & Quality Control: Ensure a high standard of safety, cleanliness, and presentation across all event materials and spaces throughout the event duration.

About You

• Engage with the public in a friendly, confident, and professional manner.
• Flexible to work outdoors, including weekends, early mornings and evenings, with exposure to animals and the elements.
• Excellent communication skills and strong diplomacy.
• Adaptable and able to multitask in a fast-paced, changing environment, knowing when to escalate issues.
• Enthusiasm for learning and contributing to the care, conservation, and wellbeing of animals and the environment.
• Comply with and actively promote Health and Safety policies and procedures.

This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including confirmation of your right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

ZSL recognises that conservation is one of the least diverse sectors, and we actively encourage applications from candidates who identify as part of underrepresented communities. We are committed to building a supportive and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage.

About Us

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.

What We Offer?

• Purpose driven work – join an organisation where every role contributes to creating a world where wildlife thrives.
• Pension scheme - we offer a generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension.
• Flexible working – talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you.
• Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays (increasing with milestone anniversaries).
• Access to ZSL’s staff Equality Networks - Race & Culture, Team Pride, Disability, and Menopause, supporting an inclusive and welcoming workplace for those with lived experience.
• 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 - we offer an interest free loan for eligible London-based employees to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work.
• Family friendly policies – we offer 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, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. We anonymise applications until 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, we’d love to hear from you! Please get in touch with our recruitment team at – [email protected]