Grounds & Logistics Operative in London

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 both 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. If you’re ready for a rewarding role that makes a real difference every day, we want to hear from you.

This role is offered on as a 1-year fixed term contract. 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.

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

• 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 for this role. 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.

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.

• Our vision and purpose - you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science-led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct.
• 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.
• 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.