Jobs at the Zoo

Vacancy - Visitor Services

Job Title - Visitor Services: Shop & Admissions (permanent, 40hr opportunity) up to £12.30 per hour

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Job Profile
 

Northumberland Zoo is a major animal attraction and wildlife conservation centre in North East England. With the addition of numerous brand-new exhibits in the past few years, including our highly recognised critically endangered Livingstone’s fruit bat enclosure, our future is looking bright with ambitious plans for growth including several new species.

We are a family-run, not-for-profit zoo and we are looking for a like-minded team player to join our team; you must be willing to adopt our Zoo ethos and join our mission in conservation, education & sustainability to inspire positive change.
 

We have a large outdoor site with a vast array of animal exhibits and gardens. In addition to this, our visitor facilities include outdoor play attractions, a classic tractor museum, snack kiosk, Bear Falls Café and soft play area as well as our Zoo-themed gift shop. As part of our ongoing development, we are refitting our gift shop and upgrading our Zoo entrance, adding a new queuing system and admissions kiosk. Therefore, we have an exciting opportunity for a friendly and enthusiastic individual to join our Visitor Services team.
 

Main Duties
 

• Working in the admissions kiosk, selling tickets and welcoming visitors, or scanning pre-booked tickets.

• Delivering excellent customer service in our Gift Shop, providing customers with product information and assistance as and when required.

• Ensuring that the Gift Shop stock is replenished, clean and tidy, and that shelves are full and look attractive.
   

Job Responsibilities
 

• Ensuring that entry to the Zoo is speedy and efficient, selling the correct tickets to visitors or admitting customers with pre-booked tickets.

• Utilising the EPOS system for entry to the Zoo as well as taking payment for shop goods. 

• Assisting with retail deliveries, ensuring that they are correctly checked off and stored properly and accessibly within our stock room.

• Providing great customer service within the shop itself, whilst ensuring that waste, theft and damages are kept to a minimum.

• Keeping the shop shelves looking full and attractive, and the shop clean and presentable.

• Being flexible and helping in other areas of the Zoo as and when required (for example, covering in our Bear Falls Café).
   

General
 

• Be aware of and adhere to Zoo policies at all times

• Cooperate with other Zoo departments

• Attend training courses as required to meet the requirements of the role

• Take responsibility for own personal development, seeking out opportunities to learn new skills

• Flexibility, wiling to undertake any other duties as requested by management which are reasonably deemed to be within the scope of the role
   

Skills and Experience
 

• Previous retail and/or visitor services experience: 6 months + (preferred)

• Must have strong interpersonal skills and be confident to interact with the public

• Full driver's license and access to vehicle required due to rural setting of zoo

• Ability to work calmly during our exceptionally busy periods

• Capable of working independently with little supervision

• Must be hands on and be able to do any task that is needed to be performed

• Strong attention to detail

• Ability to work well in a team

• Multitasking skills and good organisational abilities
   

 

To apply please send a covering letter detailing how your skills and experience match what we are looking for and an up-to-date CV to l.saxon@northumberlandzoo.co.uk
 

Closing date for Applications: Sunday 18th January
 

Interviews will take place at the Zoo, during the week commencing 26th January