Safari Assistant

We are Chester Zoo, and for over 80 years we’ve been a leading conservation and education charity, and an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction.

We’re also a team of passionate, talented, enthusiastic and expert people, doing everything we can to keep the zoo going, from feeding the animals to discovering new conservation ideas, and giving our 1.9 million visitors an inspirational day out.

We work hard because we love animals, we care about nature, we love Chester Zoo and we want to be the best zoo in the world!

If you think you can help us to achieve that, then we’d love to hear from you.

We are seeking to recruit one Safari Assistant on a permanent basis within our award winning Discovery & Learning Division.

The Role:

Safari Assistants work alongside our Safari Rangers to deliver Chester Zoo’s outreach programme for local primary, secondary and special schools, further education establishments and community groups. The Safari Assistant is a delivery focused role, delivering educational talks, hands-on sessions, storytelling, workshops, events and projects to schools and community groups in their own settings. Where applicable activities should meet curriculum requirements and should always be suitable for the target audience. The outreach programme will help inspire people to love nature and take action to protect it.

Our approach to education is highly participatory so candidates will be expected to be outgoing and enthusiastic in their teaching style, with a creative and professional approach to workshop and resource development. You will be required to work in partnership with teachers and zoo colleagues to ensure that our work in schools meets the needs of the national curriculum, alongside our Chester Zoo learning objectives. In order to reach schools across the region, Safari Assistants are expected to travel regularly (using a zoo provided vehicle), particularly to areas surrounding Manchester and Liverpool where there is a high density of schools and groups to work with.

The successful candidate will have:

• A good knowledge of zoo based conservation and the natural world, most likely gained through a Zoo Biology/Conservation-related degree
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, particularly the delivery of verbal presentations to engage with a wide range of different audiences
• Experience delivering engaging workshops to schools and community groups
• Excellent IT skills including Microsoft packages, interactive whiteboards, presentation software and AV equipment typical of a learning environment
• Knowledge of the school education sector, including issues such as safeguarding and SEND
• Excellent time management and planning skills are essential
• A full driving licence which is valid in the UK.

The rate of pay is £9.10 per hour, working a 35 hours per week working predominantly Monday to Friday, 39 weeks of the year, but with some need to work weekends and evenings for which time off in lieu will be given. In addition we offer a range of amazing benefits which can be found at http://www.chesterzoo.org/footer/careers/working-at-chester-zoo.

Due to the nature of the organisation and the role, this post is subject to a DBS check.

To apply for this position, please provide your current CV and covering letter stating why you believe you should be considered for our Safari Assistant role to http://www.chesterzoo.org/footer/careers.

Closing date for applications is 6^th March 2019.

Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 18^th March 2019.