Chester Zoo is hiring for a number of different staff roles, including a job looking after parrots and penguins, and here’s how to apply.

If you love animals and would love to look after them on a daily basis, this could be the dream role for you. Aspiring zoo keepers could be in with the chance of working at one of the UK’s most visited wildlife attractions.

Around 2 million visitors step through the doors at Chester zoo each year to see the 27,000 animals at its huge site in Cheshire.

The popular conservation zoo is now hiring for a number of roles, with one that requires employees to work with parrots and penguins.

Employees are offered some excellent perks including a staff pass so you can visit the zoo on their days off and receive multiple complimentary tickets so you can bring along your friends and family. You also get 33 days of holiday per year. Here are the roles available at the zoo:

Keeper – parrots and penguins

Keepers will be involved in the day-to-day care and husbandry of a wide range of bird species, including parrots, penguins, passerines, hornbills and pheasants.

Qualifications: A HND or Degree level qualification in a zoological-related science or equivalent experience.

Hours: The role requires the successful candidate to work 40 hours per week and it is a fixed term three-month contract.

Pay: £24,632.63 per year.

Apply HERE.

Events assistant manager

The events assistant manager will be responsible for the daily management of the food and beverage team working across all event spaces at the zoo, including the wedding events venue ’The Square’.

The role requires you to work a variety of shifts including days and evenings for events such as weddings and corporate functions.

Hours: 40 per week, five days out of seven on a rota basis including weekends and bank holidays.

Qualifications: event operations experience operating in a high volume business environment, at a mid-management level, preferably in a leading event destination.

Pay: £29,021.21 per year. Apply HERE.

Security support officer

You will maintain the highest level of security at the zoo delivering proactive and effective prevention activities and emergency response. Conduct effective security tasks including surveillance, people searches, foot and mobile patrols during the day and night.

Successful candidates are expected to support the security team ensuring that regular reviews of security vulnerabilities are identified and highlighted, addressed or suitably mitigated and demonstrate a high level of competency in the use of security systems to maximise their operational benefit.

Hours: A minimum of 8 per week with up to 40 during busy periods.

Qualifications: previous experience in a similar role.

Pay: £10.98 per hour. Temporary contract until September 2023, with a possibility of this being extended. Apply HERE.

Horticulturist – projects

The horticulturist will be part of a team who develop and maintain a wide range of horticultural features and activities within Chester Zoo’s animal and plant division and the wider zoo environment. 

The horticulturist will landscape and plant animal enclosures and garden features, maintaining lawns, hedges, bedding displays, mature trees and the zoo’s newly created five-hectare nature reserve and browse areas at Woodside farm.

Qualifications: minimum NVQ Level 2 in Horticulture is desirable, and proven practical horticultural experience. PA1 and PA6 spraying certificates.

Hours: 40 hours per week, worked 10 days out of 14, including weekends and bank holidays as rostered.

Pay: £24,632.63. Apply HERE.

Community engagement manager

The community engagement manager is responsible for developing and managing the zoo’s work with communities, with a particular focus on audiences who are underrepresented in conservation, volunteering and on supporting conservation education work internationally.

You will work on projects both local to the zoo and internationally (mostly via remote means) in support of the zoo’s conservation work around the world.

Hours: 32 hours a week

Pay: £32,886.29 per year. Temporary fixed term contract (13 months). Apply HERE.

Qualifications: Extensive experience developing community focused programmes and projects, preferably within an environmental education, conservation or similar organisation.

Multi-site food and beverage supervisor 

Description: You will be responsible for the zoo’s coffee shop and kiosk teams. You will have responsibility for the day-to-day running of two coffee shops, eight kiosks and over 10 pop up units and will be managing a team in excess of 70 during our busy summer period.

You will run your units along with the support of your coordinator and under the supervision of the senior food and beverage team.

Hours: You’ll be working a variety of shifts, five days out of seven on a rota basis including weekends and bank holidays. Hours of work will generally be during our core zoo opening hours, although evening work will be required for special events such as ‘Into the night’ and ‘The Lanterns’.

Pay: Salary of £26,487.02 based on 40 hours. Apply HERE.

Qualifications: Demonstrable experience in a similar role, ideally with multi-site experience.

Food and beverage coordinator

You will run your units along with the support of your coordinator and under the supervision of the senior food and beverage team.

Hours: You’ll be working a variety of shifts, five days out of seven on a rota basis including weekends and bank holidays. Hours of work will generally be during our core zoo opening hours, although evening work will be required for special events such as ‘Into the night’ and ‘The Lanterns’.

Pay: £22,844.02 based on 40 hours, plus paid overtime.

Qualifications: Excellent verbal and written communication skills Apply HERE.

Food and beverage assistant/barista

The zoo is looking for an experienced barista to work in their South East Asian inspired House of Sumatra coffee shop, preparing and serving authentic Indonesian food and drinks.

Hours: Minimum 20 hours per week.

Pay: £10.49 per hour. Flexible hours with a guaranteed 20 hours per week available.

Qualifications: Barista training, with experience of working in a coffee shop or venue serving hand crafted drinks. Apply HERE.

Chef de Partie

Under the direction of the sous chef and lead chef you will be responsible for your own section, preparing meals for a variety of events, including weddings and other special occasions, as well as large corporate functions and bespoke events.

Hours: You’ll work 40 hours per week, five days out of seven.

Pay: £24,632.63 per annum, plus overtime

Qualifications: Previous chef experience, preferably gained in a leading British gastro-pub or events venue and Level 2 Food Safety qualification. Apply HERE.