Permanent – Full-time
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 currently have an exciting vacancy for a Volunteer Officer to support our volunteering programme, working within our award-winning Discovery & Learning team.
The Role:
• Responsible for supporting the Volunteer Manger in the recruitment, training and day-to-day supervision of the volunteer programme (200+ volunteers) including hosting recruitment events, delivering briefings and organising external training.
• Ensure individual volunteers are supported to take on their role, including working alongside them in the zoo, finding appropriate buddies/mentors, providing feedback on performance and monitoring progress.
• Responsible for keeping the volunteer online database up to date.
• Responsible for producing and maintaining weekly rotas and provide the day-to-day support for volunteers to ensure key locations are manned.
• Ensuring that all volunteers are kept up to date with zoo news, changes in policy and current opportunities, through the organisation of regular training events and briefings, and via a range of media.
• To research and develop resources for training and for volunteers to use when taking on their public engagement roles out in the zoo, e.g. developing content on iPads
• Assist the Volunteer Manager with the planning and implementation of volunteer events, group projects and volunteer appreciation events.
• To communicate effectively with internal and external partners to develop opportunities for volunteers to contribute to a wide range of zoo activities and to ensure a wide range of input into volunteer training.
The successful candidate will have:
• Experience of working with and supervising volunteers on a regular basis, including administration of rotas, supervision of volunteers and managing recruitment processes.
• A demonstrable understanding of safeguarding issues and the management of risk.
• A passion and enthusiasm for volunteering, with a recognition of its impact and value for individuals and organisations.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively under own initiative and as part of a team, to work under pressure with a positive attitude and also to enthuse and engage others.
• Experience working with a range of community organisations, particularly from the voluntary and adult learning sectors.
• Excellent customer service skills, alongside experience working with and/or supporting volunteers in a visitor facing environment.
• Excellent presentation skills and experience of delivering engaging training sessions, preferably to a wide range of participant groups and especially to those who face additional barriers to learning.
• Experience in the use of all key Microsoft packages and use of digital technologies for public engagement, have good written skills and the ability to develop resources.
• Strong organisational skills including excellent time management, administration and planning skills, with substantial administration experience, including the production of reports and dealing with personal data.
Prior knowledge of conservation and zoology would be advantageous, this is likely be demonstrated by a Zoology or Biological Science degree and/or experience of working within a zoo, conservation organisation or similar environment.
Hours of work are 35 hours per week within a 5 in 7 roster system which will include weekends and Bank Holidays. A degree of flexibility to cover volunteer events will be required, with time off in lieu given for any additional hours worked.
The salary for this role is £20,660.05 per annum and in addition we offer a range of amazing benefits which can be found at https://www.chesterzoo.org/work-with-us/staff-benefits/
To apply for this position, please provide your current CV and covering letter stating why you believe you should be considered for our Volunteer Officer role to at https://www.chesterzoo.org/work-with-us/
Closing date for applications is Wednesday 18th September 2019
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