Chester Zoo

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Chester Zoo Youth Board

Reference: NOV20195785
Expiry date: 2019-12-15 23:59:00.000
Location: Chester
Salary: Voluntary
Benefits: This is voluntary position, reasonable travel expenses will be paid

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 currently recruiting for a team of 14 young people, aged 18 – 25 years old, to join our Youth Board on a voluntary basis. The Youth Board is a brand new initiative for the zoo. The Board will work with our staff and Trustees to develop our approach to working with young people. As a group they will advise the zoo on how to market to young people, develop ideas for events and projects, support digital innovation and help us develop new products and services.

Youth Board members will be asked to:

• Attend and contribute to 6 Youth Board meetings each year
• Read relevant papers and complete required preparatory work in advance of meetings
• Complete actions assigned to them
• Contribute to relevant projects in support of the development of Chester Zoo’s programme for 12-25 year olds
• Work with other Youth Board members to make recommendations to the Chester Zoo trustees
• Work with the Chester Zoo staff team to oversee the implementation of Chester Zoo’s programmes for 12 – 25 year olds
• Work with the Chester Zoo staff team to make recommendations on and support Chester Zoo’s fundraising and conservation campaigns
• Act as ambassadors of Chester Zoo, in particular its programme for 12-25 year olds, and where appropriate attend Chester Zoo events in this capacity.
• Work with the Consultation Groups (groups of young people involved in developing Chester Zoo projects) to ensure they are able to input effectively into Chester Zoo’s programme for 12-25 year olds
• Maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive information, including via social media or when working with external parties on behalf of the zoo
• Act in the best interests of the charity and not let personal interests, views or prejudices affect their conduct
• Act reasonably and responsibly in all matters relating to Chester Zoo – act with as much care as if they were dealing with their own affairs, taking advice if needed
• Only use our charity’s income and property for the purposes given by the zoo.

Our Youth Board members will:

• Be aged 18 to 25 years old
• Enjoy working as part of a team
• Want to share their ideas, skills and experiences with Chester Zoo
• Be active listeners and are interested in the ideas of others
• Be enthusiastic about working with the zoo to create new programmes for young people
• Able to demonstrate genuine interest in two or more of the following areas: events, conservation, retail, catering, marketing and communications, education, science, animal care, field programmes, outreach, fundraising, campaigning, volunteering, environmental issues, visitor attractions, careers and training.
• Live within 60 minutes travel time of Chester Zoo
• Commit to attending 6 Youth Board meetings at the zoo each year and to being part of the Youth Board for a minimum of two years from appointment or until your 26th birthday if that is sooner.

You don’t need to have a background in zoology or conservation or know a lot about zoos. We are looking for young people with a wide variety of interests and skills. The most important thing is being enthusiastic about working with us and your fellow Youth Board members to make exciting things happen at the zoo. Our work is varied so we want our Youth Board to be varied too. For more information please follow this link to our Youth Board website https://www.chesterzoo.org/corporate-information/governance/chester-zoo-youth-board/ 

This a voluntary position. Youth Board members will not receive any payment for their time. However reasonable travel expenses will be paid. This opportunity is not available for existing members of Chester Zoo staff, although volunteers are eligible to apply.

To apply, please click Apply Now to provide your current CV. You will then be sent detailed instructions to complete a short task. The task is to create an original 90 second video telling us why you think you would be a great Youth Board member. Please note, we are interested in what you have to say, we will not be assessing your video making skills.

The closing date for applications, including completion of the video making task,
is midnight Sunday 15th December 2019.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a selection day on Saturday 11th January 2020.