Job opportunities

Visitor Engagement Volunteer

Do you love wildlife, enjoy meeting people and want to help create memorable experiences for zoo visitors?
Hertfordshire Zoo is looking for enthusiastic and friendly Visitor Engagement Volunteers to join our team and help us connect visitors with wildlife, animals and conservation.
The main focus of this role is supporting our walkthrough exhibits, where volunteers will spend much of their volunteer day welcoming and engaging with visitors, providing guidance and helping to ensure a safe, enjoyable experience for both visitors and animals.
When not required on a walkthrough, volunteers will engage with visitors across the wider zoo. This could include answering questions, sharing interesting facts about our animals, talking about wildlife and conservation, and helping visitors get even more from their day at the zoo.
This is a varied, people-focused role for someone who enjoys being out and about, meeting new people and sharing their enthusiasm for wildlife.

What will you be doing?
As a Visitor Engagement Volunteer, you will:
•    Welcome visitors to our walkthrough exhibits and help create a positive experience from the moment they arrive. 
•    Support the safe and smooth operation of our walkthroughs. 
•    Monitor entrances and exits and help manage visitor flow. 
•    Provide guidance and information to visitors within the walkthrough environment. 
•    Encourage visitors to follow walkthrough rules and guidance. 
•    Remain alert and proactive while supporting the safety and wellbeing of both visitors and animals. 
•    Answer visitor questions and share your enthusiasm for wildlife. 
•    Engage with visitors around the wider zoo when not staffing a walkthrough. 
•    Encourage conversations about animals, habitats, conservation and the natural world. 
•    Share interesting facts and help visitors discover more about the species in our care. 
•    Provide a friendly, approachable and professional presence throughout the zoo. 
•    Work alongside the conservation education team and other zoo staff to support an excellent visitor experience. 

Who are we looking for?
•    Friendly and approachable, with a natural ability to make visitors feel welcome. 
•    Confident communicators who enjoy talking to people of all ages. 
•    Passionate about wildlife and conservation, with enthusiasm for sharing that passion with others. 
•    Proactive and self-motivated, able to use their initiative and look for opportunities to engage with visitors. 
•    Reliable and committed, with the ability to attend their agreed volunteer days consistently. 
•    Comfortable working in a busy environment and interacting with large numbers of visitors. 
•    Positive and professional, representing Hertfordshire Zoo and its values at all times. 
•    Keen to learn, develop their knowledge and build their confidence. 

You don't need to be an expert in zoology or have previous zoo experience. A genuine passion for wildlife, enthusiasm for meeting people and a willingness to learn are more important.

Commitment
Visitor Engagement Volunteers will be expected to commit to a minimum of two volunteer days per month, with one volunteer day per week being the ideal level of commitment.
Typical volunteer days will run from 10:00–15:00.
Walkthrough support is the primary focus of the role, so volunteers should be prepared to spend a significant proportion of their volunteer day supporting our walkthrough exhibits. The remainder of the volunteer day will be focused on visitor engagement across the zoo and supporting the education team as required.

Why volunteer with us?
This is a fantastic opportunity to gain experience in a zoo environment, develop your communication and public engagement skills, and play a direct role in creating memorable experiences for our visitors.
You'll be part of a passionate team helping visitors discover more about the animals in our care, understand the importance of wildlife and conservation, and leave the zoo with a greater connection to the natural world.
Whether you're looking to gain experience in the zoo and conservation sector, develop your confidence and communication skills, or simply want to spend more time around wildlife and share that passion with others, this could be the role for you.