Canal jobs

The Canal and River Trust is the charity that looks after 2,000 miles of canals and 71 reservoirs across England and Wales. Every role in the Trust plays its part in making our waterways places where biodiversity thrives, where local communities spend time and improve their health, and where businesses flourish. If you share our values and our enthusiasm and you have the right transferable skills and attributes, we look forward to hearing from you!

We are looking for a Business & Corporate Engagement Partner to join our North West Operations team.  We are looking for an ambitious and autonomous individual to develop, deliver and grow our long-term corporate & Regional fundraising programme.

The key aim of the role is to secure new corporate partnerships which will both contribute to Canal & River Trust’s core mission of Keeping Canals Open and Alive and help companies to achieve their own Corporate Social Responsibility goals.

In this role you will develop long-term strategic partnerships with businesses that help deliver the Trust’s objectives of increasing brand awareness, gaining wider public and institutional support and delivering health and wellbeing outcomes across our vibrant and diverse regional network.

You will work with businesses and companies across the North West to secure support for work and projects that further our charitable objectives.  You will be focussed on securing unrestricted income or restricted funding towards the core work for our charity.   

 You will be able to use your skills and expertise in corporate/charitable fundraising to help shape the projects and initiatives to help achieve your targets, with the key focus areas outlined below:

• prospecting new corporate partners, identifying new growth opportunities that match our charitable objectives, developing cultivation plans to build partnerships
• stewarding relationships to ensure that our corporate partners feel valued and connected to the Trust’s objectives
• identifying and shaping packages of sponsorship and support, ensuring consistency with other regions and the national Fundraising Directorate. 
• Working with colleagues in the regional team to identify and shape regional projects, writing funding applications to local corporate foundations within the North West, working alongside the regional delivery team to track progress and help with forecasting, reporting back to funders
• Within the North West Region, we also have a unique regional opportunity to develop a corporate fundraising package based on our two major attractions at Anderton Boat Lift & visitor centre and Ellesmere Port National Waterways Museum. 

In this role you will develop long-term strategic partnerships with businesses that help deliver the Trust’s objectives of increasing brand awareness, gaining wider public and institutional support and delivering health and wellbeing outcomes across our vibrant and diverse regional network.

Location - this role is offered on working from home basis.  Candidates will be expected to travel across the region as required to attend stakeholder and business meetings (expenses will be paid).  Candidates should also expect to attend the Team hub at Ellesmere Port reguarly for team meetings and collaborative working.

Please follow the link provided to view the full job description/apply via our website.

Internal Job Title: Business & Corporate Engagement Partner - Temporary 12 months Opportunity - August 2025 - August 2026

Advertised Salary: £35,000 - £37,000 + £390 per month Car Cash Allowance

Location: Home working with regular travel across our Yorkshire & North East network. Hub location will be Leeds.

The Canal and River Trust is the charity that looks after 2,000 miles of canals and 72 reservoirs across England and Wales. Every role in the Trust plays its part in making our waterways places where biodiversity thrives, where local communities spend time and improve their health, and where businesses flourish. If you share our values and our enthusiasm and you have the right transferable skills and attributes, we look forward to hearing from you!

We are looking for a Business & Corporate Engagement Partner to join our Yorkshire & North East Operations team. 

We are looking for an ambitious and autonomous individual to develop, deliver and grow our long-term regional corporate fundraising programme.

The key aim of the role is to secure new corporate partnerships which will both contribute to Canal & River Trust’s core mission of Keeping Canals Open & Alive and help companies to achieve their own Corporate Social Responsibility goals.

You will work with businesses and companies across Yorkshire to secure support for work and projects that further our charitable objectives.  You will be focussed on securing unrestricted income or restricted funding towards work within our 2025/26 business plan.

You will be able to use your skills and expertise in corporate/charitable fundraising to help shape the projects and initiatives to help achieve your targets, with the key focus areas outlined below:

• prospecting new corporate partners, identifying new growth opportunities that match our charitable objectives, developing cultivation plans to build partnerships
• stewarding relationships to ensure that our corporate partners feel valued and connected to the Trust’s objectives
• identifying and shaping packages of sponsorship and support, ensuring consistency with other regions and the national Fundraising Directorate.
• Working with colleagues in the regional team to identify and shape regional projects, writing funding applications to local corporate foundations within Yorkshire & North East, working alongside the regional delivery team to track progress and help with forecasting, reporting back to funders
• Within Yorkshire & North East, we also have a unique regional opportunity to develop a corporate fundraising package based on the successful Paddle Under the Pennines canoe trips at Standedge Tunnel.

Location: This role will be offered on a remote home-working basis with a requirement to attend our Leeds hub for team meetings and collaborative working with colleagues.

Please follow the link to see the full job description/apply on our internal website.

The Canal and River Trust is the charity that looks after 2,000 miles of canals and 72 reservoirs across England and Wales. Every role in the Trust plays its part in making our waterways places where biodiversity thrives, where local communities spend time and improve their health, and where businesses flourish. If you share our values and our enthusiasm and you have the right transferable skills and attributes, we look forward to hearing from you!

We are looking for a Business & Corporate Engagement Partner to join our Wales and South West Operations team. 

We are looking for an ambitious and autonomous individual to develop, deliver and grow our long-term regional corporate fundraising programme.

The key aim of the role is to secure new corporate partnerships which will both contribute to Canal & River Trust’s core mission of Keeping Canals Open & Alive and help companies to achieve their own Corporate Social Responsibility goals.

You will work with businesses and organisations across Wales and the South West to secure support for work and projects that further our charitable objectives.  You will be focussed on securing unrestricted income or restricted funding towards work within annual business plans.

You will be able to use your skills and expertise in corporate/charitable fundraising to help shape the projects and initiatives to help achieve your targets, with the key focus areas outlined below:

• prospecting new corporate partners, identifying new growth opportunities that match our charitable objectives, developing cultivation plans to build partnerships
• stewarding relationships to ensure that our corporate partners feel valued and connected to the Trust’s objectives
• identifying and shaping packages of sponsorship and support, ensuring consistency with other regions and the national Fundraising Directorate
• Working with colleagues in the regional team to identify and shape regional projects, writing funding applications to local corporate foundations within Wales and South West, working alongside the regional delivery team to track progress and help with forecasting, reporting back to funders

Location: This role will be offered on a remote home-working basis with a requirement to attend our Gloucester hub for team meetings and collaborative working with colleagues.

Candidates will also be expected to travel across the region as required to meet with external partners in their premises or on the canal network (expenses will be paid).

Knowledge, Skills/Qualifications & Experience

Reporting directly to the Partnerships & External Relationships Manager, (Wales & South West), you will represent the Trust externally and champion corporate fundraising internally.  You will be part of a driven, ambitious and engaged team, and will have a supportive colleague environment and the space to shape and develop this important role within the team.  You will be working collaboratively with colleagues in Fundraising, Enterprise, Community Engagement, Operations, and other areas across the business. Externally your ability to connect and develop strong stakeholder relationships with Corporate partners, our Regional Advisory Board, Agencies and suppliers are all important to your success and the success of the team. 

Key Accountabilities:

• Develop and deliver a corporate engagement strategy.
• Explore new trends in corporate and leadership giving and undertake research and prospecting to ensure a continuous pipeline of corporate opportunities and develop specific propositions for each.
• Support the region in delivering the fundraising pipeline.
• Nurture, develop, support and service a range of corporate partnerships that provide a range of benefits to the Trust in the form of income, in-kind support, volunteering, awareness raising and fundraising opportunities.
• Develop monitoring and reporting frameworks, and undertake the necessary reporting, for the corporate engagement programme as a whole and for individual corporate partners as required.
• Work with colleagues nationally and from other regions to ensure corporate engagement opportunities are coordinated across the Trust to maximise benefit, eliminate duplication and present corporate partners with a single point of contact.
• Work with regional colleagues to identify opportunities for delivering corporate engagement activities.
• Represent the Trust in fundraising activities, at events, with supporters and the media.

Knowledge, Experience & Skills:

• Evidence of strong relevant experience with considerable track record of successful corporate and non-project-based fundraising.
• Ability to think and plan strategically with a proven track record of developing fundraising strategies, including setting ambitious targets and delivering results.
• Proven track record of securing significant corporate partnerships that have delivered both financial and non-financial value.
• Proven track record of bid-writing for fundraising.
• Experience of successfully managing significant corporate partnerships.
• Experience of research and prospect identification and development.
• Experience of developing processes to manage corporate engagement activity and reporting on outcomes.
• Thorough knowledge of fundraising best practice and relevant aspects of charity governance.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and experience of working collaboratively.
• Good written and verbal communications skills.
• Creative, entrepreneurial and innovative.
• Strong networking skills and ability to represent the Trust externally.
• Ability to work on own initiative, remain calm and deliver to tight deadlines.

Please follow the link provided to see further details/apply.

Networks for Nature Project Administrator

35 hours per week, temporary contract until December 2028

We are Chester Zoo

We’re not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that’s home to over 37,000 incredible animals inside 128 acres of stunning gardens. We’re not just the UK’s most popular zoo. We’re a major wildlife charity that’s committed to the recovery of endangered species, globally. And, as the world faces an extinction crisis, we’re making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it’s needed most. We are Chester Zoo and we prevent extinction.

The Role

We now have an exciting new role for a Networks for Nature Project Administrator. This role is part of the Networks for Nature project team.

Networks for Nature spans c60 square miles from the River Dee to the River Mersey, including Chester and Ellesmere Port. This is a collaborative partnership project working with Cheshire West and Chester Council, The Land Trust, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Canal and River Trust, and Sustrans with the aim to drive nature recovery in a mixed-use landscape, creating diverse habitats for species to thrive now and for years to come. We will empower communities to have an active role in conservation action and stewardship and will focus on making nature more accessible to and inclusive for everyone to enable connection and improve wellbeing. To find out more about Networks for Nature visit Networks For Nature | Conservation at Chester Zoo.

As the Project Administrator you will provide administrative and accounting support across the Networks for Nature project.

We’re looking for someone who can:

• Provide full administrative support at all levels of project governance including project delivery team, Project Board and Steering Group, booking rooms, inviting staff, partners and other stakeholders and the taking of confidential minutes.
• Manage the associated project email account and phone communication, answering queries about project events and activities and directing to the relevant team members for action.
• Support the project team with logistics including venue bookings, catering and liaising with participants.
• Support members of the project team with raising POs, invoicing, and financial reporting, ensuring the budget is effectively monitored and that reports are available to project governance and funders as required.
• Collate project information for timely and accurate reporting to Project Board, Steering Group and project funders.

What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?

Well, where do we start? Here goes…

We’re a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal welfare experts, marketeers, visitor experience professionals, environmental policy influencers; the list goes on. Each and every one of us is on a mission to make Chester Zoo the best in the world, and our planet a better place.

As the UK’s biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans, and there’s always lots going on here. We’re an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of over 600 permanent and 500 temporary team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us for the long term on our exciting journey.

Our working environment could not be more different from a typical office – where else can you see critically endangered orangutans from your office window, or stroll among rare giraffes and tigers on your lunch break?
 

The Package

• Fixed term contract until December 2028
• 35 hours per week, Monday-Friday
• Salary £22,629.62 per annum pro rata
• 33 days annual leave plus the option to buy or sell up to 5 days (pro rota)
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off, plus multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family
• Cycle to work scheme
• Healthcare plan and employee assistance programme
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks
• Pension scheme with generous employer contributions

Our Requirements

• An understanding & affinity to the organisation’s mission, vision & values, with an interest in the conservation of UK nature.
• Qualifications: Relevant administrative qualification at NVQ level 2 or equivalent qualifications or experience of working in an administrative role.
• Experience: Excellent administrative experience in a busy customer facing environment is essential, ideally with experience in a visitor attraction, conservation NGO or similar organisation. Experience of minute taking and planning and organising meetings and events.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, in particular ability to respond to enquiries tactfully and professionally. Ability to compile short reports.
• Budget keeping skills: Experience working with budgets and compiling financial information.
• Customer service: Customer focused approach and experience in a customer facing environment.
• IT skills: Highly skilled in the use of all key Microsoft packages with substantial experience using email, electronic calendars, booking systems and data bases.
• Organisational skills: Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise workload and the ability to meet deadlines. Able to work well under pressure in a busy environment.
• Interpersonal skills: Excellent diplomacy and interpersonal skills, demonstrated by an ability to liaise confidently and effectively with senior managers.
• Numeracy and data analysis skills.
• Attention to detail and accuracy are essential.

The closing date for applications is midnight 1st June 2025

Shortlisting of applications and interviews for the role will take place while the advert is live; the advert will close once the successful candidate is found and it is possible this will be prior to the advertised end date. Candidates are therefore encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible.

Networks for Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

Networks for Nature Project Manager

40 hours per week, temporary contract until December 2028

We are Chester Zoo

We’re not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that’s home to 20,000 incredible animals inside 128 acres of stunning gardens. We’re not just the UK’s most popular zoo. We’re a major wildlife charity that’s committed to the recovery of endangered species, globally. And, as the world faces an extinction crisis, we’re making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it’s needed most. We are Chester Zoo and we prevent extinction.

The Role

We now have an exciting new role for a Networks for Nature (NFN) Project Manager. This role is part of the Networks for Nature project team.

Networks for Nature spans c60 square miles from the River Dee to the River Mersey, including Chester and Ellesmere Port. This is a collaborative partnership project working with Cheshire West and Chester Council, The Land Trust, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Canal and River Trust, and Sustrans with the aim to drive nature recovery in a mixed-use landscape, creating diverse habitats for species to thrive now and for years to come. We will empower communities to have an active role in conservation action and stewardship and will focus on making nature more accessible to and inclusive for everyone to enable connection and improve wellbeing. To find out more about Networks for Nature visit Networks For Nature | Conservation at Chester Zoo.

The NFN Project Manager will be responsible for leading the project delivery team, maintaining good communication with and consulting with the project partners, ensuring adherence to and delivery against the project activity and action plan, record keeping and reporting to project governance bodies and multiple project funders.

The NFN Project Manager will be accountable to the internal Chester Zoo Project Board and a Steering Group comprised of project partners, who have oversight of the project. The NFN Project Manager will track and monitor project budget (c.£5million) and ensure that all spending is in line with the agreed budget. The NFN Project Manager will be supported in these tasks by the Senior Community Participation and Engagement Manager and will line manage a Project Administrator who will help with the day-to-day administration of the project.

We’re looking for someone who can:

• Matrix manage the project delivery team to ensure adherence to and delivery of the project activity plan throughout the delivery phase.
• Influence project partners to ensure that planned conservation action and engagement activities are taking place according to timescale and budget detailed in NFN project activity plan.
• Provide regular reports to Project Board, and the Project Steering Group, ensuring that internal and external stakeholders are kept appraised of project progress and any areas of risk.
• Work with the Trusts and Foundations Manager to manage relationships with National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and other funders for the project. Lead on reporting to the NLHF, ensuring compliance with all reporting requirements to ensure successful drawdown of the c.£4million grant.
• Manage the allocated budget for the delivery phase c.£5million working within the agreed budget and proactively seeking approvals and reporting variances to the Senior Community Participation and Engagement Manager, Director of Conservation Education and Project Board as needed.
• Work with Chester Zoo Science Department and external contractors to evaluate the impact of the project, including gathering evidence and case studies.
• Advocate for the project at internal and external forums, conferences and networks, ensuring widespread community, conservation sector and stakeholder buy-in to Networks for Nature.
• Ensure that all project activities are safe and appropriately risk assessed, liaising with specialist staff and Health and Safety Advisors as appropriate. Ensure all project activities are compliant with all legislation and best practice guidance, including safeguarding, Construction and Design Management, GDPR, Health and Safety and Copyright.
   

What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?

Well, where do we start? Here goes…

We’re a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal welfare experts, marketeers, visitor experience professionals, environmental policy influencers; the list goes on. Each and every one of us is on a mission to make Chester Zoo the best in the world, and our planet a better place.

As the UK’s biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans, and there’s always lots going on here. We’re an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of over 600 permanent and 500 temporary team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us for the long term on our exciting journey.

Our working environment could not be more different from a typical office – where else can you see critically endangered orangutans from your office window, or stroll among rare giraffes and tigers on your lunch break?

The Package

• Fixed term contract until December 2028
• 40 hours per week, generally Monday-Friday with occasional need for evening or weekend work
• Salary £39,833.82 per annum pro rata
• 33 days annual leave plus the option to buy or sell up to 5 days (pro rota)
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off, plus multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family
• Cycle to work scheme
• Healthcare plan and employee assistance programme
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks
• Pension scheme with generous employer contributions up to 9%

Our Requirements

• An understanding & affinity to the organisation’s mission, vision & values, with a strong interest in the conservation of UK nature and in community-based conservation work.
• Substantial experience planning, leading and managing large-scale, multi-year projects with demonstrable project management skills and knowledge, experience of working collaboratively with project partners, matrix managing project teams and tracking project progress, ideally in a conservation, community engagement and/or education environment.
• Experience leading partnership management, facilitating meetings and coordinating events to ensure partners and key stakeholders are well informed and engaged.
• Experience of managing and influencing the work of others, with and without authority. The post holder may reasonably be required to direct activity to achieve the project’s goals across multiple internal teams, volunteer groups and external partner organisations.
• Good working knowledge of the protection and restoration of nature – ideally within the context of terrestrial UK habitats and species.
• Understanding of community work and insight into the challenges and benefits of working with community groups, schools and the general public to achieve conservation goals.
• Attention to detail and critical thinking skills are essential.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, demonstrated through a wide range of experience presenting to different audiences, in meetings and at events, and experience of report writing.
• IT skills: Skilled in the use of all key Microsoft packages.
• Organisational skills: Excellent time management, administration and planning skills. Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, meeting deadlines and ensuring appropriate quality control.
• Interpersonal skills: Excellent diplomacy and interpersonal skills. Ability to work effectively under own initiative and as part of a team, to work under pressure with positive attitude and also to enthuse and engage others. The role requires the post holder to work extensively across different departments and with external colleagues.

Although not essential, the following would be desirable:

• Full driving licence

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

The closing date for applications is midnight 25th May 2025

Shortlisting of applications and interviews for the role will take place while the advert is live; the advert will close once the successful candidate is found and it is possible this will be prior to the advertised end date. Candidates are therefore encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible.

Networks for Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

Wildlife and Wellbeing Officer

35 hours per week, temporary contract until September 2028

We are Chester Zoo

We’re not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that’s home to over 37,000 incredible animals inside 128 acres of stunning gardens. We’re not just the UK’s most popular zoo. We’re a major wildlife charity that’s committed to the recovery of endangered species, globally. And, as the world faces an extinction crisis, we’re making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it’s needed most. We are Chester Zoo and we prevent extinction.

The Role

We now have an exciting new role for a Wildlife and Wellbeing Officer to join our Conservation Education and Engagement Directorate. This role is part of the Networks for Nature project team.

Networks for Nature spans c60 square miles from the River Dee to the River Mersey, including Chester and Ellesmere Port. This is a collaborative partnership project working with Cheshire West and Chester Council, The Land Trust, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Canal and River Trust, and Sustrans with the aim to drive nature recovery in a mixed-use landscape, creating diverse habitats for species to thrive now and for years to come. We will empower communities to have an active role in conservation action and stewardship and will focus on making nature more accessible to and inclusive for everyone to enable connection and improve wellbeing. To find out more about Networks for Nature visit Networks For Nature | Conservation at Chester Zoo.

As a Wildlife and Wellbeing Officer, you’ll work closely with the Wildlife and Wellbeing Assistant Manager and Networks for Nature project staff to engage and empower communities to make a real impact on conservation efforts and to improve access to nature. You will support with maintaining and establishing community relationships, supporting the development and delivery of a programme of wildlife and wellbeing activities and supporting in building the capacity of community groups, community leaders and other stakeholders within the Networks for Nature project area. You will deliver a broad range of activities, including Family Wildlife Clubs, Wildlife and Wellbeing Clubs, Community Action Days, activities linked to Green Social Prescribing and activity stands within community settings.

Due to the working rota of 10 days in 14 and working every other weekend, there will be some cross-over between the activities delivered within this role and the Community Volunteer Officer role.
 

We’re looking for someone who can:

• Activity Planning & Delivery: Help plan and run a broad programme of wildlife and wellbeing activities to community groups, including Family Wildlife Clubs, Wildlife and Wellbeing Clubs, Conservation Action Days, activities linked to Green Social Prescribing and activity stands at community events. Effectively adapting each activity to meet the needs of each group.
• Community Relationships: Develop and maintain relationships with community groups to support their continued participation in the project and commitment to creating habitats for UK Wildlife. Including administrative support, dealing with queries via email and telephone and attending meetings, consultations and networking events.
• Content Creation: Research and contribute to the development of resources and new engagement activities designed to support participation in the Networks for Nature project.
• Measuring Impact: Work closely with the Wildlife and Wellbeing Assistant Manager to support in the delivery of an evaluation programme for the Networks for Nature project, including collection and collation of data from project participants, initial analysis of results and presenting findings to key stakeholders.
• Safety & Risk Assessments: With support from the Wildlife and Wellbeing Assistant Manager, ensure that all activities are safe and appropriately risk assessed.
• Developing Expertise: Proactively develop own expertise as a conservation educator, focused on community engagement, UK wildlife and nature and wellbeing.

What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?

Well, where do we start? Here goes…

We’re a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal welfare experts, marketeers, visitor experience professionals, environmental policy influencers; the list goes on. Each and every one of us is on a mission to make Chester Zoo the best in the world, and our planet a better place.

As the UK’s biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans, and there’s always lots going on here. We’re an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of over 600 permanent and 500 temporary team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us for the long term on our exciting journey.

Our working environment could not be more different from a typical office – where else can you see critically endangered orangutans from your office window, or stroll among rare giraffes and tigers on your lunch break?

The Package

• Fixed term contract until September 2028
• 35 hours per week
• Salary £23,893.59 per annum pro rata
• The postholder will work 10 days over 14, working every other weekend and with two regular days off in the week
• 33 days annual leave plus the option to buy or sell up to 5 days (pro rota)
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off, plus multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family
• Cycle to work scheme
• Healthcare plan and employee assistance programme
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks
• Pension scheme with generous employer contributions up to 9%

Our Requirements

• An understanding & affinity to the organisation’s mission, vision & values, with a strong interest in the conservation of UK nature.
• Experience delivering educational and wellbeing focused activities with a range of different audiences, preferably within an environmental education or conservation focused organisation.
• Experience developing quality resources for learning.
• Experience of delivering activities/training with a range of audiences.
• Sound working knowledge of computer software systems e.g. Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication and literacy skills including by phone, face to face and via email/online discussion boards
• Excellent time management, administration and planning skills.
• Experience of working in a busy office environment as part of a team & on own initiative
• Full driving licence

Although not essential, the following would be desirable:

• Knowledge and understanding of the health and wellbeing benefits of accessing nature and the models used to deliver these benefits.
• Experience working with audiences with special educational needs and/or mental health challenges and/or socio economically deprived.
• Experience working collaboratively with community partners.
• Experience monitoring and evaluating engagement activities in a community context.

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

The closing date for applications is midnight 1st June 2025

Shortlisting of applications and interviews for the role will take place while the advert is live; the advert will close once the successful candidate is found and it is possible this will be prior to the advertised end date. Candidates are therefore encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible.

Networks for Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

Interpretation and Digital Officer

35 hours per week, temporary contract until September 2028

We are Chester Zoo

We’re not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that’s home to more than 37,000 incredible animals inside 128 acres of stunning gardens. We’re not just the UK’s most popular zoo. We’re a major wildlife charity that’s committed to the recovery of endangered species, globally. And, as the world faces an extinction crisis, we’re making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it’s needed most. We are Chester Zoo and we prevent extinction.

The Role

We now have an exciting new role for an Interpretation and Digital Officer. This role is part of the Networks for Nature project team.

Networks for Nature spans c60 square miles from the River Dee to the River Mersey, including Chester and Ellesmere Port. This is a collaborative partnership project working with Cheshire West and Chester Council, The Land Trust, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Canal and River Trust, and Sustrans with the aim to drive nature recovery in a mixed-use landscape, creating diverse habitats for species to thrive now and for years to come. We will empower communities to have an active role in conservation action and stewardship and will focus on making nature more accessible to and inclusive for everyone to enable connection and improve wellbeing. To find out more about Networks for Nature visit Networks For Nature | Conservation at Chester Zoo.

As an Interpretation and Digital Officer, you'll work closely and collaboratively with a wide range of in-zoo teams including the Networks for Nature project staff, Interpretation, Digital Learning, Marketing, PR, Fundraising, and will also link with the project partners. You’ll be responsible for the development of interpretation and promotional materials for the project. This will include interpretation materials at partner and community sites, resources for event activities and promotion of the project via e-newsletters, social media and other digital channels, such as the Wild Wander app.

We’re looking for someone who can:

• Develop content for interpretation elements across the landscape, working with designers and overseeing installation.
• Commission others or develop a broad range of digital and promotional materials, including content for e-newsletters, leaflets, digital media and other collateral to promote the project to a wide range of audiences (from those directly involved and supporters, to local residents and the wider public).
• Work collaboratively with zoo teams to schedule and plan delivery of communications content, providing any assets needed, so that the project is communicated consistently and regularly to key audiences.
• Ensure brand consistency across all areas of work.
• Support the ongoing development of the Wild Wander app, working with app developers, project team and partners to create new content and monitor its ongoing usage, adapting as needed in response to feedback.
• Ensure all work is delivered safely and compliantly, follow policies, standard operating procedures and ensuring compliance with all relevant guidelines and legislation, such as copyright law, GDPR, CDM and DDA compliance.
• Contribute to project monitoring through the collation of relevant KPI data and through providing regular reports to the Project Board and Steering Group.
• Monitor budgets associated with the interpretation and digital content elements of the project.
• Proactively develop own expertise in the areas of interpretation and digital engagement, keeping up to date with best practice, researching excellence and sharing practice both internally and externally.
   

What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?

Well, where do we start? Here goes…

We’re a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal welfare experts, marketeers, visitor experience professionals, environmental policy influencers; the list goes on. Each and every one of us is on a mission to make Chester Zoo the best in the world, and our planet a better place.

As the UK’s biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans, and there’s always lots going on here. We’re an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of over 600 permanent and 500 temporary team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us for the long term on our exciting journey.

Our working environment could not be more different from a typical office – where else can you see critically endangered orangutans from your office window, or stroll among rare giraffes and tigers on your lunch break?

The Package

• Fixed term contract until September 2028
• 35 hours per week, generally Monday-Friday with occasional need to work evening or weekends
• Salary £25,602.68 per annum pro rata
• Potential for home working up to two days per week
• 33 days annual leave plus the option to buy or sell up to 5 days (pro rota)
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off, plus multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family
• Cycle to work scheme
• Healthcare plan and employee assistance programme
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks
• Pension scheme with generous employer contributions up to 9%

Our Requirements

• An understanding & affinity to the organisation’s mission, vision & values, with a strong interest in the conservation of UK nature.
• Subject knowledge: Degree level qualification or equivalent experience
• Excellent copywriting skills, with experience in a comparable setting of writing for diverse audiences and for a range of formats including digital channels and interpretation signage. Proven ability to communicate scientific or technical content to audiences of different ages and abilities.
• Research skills: the ability to find information and source quality materials (such as films, maps and images), seek copyright clearance for their usage and edit into appropriate formats for a range of audiences.
• Commissioning of content: The ability to brief designers, printers, photographers, filmmakers and other contractors on projects and requirements.
• IT skills: Skilled in the use of all key Microsoft packages and use of digital technologies for public engagement.
• Organisational skills: Excellent time management, administration and workload planning skills are essential. Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, meeting deadlines and ensuring appropriate quality control.
• Interpersonal skills: Excellent diplomacy and interpersonal skills. Ability to work effectively under own initiative and as part of a team, to work under pressure and to collaborate with various stakeholders across the zoo and beyond.

Although not essential, the following would be desirable:

• Experience of developing and installing interpretation in a zoo, aquarium, museum or similar environment is desirable, ideally with experience working in outdoor locations.
• Experience or qualification in subject relevant to science communication and/or interpretation is desirable.
• A working knowledge of UK conservation and/or ecology.
• Full driving licence

The closing date for applications is midnight 1st June 2025. Interviews will take place on 10th June 2025.

Shortlisting of applications and interviews for the role will take place while the advert is live; the advert will close once the successful candidate is found and it is possible this will be prior to the advertised end date. Candidates are therefore encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible.

Networks for Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

Community Volunteer Officer

35 hours per week, temporary contract until September 2028

We are Chester Zoo

We’re not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that’s home to over 37,000 incredible animals inside 128 acres of stunning gardens. We’re not just the UK’s most popular zoo. We’re a major wildlife charity that’s committed to the recovery of endangered species, globally. And, as the world faces an extinction crisis, we’re making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it’s needed most. We are Chester Zoo and we prevent extinction.

The Role

We now have an exciting new role for a Community Volunteer Officer to join our Conservation Education and Engagement Directorate. This role is part of the Networks for Nature project team.

Networks for Nature spans c60 square miles from the River Dee to the River Mersey, including Chester and Ellesmere Port. This is a collaborative partnership project working with Cheshire West and Chester Council, The Land Trust, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Canal and River Trust, and Sustrans with the aim to drive nature recovery in a mixed-use landscape, creating diverse habitats for species to thrive now and for years to come. We will empower communities to have an active role in conservation action and stewardship and will focus on making nature more accessible to and inclusive for everyone to enable connection and improve wellbeing. To find out more about Networks for Nature visit Networks For Nature | Conservation at Chester Zoo.

As a Community Volunteer Officer, you'll work closely with the Community Volunteer Assistant Manager and Networks for Nature project staff to engage and empower volunteers to make a real impact on conservation efforts. You’ll be responsible for day-to-day volunteer administration, recruitment, and support, while helping to deliver exciting activities, including hands-on conservation projects and training sessions. This is your chance to be at the heart of the Networks for Nature project, contributing to positive change in nature while gaining valuable experience and skills.

Due to the working rota of 10 days in 14 and working every other weekend, there will be some cross-over between the activities delivered within this role and the Wildlife and Wellbeing Officer role.

We’re looking for someone who can:

• Event Planning & Delivery: Help plan and run volunteer events, training, and networking opportunities for community volunteers and Wildlife Champions.
• Logistical Support: Provide support for activities like networking, micro-volunteering, and conservation action days, from small coffee mornings to large events for up to 250 participants.
• Engagement Monitoring: Track participant feedback through surveys and regular check-ins. Collate data about participation in community activities, share data with funders and internal teams.
• Daily Volunteer Engagement: Manage volunteer communications such as emails, newsletters, recruitment, rosters, and event sign-ups. Provide support, encourage engagement, and offer pastoral care as needed.
• Safety & Risk Assessments: With support from the Community Volunteer Assistant Manager, ensure all activities are safe and well-planned, creating personal risk assessments with volunteers if required.
• Training & Development: Assist with training sessions for volunteers and Wildlife Champions to enhance their skills, leading parts of the training when needed.
   

What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?

Well, where do we start? Here goes…

We’re a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal welfare experts, marketeers, visitor experience professionals, environmental policy influencers; the list goes on. Each and every one of us is on a mission to make Chester Zoo the best in the world, and our planet a better place.

As the UK’s biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans, and there’s always lots going on here. We’re an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of over 600 permanent and 500 temporary team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us for the long term on our exciting journey.

Our working environment could not be more different from a typical office – where else can you see critically endangered orangutans from your office window, or stroll among rare giraffes and tigers on your lunch break?

The Package

• Fixed term contract until September 2028
• 35 hours per week
• Salary £23,893.59 per annum pro rata
• The postholder will work 10 days over 14, working every other weekend and with two regular days off in the week
• 33 days annual leave plus the option to buy or sell up to 5 days (pro rota)
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off, plus multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family
• Cycle to work scheme
• Healthcare plan and employee assistance programme
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks
• Pension scheme with generous employer contributions up to 9%

Our Requirements

• An understanding & affinity to the organisation’s mission, vision & values, with a strong interest in the conservation of UK nature.
• Experience in working with volunteers
• Strong administrative and organisational skills, with some experience organising events and training
• Experience of delivering activities/training with a wide range of audiences
• Sound working knowledge of computer software systems e.g. Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication and literacy skills including by phone, face to face and via email/online discussion boards
• Excellent time management, administration and planning skills.
• Experience of working in a busy office environment as part of a team & on own initiative
• Full driving licence

Although not essential, the following would be desirable:

• Working knowledge of volunteer management systems
• Experience monitoring and evaluating volunteering activities

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

The closing date for applications is midnight 1st June 2025

Shortlisting of applications and interviews for the role will take place while the advert is live; the advert will close once the successful candidate is found and it is possible this will be prior to the advertised end date. Candidates are therefore encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible.

Networks for Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

Wildlife and Wellbeing Assistant Manager

35 hours per week, temporary contract until December 2028

We are Chester Zoo

We’re not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that’s home to over 37,000 incredible animals inside 128 acres of stunning gardens. We’re not just the UK’s most popular zoo. We’re a major wildlife charity that’s committed to the recovery of endangered species, globally. And, as the world faces an extinction crisis, we’re making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it’s needed most. We are Chester Zoo and we prevent extinction.

The Role

We now have an exciting new role for a Wildlife and Wellbeing Assistant Manager within our Conservation Education and Engagement Directorate. This role is part of the Networks for Nature project team.

Networks for Nature spans c60 square miles from the River Dee to the River Mersey, including Chester and Ellesmere Port. This is a collaborative partnership project working with Cheshire West and Chester Local Authority, The Land Trust, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Canal and River Trust, and Sustrans with the aim to drive nature recovery in a mixed-use landscape, creating diverse habitats for species to thrive now and for years to come. We will empower communities to have an active role in conservation action and stewardship and will focus on making nature more accessible to and inclusive for everyone to enable connection and improve wellbeing. To find out more about Networks for Nature visit Networks For Nature | Conservation at Chester Zoo.

The Wildlife and Wellbeing Assistant Manager will lead the community engagement aspects of the Networks for Nature project. They will establish new and maintain existing community relationships, and lead on the development and delivery of a diverse programme of wildlife and wellbeing activities, with the overall aim of building the capacity of community groups, community leaders and other stakeholders within Networks for Nature project area and increasing connection and access to nature for community participants from diverse backgrounds. The Wildlife and Wellbeing Assistant Manager will also lead the development of a growing area of work around green social prescribing and work with local healthcare professionals to develop programmes that meet the needs of the community to harness the power of nature and wildlife for wellbeing. The Wildlife and Wellbeing Assistant Manager will line manage a Wildlife and Wellbeing Officer.

We’re looking for someone who can:

• Partnership and audience development: Manage existing and build new relationships with community groups to support their continued participation in the project and commitment to creating habitats for UK Wildlife. Build effective working relationships with internal and external partners in support of our community engagement and organisational aims.
• Community programme delivery: Develop and deliver a programme of family wildlife clubs, wildlife and wellbeing activities, green social prescribing, meetings, consultations and other activities, enabling community audiences to engage with Networks for Nature, working within a framework agreed by Networks for Nature Project Manager and meeting the requirements of the project Activity Plan. Ensure activities are designed to meet community needs, connect people to nature and support wellbeing using robust and evidence-based methods such as five ways to wellbeing and five pathways to Nature Connectedness.
• Capacity building: Share knowledge and build capacity in the area of nature and wellbeing, both internally and with community partners across the NFN area. Continue to develop own expertise in this area and ensure that the NFN project is informed by the latest good practice in relation to nature-based wellbeing work.
• Resource development: Research, write and co-ordinate the production of learning resources to support participation in the NFN.
• Evaluation and reporting: Work closely with the Networks for Nature Project Manager and external evaluator to devise and deliver an evaluation programme for the Networks for Nature project, including collection and collation of data from project participants. Lead on the measurement of wellbeing outcomes across the project, working closely with the project evaluator and NFN Project Manager to ensure a holistic approach to evaluation and reporting.
• Compliance: Ensure that all activities delivered within communities are safe and appropriately risk assessed, inclusive and that safeguarding has been fully considered.
• Budget management: Take primary responsibility for monitoring the project budget relevant to community engagement, under the guidance of the NFN Project Manager and Senior Community Participation and Engagement Manager.
• Staff management and development: Manage the Wildlife and Wellbeing Officer, overseeing their training programme, and providing continuous support for their professional development.
   

What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?

Well, where do we start? Here goes…

We’re a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal welfare experts, marketeers, visitor experience professionals, environmental policy influencers; the list goes on. Each and every one of us is on a mission to make Chester Zoo the best in the world, and our planet a better place.

As the UK’s biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans, and there’s always lots going on here. We’re an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of over 600 permanent and 500 temporary team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us for the long term on our exciting journey.

Our working environment could not be more different from a typical office – where else can you see critically endangered orangutans from your office window, or stroll among rare giraffes and tigers on your lunch break?

The Package

• Fixed term contract until December 2028
• 35 hours per week
• The postholder will work 5 days per week, with the flexibility to work evening and weekend to meet the needs of the project. This may enable some homeworking fitting around community delivery.
• Salary £27,938.29 per annum pro rata
• 33 days annual leave plus the option to buy or sell up to 5 days (pro rota)
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off, plus multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family
• Cycle to work scheme
• Healthcare plan and employee assistance programme
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks
• Pension scheme with generous employer contributions up to 9%

Our Requirements

• An understanding & affinity to the organisation’s mission, vision & values, with an interest in the conservation of UK nature.
• Experience coordinating and administering community programmes and projects, preferably within a zoo, aquarium or other environmental education or conservation focused organisation and with high levels of participation/co-development.
• Subject knowledge: The post holder will have knowledge and understanding of the health and wellbeing benefits of fostering a connection to nature, including practical understanding of the evidence-based models used in this area. The post holder also requires a working knowledge of conservation and the key issues threatening the natural world today, particularly with a focus on UK native species.
• Experience working collaboratively with a wide range of community partners, including stakeholder engagement.
• Experience of using learning programmes to bring about social change, ideally encouraging sustainable behaviours and supporting wellbeing.
• Relevant experience leading training and/or delivering workshops with a range of audiences from a wide variety of backgrounds.
• Experience developing high quality resources for learning, both paper based and digitally.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, demonstrated through a wide range of experience presenting to different audiences, teaching and delivering learning in different formats (workshops, presentations, talks, tours etc.)
• Experience coordinating and administering projects with demonstrable project coordination skills and knowledge.
• Experience monitoring and evaluating engagement activities in a community context, preferably of activities that have a wellbeing focus.
• Attention to detail and proof-reading skills are essential.
• IT skills: Skilled in the use of all key Microsoft packages and use of digital technologies for public engagement.
• Organisational skills: Excellent time management, administration and planning skills. Ability to coordinate multiple project activities, meeting deadlines and ensuring appropriate quality control.
• Interpersonal skills: Excellent diplomacy and interpersonal skills. Ability to work effectively under own initiative and as part of a team, to work under pressure with positive attitude and also to enthuse and engage others. The role requires the post holder to work extensively across different departments and with external colleagues.
• Full clean driving licence.

Although not essential, the following would be desirable:

• Relevant degree as demonstration of high level of subject knowledge.
• Experience of asset-based community development and understanding of Trauma-Informed Practices.
• Experience of working with SEND audiences, audiences with mental health/physical health support needs, economically disadvantaged audiences, or supported families.

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

The closing date for applications is midnight 1st June 2025

Shortlisting of applications and interviews for the role will take place while the advert is live; the advert will close once the successful candidate is found and it is possible this will be prior to the advertised end date. Candidates are therefore encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible.

Networks for Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.