Are you ready to play a vital role behind the scenes at one of the world’s most iconic zoos? Whipsnade Zoo is looking for a Warehouse Assistant to join our Site Operations team. In this hands-on role, you’ll help ensure the smooth and efficient operation of our warehouse, supporting the movement of stock and supplies across the zoo and contributing to an exceptional experience for both visitors and staff.
You’ll be responsible for receiving, checking, storing, and dispatching goods, accurately picking and packing orders for retail outlets, online customers, and internal departments, and maintaining accurate stock records using warehouse management systems. You’ll also support the safe loading and unloading of vehicles, carry out stock counts, and help maintain a clean, organised, and secure warehouse environment.
This is a varied and active role that may also involve supporting wider site operations, including event logistics and other operational activities as required. If you thrive in a practical environment, enjoy hands-on work, and take pride in keeping things organised and running smoothly, we’d love to hear from you. Join us and help support the vital operations that keep Whipsnade Zoo running every day.
This role is offered as a 3-month contract, working 20 hours per week to support the Zoo during our summer season. As our zoos are open seven days a week, your schedule will follow a rota which includes weekends and bank holidays.
Key responsibilities:
- Order Fulfilment & Dispatch: Accurately pick, pack, and prepare orders for ZSL retail stores, online customers, and internal departments; process online orders using Royal Mail and e-commerce systems; and ensure all products are correctly labelled, tagged, and prepared for shipment.
- Goods & Stock Management: Receive and check incoming deliveries for accuracy and quality, safely store stock using appropriate manual handling techniques, use stock management systems to book in goods, manage inventory and process inter-branch transfers, and carry out stock counts to maintain accurate inventory records.
- Wearhouse Operations: Load and unload vehicles safely and efficiently, maintain a clean, organised, and secure warehouse environment, uphold the security of stock, equipment, and vehicles, and complete all required documentation accurately and promptly.
- Site Support Duties: Support wider site operations by undertaking additional duties as required, including event logistics and warehouse support, while assisting with litter picking and maintaining cleanliness in allocated areas to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for visitors and staff.
- Previous experience in a warehouse or logistics environment.
- Ability to collaborate effectively within a team setting, exhibiting exemplary written and verbal communication skills.
- Thrive in a practical, outdoor working environment and are comfortable undertaking hands-on tasks, including setting up, lifting, and moving equipment to help ensure operations run smoothly and efficiently.
- Full clean UK or international driving licence with no endorsements and at least 1 year road experience is essential, as the position involves the operation of a variety of utility, fleet, and plant vehicles.
This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including confirmation of your right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
ZSL recognises that conservation is one of the least diverse sectors, and we actively encourage applications from candidates who identify as part of underrepresented communities. We are committed to building a supportive and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage.
We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.
What do we offer?
At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits. Our benefits include:
- Our vision and purpose - you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science-led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct
- Pension scheme - we offer a generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension
- Flexible working – talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you
- Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays Wellbeing – access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
- Life assurance – eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL’s life assurance scheme from their first day
- Complimentary tickets – annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a 30% discount in online and retail shops
- Cycle2Work - our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle
- Season ticket loan - we offer an interest free loan for eligibly London-based employees to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work
- Family friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption packages
We may close this role early or extend the closing date due to the number of applications we receive, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
We anonymise applications until interview stage to ensure a fair hiring process. It’s important to highlight your unique skills, experience, and knowledge. Over reliance on AI-generated content may miss key criteria outlined in the job description and reduce the effectiveness of your application.
If you have any questions about this role, we’d love to hear from you! Please get in touch with our recruitment team at – [email protected]
