Seasonal Presenters - part-time, 2 posts, 20 or 25 hrs per week on a rota basis

Living Coasts is an education, scientific and conservation charity dedicated to protecting our global wildlife heritage and inspiring in people a respect for animals, plants and the environment.
This coastal zoo is an entirely innovative concept where considerable importance is placed on promoting conservation through talking to our visitors.
The presenter’s role involves public interaction through talks and shows, requiring an outgoing personality and enthusiasm. The successful candidates will have excellent presentation skills, a good knowledge of coastal/marine fauna, marine conservation issues and empathise with our mission. Good teamwork skills essential.

For more information email education@livingcoasts.org.uk or call 01803 202470. To apply please send a C.V and covering letter by email or post to Education Department, Living Coasts, Beacon Quay, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 2BG. Closing date: 12:00 pm on 5th March 2010

Front of House Seasonal Staff - part-time variable up to 20 hours

Duties to include ticket sales, cash handling, Gift Aid and dealing with the public. Previous ticket or retail experience essential, as well as good customer service skills. Hours will be varied covering weekends and school holidays from 29th March 2010 generally between 9:30am and 5pm.

Apply with a CV and covering letter to Caroline Bowyer, Living Coasts, Beacon Quay, Torquay TQ1 2BG or caroline.bowyer@livingcoasts.org.uk closing date 12:00 5th March 2010 only shortlisted applicants will be contacted

Catering Assistant - part-time seasonal

Duties include café service, cleaning and till work. Previous café or waiting experience essential, as well as good customer service skills. Food Hygiene certificate or similar would be an advantage. Hours will be varied including weekends and school holidays.

How to apply: CV and covering letter to Sarah Wyatt, Living Coasts, Beacon Quay, Torquay, TQ1 2BG or email sarah.wyatt@livingcoasts.org.uk

Closing date: 5th March 2010 only shortlisted applicants will be contacted

Retail Assistant - Seasonal Part-time

Duties include till work, stock replenishment and cleaning. There is also a requirement to work in our Ice Cream kiosk and Coastal Craft Zone. Previous retail experience essential, as well as good customer service skills. Experience working with children and a creative flair would be an advantage. Hours will be varied including weekends and school holidays.

How to apply: CV and covering letter to Sarah Wyatt. Living Coasts, Beacon Quay, Torquay, TQ1 2BG or email sarah.wyatt@livingcoasts.org.uk

Closing date: 5th March 2010 only shortlisted applicants will be contacted

Charity Trustee
for the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust

The WWCT is a conservation and education charity which owns South West Environmental Parks Ltd., the operating company for three zoos: Paignton Zoo, Newquay Zoo and Living Coasts, with a turnover of £12 million; 800,000 visitors per annum and 250 staff. Additionally the Trust owns Slapton Ley in South Devon, and two small nature reserves in Paignton.

The WWCT is seeking a new Trustee to complement the skills and experience of the current Board. In addition to fulfilling the statutory duties of a Charity Trustee each is expected to use their skills, knowledge and experience to help the Board reach sound decisions in the governance and management of the charity.

The position is honorary but reasonable expenses will be paid.

For an information pack about the Trust and its associated enterprises please contact the Trust Secretary on 01803 697513 or by email. claire.malkin@paigntonzoo.org.uk. Download Application form available at the bottom of this page

Closing date: Friday 19th February 2010.

Volunteer Roles at Living Coasts
(Please note that the following roles are unpaid.)

General
Living Coasts is a lovely coastal zoo. We have a relatively small team of staff and rely on our volunteers to help support the work that we do. A fair proportion of our volunteer work is seasonal but we are also interested in people who would like to be with us all year round. The roles available are many and varied but please don’t treat this list as everything. If you have a particular skill or interest then just ask and we will see what we can do. Full training will be given.

Visitor services
Visitor services is all about giving our visitors the very best experience we can – we have a range of roles available:

1. Meet and greet – this involves talking to visitors and potential visitors that are approaching Living Coasts and offering them information. A varied role with lots of interaction with the public. This role also includes looking after the Information Desk where we have a range of leaflets and information for visitors.
2. Telephone volunteers – answering queries over the telephone is a daily task – we need people who are able to deal with a range of questions from the mundane (what time do you open?) to the obscure (what is this bird I have seen) or at least be able to track down someone who can answer the question. Based in the office with the staff there is plenty of help and support available.
3. Interested in plants or gardening? Our Grounds team are always keen to hear from people who are happy to do weeding and general tidying around the site. A lovely outdoor role.
4. Would you like to help generate funds for Living Coasts? We are looking for people interested in encouraging people to adopt animals or become members. We have lovely leaflets to be distributed and are looking for people with good persuasion skills.

Education
Education may seem to be all about children but our education team is also responsible for all the talks and activities that happen out on site. Again a range of roles are available:

1. Helping out with school groups. We regularly have large numbers of children on site all keen to learn about the coast and the creatures that live there. Most of our children are primary school level and all visits booked involve qualified education staff. As a school volunteer you will be helping to support their work, encouraging the children in activities and making sure we don’t lose any on the way round!
2. Events are key to our work here – they help to educate visitors of all ages in a fun way. We need people who are happy to set up craft activities, help people follow the instructions and keep the material stocked up. No artistic ability is needed but if you can draw so much the better.
3. On site volunteers – we like to make sure our visitors get all the support and information they need while on site so we are looking for friendly people who are happy to provide information to visitors – this may be as simple as directing them to the nearest toilet! An interesting role where you will get to see a lot of the animals – roles are available both inside and outside.

Marketing
Are you computer literate? We need volunteers to help support our Marketing Manager in evaluating what our visitors think of us. The data entry is relatively straightforward and we would welcome help with that.

The Animal Collection
Animal collection volunteers need to be very dedicated. There is a fair amount of training and we need really reliable people as the team are very busy and will be depending on your help. We are looking for people who are happy to carry out general food preparation tasks, cleaning and disinfecting of equipment and to help with cleaning of acrylic windows. In return you will get to see the animals close up and get to know a great deal about the species we keep.

For more information about volunteering at Living Coasts or to apply, please contact: stephanie.robey@paigntonzoo.org.uk

If you have any further questions about employment opportunities at Living Coasts please call:
01803 202470 or email: lcreception@livingcoasts.org.uk. Min age 16 years old