Customer Service Officer - Wildlife Discovery Centre

21 hours per week Job Share (Monday – Sunday Shift Rota)
Fixed term Contract 1 Year with the possibility of being made permanent

The award-winning Lee Valley Regional Park stretches an incredible 26 miles along the leafy banks of the River Lee, from Ware in Hertfordshire, through Essex, to the Thames at East India Dock Basin. The park provides a unique 'natural' corridor on London’s doorstep and provides a vital refuge for wildlife. It contains a variety of landscapes and open spaces to enjoy, from industrial heritage sites and nature reserves, to a 1,000 acre country park and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the Lee Valley Regional Park has something to offer everyone.

We currently have a fantastic opportunity for an enthusiastic countryside professional to join our Open Spaces Team as a Customer Service Officer based at our fantastic Wildlife Discovery Centre (WDC) located in the River Lea Country Park just North of Waltham Abbey Essex.

Responsibilities of the post include:

• You will contribute to the effective day to day running of the Wildlife Discovery Centre (WDC) and deliver excellent customer experience to our visitors including providing information on the local area and the wider park as a whole.
• On a daily basis, you will be required to Open and Close the WDC Discovery Room and Tower.
• On a daily basis, you will be required to liaise with and oversee the Volunteers on duty including overseeing the volunteer rota system
• You will be required to liaise with Ranger Service Colleagues, other internal colleagues, on-site contractors and preferred suppliers (where applicable) to ensure each day runs as smoothly as possible
• You will be required to monitor and respond accordingly to incoming external emails to the WDC inbox and act as cover for other Open Space customer service colleagues when required.
• You might be required to work at other open space sites to promote the Park in “pop up sessions”
• Answer and respond to telephone or email / Social media enquiries from the public and provide response via email or in person and where necessary pass on enquiries to the appropriate open spaces department.
• Requesting/overseeing orders for retail stock, Hot and Cold Drinks, printable literature and cleaning materials.

You will need to have proven customer service experience ideally in a leisure or countryside environment along with a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office functions. Experience of working individually or as part of a team along with volunteers and community engagement activities would be highly desirable. You will need a flexible approach as the building is open 7 days per week on a rota basis so weekend and bank holiday working is a feature.

Why it is great to work for us

Competitive pay, excellent Local Government Pension Scheme, generous annual leave allowance, flexible working plus a great benefits package are just some of the key highlights of working with us.

Our benefits include:

• Health screening: free medical check- up (after successful probation period) and you have the option to purchase a more comprehensive one
• Health Cash Plan
• Dental Cover Plan
• Season ticket loan
• Bicycle purchase scheme: If you travel to work or use one for work you can buy one through the Authority at a significant discount and pay through deductions from your pay. It may also have favourable tax treatment as part of a Green Transport Scheme
• Staff discounts Up to 25% off of food and beverage at cafés. Up to 50% off stays at our campsites. Free weekday golf, discount for weekends. 10% off in our chandleries. 40% off activities at our sporting venues.

A full driving licence is essential and successful applicants will be required to obtain a Disclosure Certificate from the Criminal Records Bureau, for which assistance will be given.

www.visitleevalley.org.uk/wildlife-discovery-centre for more information on the site.

If you feel that you have the right blend of skills for this role please complete an application form, found on our website via the link below, and return it to: [email protected]

Closing date: 5 August 2026