Closing date: Tuesday 12th August 2025
Salary: £20,500.48 Per Annum, Plus Desirable Benefits
Part-Time, Permanent Position
(Working 32 hours a week - Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday)
At Howletts Wild Animal Park, we are looking for a Maintenance Operative to join the team.
As a Maintenance Operative, you’ll play a vital role in keeping our parks safe, functional, and welcoming. Based primarily at Howletts - with occasional deployment to Port Lympne - you’ll deliver high-quality maintenance through proactive and reactive repairs, planned upkeep, and prompt responses to call-outs. You’ll conduct regular inspections of buildings, equipment, and systems to identify and resolve issues quickly while ensuring compliance with all safety, regulatory, and company standards.
Working closely with colleagues from other departments, you’ll help maintain a safe, efficient environment where visitors can enjoy unforgettable experiences. Attention to detail is key as you address Health & Safety concerns, keep accurate records, support contractors, and prioritise guest comfort, staff safety, and animal welfare in every task.
Who we are looking for:
We’re searching for a proactive and reliable Maintenance Operative who takes pride in delivering work to the highest standards. Strong communication skills are essential, alongside at least one year’s experience in maintenance, building, or DIY repairs - covering plumbing, electrical, and minor building work. You’ll adapt quickly to changing priorities while keeping guest experience and safety front of mind. Punctual and well-organised, you can plan and prioritise tasks efficiently, often working independently but also collaborating effectively with colleagues, contractors, and other departments.
You’ll have a full UK Category B manual driving licence and be confident driving cars and light commercial vehicles. Knowledge of Health & Safety, Fire Safety, and relevant Building Regulations is key, as are keen problem-solving skills and an eye for detail. Experience operating plant vehicles (e.g. excavators, dumpers, cherry pickers) and an empathy for wildlife conservation are desirable, but not essential. Above all, you’ll bring a flexible, hands-on approach to ensure our parks remain safe, efficient, and welcoming for all.
Contract details:
The hours of work are 32 hours per week, worked four days out of seven. Set working days will be Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday. Working hours are 08:30 – 16:30 across weekends, and bank holidays. All applicants must have the right to work in the UK. A reliable mode of transport is recommended due to our remote location. Although this role is predominantly based at Howletts Wild Animal Park, the successful candidate might be required to work at Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve on the occasion.
The location:
Howletts Wild Animal Park is located near Canterbury and set within 90 acres of land. Howletts is home to over 300 rare and endangered species, including Kents only giant anteaters, the largest herd of African elephants in the UK, and more gorillas, leopards, and monkeys than any zoo in the county!
Most importantly, every one of our employees is part of real conservation in action and their efforts have contributed to animals such as black rhino and western lowland gorillas being returned to their natural habitats in collaboration with our partners at The Aspinall Foundation.
Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is a world-renowned wild animal park set within 600 acres of Kentish savannah. The Reserve is home to some of the world’s most rare and endangered animals and offers luxury short breaks accommodations, free roaming animal safaris, once-in-a-lifetime animal encounters and exquisite dining experiences. Most importantly, every one of our employees is part of real conservation in action and their efforts have contributed to animals such as black rhino and western lowland gorillas being returned to their natural habitats in collaboration with our partners at The Aspinall Foundation.
Why you should join us:
We’re on a mission to create memorable experiences that matter, and our Core Values ‘One Team’, Customer’ and ‘Pride’ are what drive us each day to become part of something extraordinary. As well as walking to work surrounded by the calls of Howler monkeys and the roars from our pride of Lions, you will join a supportive team who are passionate about their place of work. Be part of the Port Lympne and Howletts family and join our pride.
You can also expect a host of other benefits including:
- 28 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays, rising with length of service. (Pro-rata to start date and working hours)
- Comprehensive training and development opportunities, including workshops and e-learning
- Enhanced Sickness, Maternity and Paternity Policies.
- Unlimited free entry for you and a person of your choice into both of our parks as well as friends and family tickets.
- Exceptional discounts on food, retail and accommodation at our parks.
- Numerous retail discounts and access to a 24-hour counselling line through our Healthy Extras Scheme.
- And many more length or service-related rewards and Benefits.
A full job description is available on request.
Please note, this role may close early if we receive a high volume of applications.
To apply: Please email your CV along with a covering letter to – louiseh@howlettsandportlympne.com
