Closing date: Monday 29 June 2026
Salary: £31,636.80 Per Annum, Plus Desirable Benefits
Full Time, Permanent Position
Are you wild about creating memorable experiences?
Do you want to work in a place where you can hear calls from troops of howler monkeys, or the roars from a pride of lions?
We are looking for a hands-on and proactive Maintenance Operative to join our Estates team, supporting the maintenance and day-to-day upkeep of our unique and varied estate environment at Port Lympne, with support provided to Howletts Wild Animal Park where required.
In this role, you’ll carry out a wide range of reactive and planned maintenance tasks, helping to ensure our guest accommodation, public areas, operational facilities and wider estate infrastructure remain safe, functional and presented to a high standard. No two days are the same, with work ranging from general building repairs, plumbing, carpentry, painting and decorating to estate upkeep and minor refurbishment projects.
Working as part of the wider Estates team, you’ll help maintain high operational standards across the estate, responding to maintenance issues as they arise while supporting planned maintenance activities and wider operational needs.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone practical and adaptable who enjoys varied, hands-on work and wants to play an important role supporting two truly unique visitor destinations.
Who we are looking for:
We’re looking for a practical, proactive and reliable individual with hands-on maintenance experience who enjoys variety, takes pride in high standards of work, and can support the smooth day-to-day operation of a large and varied estate environment. You’ll have broad maintenance experience across a range of disciplines such as general building maintenance, plumbing, carpentry, painting and decorating, or similar trades, with confidence carrying out both reactive repairs and planned maintenance tasks. You should be comfortable working independently, able to problem solve effectively, manage competing priorities and adapt to changing operational demands.
As this role involves working across guest-facing areas, accommodation, operational facilities and wider estate environments, you’ll need a strong understanding of health and safety, safe working practices, and the ability to carry out work with minimal disruption to operations. Experience working in hospitality, leisure, estates or other public-facing environments would be beneficial. We’re seeking someone who is flexible, dependable and team-oriented, with strong communication skills and a professional approach. You’ll be comfortable working collaboratively with others, remain calm under pressure, and take pride in delivering high standards of workmanship and presentation. A full UK manual driving licence is essential. Relevant trade qualifications or certifications such as NVQ, City & Guilds, IPAF or PASMA would be advantageous.
Contract details:
The hours of work are 45 hours per week, worked five days out of seven. Working hours will be between 7.00am to 8:30pm and can include 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 Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, the successful candidate might be required to work at Howletts Wild Animal Park on the occasion.
The location:
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 accommodation, 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.
To apply: Please email your CV along with a covering letter to – beng@howlettsandportlympne.com
