Receptionist

Fota Wildlife Park a not-for-profit organisation, is part of the Zoological Society of Ireland, and is located on 100 acres at Fota Island 10km east of Cork City. With an annual attendance of 430,000 visitors, our vision is to inspire people to understand and conserve the biodiversity of our natural world. The Park’s core values of conservation, education and research have ensured that we are uniquely placed to foster greater public understanding of the threats to plant and animal habitats and decreasing global biodiversity.

Fota Wildlife Park has made considerable investment in the past 10 years upgrading its infrastructure including an indoor Giraffe viewing area, the Madagascan Village and the Asian Sanctuary which opened in 2015 and features Asian lions, Sumatran tigers, and Indian rhino.

The Role:

An exciting opportunity has become available for a positive, people-centered team player to join Fota Wildlife Park as a Receptionist in a full-time, permanent position. As the first point of contact for visitors, colleagues, and stakeholders, you'll create welcoming experiences while managing essential administrative functions that support our conservation mission.

Primary Responsibilities:

Visitor Experience

• Welcome and create positive interactions with visitors, colleagues and key stakeholders as they enter the reception at Fota Wildlife Park.
• Manage the visitor/researcher sign in book at reception.
• Act as the first point of contact for all inquiries, providing information about the park, events, and conservation efforts.

Communications Management

• Managing all in-coming calls from the public, answering queries and directing all appropriate calls to the appropriate department.
• Responsible for managing all incoming emails that come through the Parks main information email address.
• Responsible for managing all office radio correspondence between the office and the other departments in the park.

Administration Support

• Responsible for all post including sorting and distribution.
• Book couriers, taxis and meetings.
• Assist the Marketing department in website updates as required.
• Assisting the gates (admissions) team on e-commerce administration such as online ticket sales.
• Administration on all partner/invoiced accounts tickets.
• Organise animal sponsorship packages and assist with maintenance of the animal sponsorship database and noticeboard.
• Maintain database on charity sponsorship requests.
• Responsible for ordering supplies, including but not limited to stationery and janitorial for animal and public areas and raise POs as required.
• Administer gates desk in absence of admissions staff including station gates call entry.
• Complete reports as requested and agreed with your supervisor.

Candidate Requirements:

Essential Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, combined with the ability to solve problems and respond promptly.
• Strong multitasking abilities, including managing phone calls, emails, and other tasks simultaneously while maintaining a positive outlook.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive and private information.
• A positive, proactive and detail-driven professional with excellent organisational skills.
• Capable of collaborating effectively within a customer focused team while also working independently when required.
• Proficient in IT, in particular office software such as Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and bookings systems.
• 3-5 years’ experience in a similar role.

Desirable Skills

• A business or related qualification is desirable.
• Interest in wildlife conservation and environmental issues.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Finds fulfilment in helping others.
• Naturally builds rapport with customers, stakeholders and teammates.
• Contributes to a supportive, customer focused and energetic team culture.
• Has knowledge of health and safety procedures.
• Approaches challenges with a positive attitude and solution-focused mindset.
• Values wildlife and the natural world.

The responsibilities outlined above are not exhaustive and may be subject to change. Additional duties may be assigned as required to meet the evolving needs of the organisation.