Applications open for 2025 Seasonal Volunteers

Applications for the 2025 Seasonal Volunteers [March –August] are now OPEN.

Dublin Zoo’s popular volunteer programme recruits once per year to support our conservation work during peak visitation months. We need volunteers to be conservation champions and ambassadors for wildlife, to align our conservation message to the visitor journey and inspire a passion for nature through a variety of volunteering duties.

Dublin Zoo’s Volunteer Programme began in 1987 as part of the zoo’s Education Department. As the Education department has grown and evolved over the years into the Conservation Education Department so too has the work of the volunteers and the ways in which volunteers are recruited, trained, supported and organised.

Volunteer Roles in Dublin Zoo

Through a range of duties our volunteers engage with our visitors, interacting with families, children and adults about our animals, the purpose of Dublin Zoo, our conservation partners, our history, and what they can do to help protect wildlife.

Throughout the year the focus of volunteering duties will change to target different aspects of the volunteer programme and visitor engagement, complimenting the overall conservation education work of Dublin Zoo. In order to meet our goals, we need our volunteers to commit to taking part in variety of volunteering duties, all of which are valued and devised to have an impact on our conservation mission.

Some of the ways you might see our volunteers contributing in Dublin Zoo include Animal Ambassador duties whereby volunteers engage with our visitors about our animals, their special features, conservation threats and actions they can take to protect them. The focus of our priority hotspot changes based on our goals and what species is in focus. You may also spot our volunteers stationed at one of our three themed Discovery Carts, or in the Discovery Centre. The Discovery Centre is part of the educational hub of Dublin Zoo, located beside Family Farm. Volunteers provide supplementary learning opportunities for visitors with a focus on biology, native species and tactile learning. Our volunteers share with visitors their knowledge and interesting stories behind all the artefacts on display.

Volunteers in Dublin Zoo on occasion support Animal Watch or visitor engagement observations but do not work directly with animals or assist the animal care team with any hands-on work.

Who can apply to be a Dublin Zoo volunteer?

Applications to the volunteer programme are open to all candidates over the age of 18. The role requires strong interpersonal skills, and a keen interest in learning, the animals at Dublin Zoo and conservation. Whilst candidates often have strong zoology, education or customer service backgrounds having an enthusiasm and a spark to inspire a passion for nature is also a quality we look out for.

Could the Dublin Zoo Volunteer Programme be for you?

Candidates selected for the Seasonal Volunteer Programme complete training in March over 3 Saturdays. Beyond that, the commitment is to complete a minimum of one 4-hour shift per week over Monday – Sunday for the duration of the season up to August end. Once the Seasonal Volunteering programme is completed, there are opportunities to apply to volunteer long-term with Dublin Zoo.

How to Apply: Complete and submit an application form available here.

Closing Date for Applications: Friday, January 17th at 5PM.

If you have any questions, please email – [email protected].