Santa & Elf Actor – Christmas Operations Assistant

To bring Christmas at Welsh Mountain Zoo to life by portraying Santa Claus and an Elf as required, creating a magical, engaging, and memorable experience for families visiting the zoo. The postholder must be confident and comfortable taking on both characters, adapting their approach to suit each role and interacting with visitors in a warm, friendly, and engaging manner. Alongside character performance, the role will support the operational delivery of the Christmas grotto and wider seasonal activities, working part of the Guest Services team to ensure a smooth, safe, and enjoyable visitor experience.

• Portray both Santa Claus and an Elf, bringing each character to life in an engaging, authentic, and family friendly manner.
• Interact with children and families, creating memorable experiences through conversations, storytelling, listening to children’s wishes, and posing for photographs.
• Adapt character portrayal to suit different ages, personalities, and needs, ensuring all visitors feel welcomed and included.
• Maintain character appearance and presentation throughout shifts, including wearing the appropriate costumes and accessories.
• Help create a warm, magical, and welcoming Christmas atmosphere throughout the Zoo’s seasonal activities.

• Support the day-to-day running of the Christmas Grotto, helping ensure sessions run smoothly, safely, and to schedule.
• Assist with preparing, setting up, and resetting the grotto and other activity areas before, during, and after sessions.
• Welcome visitors, support guest flow, and help manage queues and timings to deliver a positive visitor experience.
• Work collaboratively with the Guest Services team and wider zoo teams to resolve queries and respond to operational needs.
• Follow all relevant health and safety procedures, safeguarding guidance, and operational instructions, particularly when working with children and families.

• Deliver consistently high standards of customer service, representing Welsh Mountain Zoo positively at all times.
• Communicate clearly and appropriately with children, families, and colleagues, including in Welsh and in English.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to endure the safe, efficient, and enjoyable Christmas activities.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries while in character and follow zoo procedures for photography and visitor interactions.
• Undertake other reasonable duties appropriate to the role to support the successful delivery of Christmas at Welsh Mountain Zoo.
• Demonstrate flexibility in responding to changing operational requirements, including portraying either Santa Claus or an Elf as needed.

• Fluency in both Welsh and English.
• Confidence and willingness to portray both Santa Claus and an Elf, adapting to each character as required.
• A warm, friendly, and engaging manner, with the ability to interact naturally with children and families.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a commitment to delivering an excellent visitor experience.
• Reliability, flexibility, and a positive attitude, particularly during busy periods.
• Ability to follow health and safety procedures and safeguarding guidance when interacting with children and families.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain character integrity and engagement for extended periods.
• Understanding of child safeguarding principles and procedures.
• Availability to work all weekends and holidays as requires throughout the festive season.
• Any offers will be subject to references and an Enhanced DBS check.

• Previous experience in acting, character performance, children’s entertainment, or a…