Seasonal

Your role of Retail Assistant will be a fixed term position. The likely start date for this role is in August 2026.

Are you looking for a job that is both fun and unique? You’ll get an insight into Scotland’s rich history and gain valuable experience in the tourism industry and help bring Scotland’s dramatic history to life for our visitors from across the world. Explore the fascinating stories from Scotland’s past and share your passion with international and local visitors who come to Stirling Castle.

This is an exciting opportunity to work for the lead body responsible for the historic environment in Scotland. You will be actively involved in work which supports providing the best experience for our visitors.

We are looking for someone who enjoys interacting with diverse groups of people, who has a passion for customer service and who would thrive in a fast paced and constantly changing workplace.

Stirling Castle staff pride themselves on delivering a first – class visitor service. We have welcomed over 600,000 visitors from April 2025– March 2026, visitors from many countries around the world who are all looking for a unique experience, with the anticipation that we will welcome even more visitors in 2026/27 and beyond and the retail team play a huge role in the visitor experience, with the selling of retail products to the benefit of the customer, a core part of visitor engagement.

JOB PURPOSE
To maximise visitor enjoyment through the presentation of an appropriate selection of verified facts and anecdotes relating to the property’s history/design/contents/function; uphold excellence in visitor care; promote the value of the work of the Trust including membership; and assist with the general health, safety, and security of the property. Please note that the job involves some physical activity in the form of periods of standing, walking and being stationed outside.

Flexibility will be required as to when hours are worked and regular weekend working will be expected.

SCOPE OF JOB

Customer Service
§ Regular interaction with members of the public of all ages and abilities, many from overseas and many National Trust for Scotland members.

Teamwork
§ Regular interaction with employee and volunteer colleagues to share daily tasks and support a smooth visitor operation.

Sales, stock and financial processes
§ Help achieve sales targets and membership recruitment targets.
§ Operate tills and share end of day cash reconciliation duties, as appointed by Visitor Services Supervisor or Visitor Service Manager.

Tools/equipment and cleaning chemicals
§ Expected to become familiar with and comply with the property’s Health and Safety policies.

The current duties of this job do not require a criminal records (Disclosure Scotland) check to be carried out.

 
REQUIRED SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

Essential:
 No formal educational qualifications required – full training will be given.
§ Demonstrable working experience dealing with a wide range of people – preferably in a public situation.
§ Demonstrable experience in guiding or presentation skills.
§ Ability to think and act quickly when confronted with emergencies.
§ Personal commitment to high standards of customer care
§ Excellent verbal communication skill.
§ Excellent interpersonal skills, with proven experience of dealing effectively with a diverse range of people.
§ An understanding and commitment to the aims and objectives of the National Trust for Scotland.
§ Enthusiasm for Scottish heritage.
§ Able to demonstrate a flexible approach to work.
§ Demonstrable experience of working equally well on own initiative and within a team environment.
§ Ability to work within a team or independently, with minimal supervision, to a high and safe standard.
§ Ability to be flexible and adapt working patterns and tasks to meet day-to-day variations in property needs.
§ Ability to adjust pace to match customer flow without compromising quality of service.
§ Excellent front of house persona – warm, welcoming, patient and understanding.
§ Excellent selling skills.
§ Genuine belief in the value of good customer service.
§ Ability to be proactive and to take the initiative.

Desirable:
§ Demonstrable experience in sales with experience of EPOS systems and cash handling/reconciliation.

The Scope of Job, and Required Qualifications, Skills, Experience & Knowledge reflect the requirements of the job at the time of issue. The Trust reserves the right to amend these with appropriate consultation and/or request the post-holder to undertake any activities that it believes to be reasonable within the broad scope of the job or his/her general abilities.

JOB PURPOSE
To help maximize our visitors’ enjoyment of National Trust for Scotland managed sites by maintaining excellent standards of service, optimizing opportunities to generate income and ensuring that the site and its assets are safe and secure.

Specifically, to provide an efficient, reliable service and high standards in collections care and general presentation cleaning at the Palace at all times. To support collections care aspects of building works, decants and conservation contractors whilst on site. Generally working 5 days out of 7, with flexibility to compress hours when needed to support building works. Hours to include weekend working during the open season. Working with and supporting other VSA for collections care on site. Ability to be flexible to cover VSA collections care colleagues’ absences and annual leave.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
To carry out a wide range of collections care duties as directed by the Visitor Services Supervisor Collections Care – Fife
 In line with current NTS best practice, clean and care for the collection of furniture, books, artworks, glass, ceramics, metals, textiles, other objects and historic interiors.
 Ensure all historic public areas are kept clean and tidy at all times.
 Work as part of a team ensuring collections care provision across all Fife properties when needed.
 Work as part of a team to ensure collections care provision during building works in liaison with your line manager.
 Keep up to date and accurate conservation records in liaison with your line manager.
 Ensure collections care cleaning and conservation materials and equipment are available, properly maintained and stored.

 
To provide a consistently high standard of visitor care at all times
 Deliver excellent customer care (internal and external) to foster a friendly and inviting atmosphere for visitors, staff and volunteers.
 Support the Trust’s obligations to minimize impact on the environment, through e.g. efficient use of water/heat/light, recycling and the disposal of waste, considered use of transport.
To maintain excellent standards of presentation at all times
 Wearing correct uniform, name badges, or PPE as required.
 Reporting all instances of damage and wear and tear issues promptly to your line manager.
 Working in harmony with internal and external stakeholders, the Regional Team, other property departments; Retail, Gardening, and site repair employees/contractors.
Visitor Services/Events/ (where applicable)
 To actively feedback visitor comments to line managers to develop and improve offer, service, operations.
 To work flexibly across all Fife Properties as needed.
 Promoting conservation and our collections care work to our supporters through conservation in action and engagement activities at Falkland Palace.
 To assist with the set-up, stewarding and break-down of events in relation to collections across all Fife properties in liaison with your line manager.
Health and Safety
 To ensure site meets with Health and Safety legislation and policy as directed by your line manager.
 To use personal protection equipment as provided and directed by your line manager.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:

We are looking for enthusiastic, motivated and talented customer focused individuals to join our team.
Staff should be passionate about delivering outstanding customer experiences to our visitors and guests and able to maximise opportunities to generate income. It’s important that Visitor Service Assistants (VSA’s) ensure the property and its assets are safe and secure. Furthermore, we’re looking for team workers who are also able to use their own initiative and are driven to make a difference.
This role is about creating a 5 star visitor experience and providing outstanding customer service.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

To provide a consistently high standard of visitor care at all times when:

• Welcoming visitors and promoting the value of Trust membership
• Assisting visitors in selecting and purchasing the most appropriate ticket option
• Processing retail deliveries, ensuring that stock is displayed and that the stock is kept tidy
• Guiding visitors throughout the property and providing information on its history, its furnishings and inhabitants.
• Stewarding rooms during high season, providing information on the history of the room
• To provide excellent customer service
• Helping conservation clean to strict rules and procedures.
• Handling cash accurately and processing sales
• To actively drive up selling opportunities on membership through strong knowledge and an excellent customer service.
• Be able to take responsibility for your own development and learning.
• Have a flexible approach to working hours and days including working weekend and Bank Holidays as appropriate.
• To work across departments when necessary supporting the wider team.
• To provide consistently excellent customer service when dealing with high volumes of customers and busy periods, including coach visits. Answering visitors’ queries about the catering offer, deals, seating, and ingredients.
• Checking on how visitors are enjoying their experience of catering and enquiring whether all their needs are met.
• Consistently presenting high quality plating of food.
• Adhering to the property’s quality standards including wearing of uniform.
• Ensuring health and welfare of property staff, volunteers and visitors by adhering to the Trust’s Health, Safety and Environment policies and guidelines. This includes working within the property’s “Safe System of Work” (the system for managing Health & Safety).

21 August – 27 September 2026

What we do? The Buccleuch Living Heritage Trust is a charity which oversees and cares for the Buccleuch family homes and their contents. With education at its heart, it is responsible for the world-renowned Buccleuch Art Collection and a number of historic properties, including Dalkeith Palace, nestled in a beautiful setting at the heart of Dalkeith Country Park, just a few miles from Edinburgh. The Palace, an A-listed building of national significance and regarded as one of the grandest early classical houses in Scotland, hosts exhibitions, tours and events throughout the year.

The role? PhotoDalkeith will soon return to Dalkeith Palace for its third year, presenting in partnership with the Royal Scottish Academy to mark its bicentenary. In this varied role, you will provide front-of-house support at one of Scotland’s most exciting photography festivals, welcoming and engaging with visitors, checking tickets, and invigilating exhibition spaces. You’ll also provide support in our pop-up retail shop and help serve refreshments during events. This is a seasonal role from 21 August to 27 September, working Friday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, with occasional evening event cover.

The person? Friendly and reliable with a flexible approach to work, you will be a team player who enjoys turning your hand to a wide range of tasks. Candidates should ideally have previous front-of-house experience, but it’s more important that you are enthusiastic, great with people and have an eye for where assistance is needed. An interest in history, art, or photography is a bonus.

How to apply? If you’d like to gain heritage and exhibition experience in a supportive environment, then we’d love to hear from you! Please email your CV and a short covering letter to recruitment@buccleuch.com. The closing date for applications is 29 June.

Please view our privacy policy at https://blht.org/privacy/. The Buccleuch Living Heritage Trust is a registered charity incorporated in Scotland with company no. SC377083 and charity registration no.SC377083.

JOB PURPOSE
Here at National Trust for Scotland’s beautiful Brodie Castle we are looking for energetic, friendly, and confident individuals to join our amazing welcome team this season. No previous experience is needed, we would just love to hear from people who can interact and chat with our guests and make them feel welcomed and valued from the minute they arrive until we wish them farewell. This role is vital in providing an amazing welcome in all areas of the offer here at Brodie Castle, helping our visitors have a fantastic experience, and create wonderful memories.

This summer we are launching Playful Summer which will run throughout July and August adding traditional fun to the summer holidays! The Playful Garden will host a series of interactive play zones called Playful Summer, suitable for all ages.

Visitors can explore five themed zones:
• Sport Zone – Run, jump, and play classic sports games.
• Nature Zone – Discover, build, and get hands-on with all things outdoors.
• Imagination Zone – Themed around Brodie’s Playful Garden.
• Beach Zone – Sand and seaside vibes.
• Chill Out Zone – Wind down outside.

Based in the Playful Garden your role will be to reset areas and equipment ready for our excitable guests and then clear away at the end of a busy day of fun. Throughout the day you will be selling ice cream within the Playful Garden and help make a great day out truly exceptional for our visitors.

Providing excellent customer service and taking a pride in everything we do, as well as inviting visitors to support our work through membership.

This role is based outdoors.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide excellent customer service to all who choose to visit.
• Resetting play equipment and tidying away at end of day.
• Selling Ice Cream, cash handling.
• Be responsible and proactive. Ensuring all day-to-day tasks are completed as instructed.
• Welcome customers to the property by providing information on the site and facilities.
• Handling cash accurately and processing sales.
• Working with the Visitor Services Manager and property staff to ensure high standards of display, preparation, serving and merchandising at all times.
• Cash reconciliation duties including end of day and administration tasks.
• Have a flexible approach to working hours and days including working weekend and Bank Holidays as appropriate.
• Work across departments when necessary, supporting the wider Brodie Castle teams.
• Provide consistently excellent customer service when dealing with high volumes of customers.
• Assisting in the general ongoing operational cleaning of all areas as necessary.
• Ensuring health and welfare of property staff, volunteers and visitors by adhering to the Trust’s Health, Safety and Environment policies and guidelines. This includes working within the property’s “Safe System of Work” (the system for managing Health & Safety).
• Play your part in ensuring that the presentation of all areas is of the highest standards including wearing of uniform.

The current duties of this job do not require a criminal records (Disclosure Scotland) check to be carried out.

SCOPE OF JOB

People Management
• Will have regular (daily) interaction with members of the public of all ages and abilities.

Finance Management
• Share till reconciliation duties, as appointed by Visitor Services Manager.

Tools/equipment and cleaning chemicals
• Will be an occasional user of cleaning chemicals.
• Is expected to work and ensure compliance within the property’s ‘safe systems of work’ (the system for managing health and safety)

REQUIRED SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

Essential:

• Ability to work within a team or independently, with minimal supervision to a high and safe standard.
• Ability to be flexible, to adapt working patterns and tasks to meet day-to-day variations in visitors, catering and general property needs.
• Ability to adjust pace to match customer flow without compromising quality of service.
• Excellent front of house persona – warm, welcoming, patient and understanding.
• Genuine belief in the value of good customer service.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrable time management skills and the ability to prioritise.

Desirable:
• Interest in the work of the NTS.

JOB PURPOSE
Here at National Trust for Scotland’s beautiful Brodie Castle we are looking for energetic, friendly, and confident individuals to join our amazing welcome team this season. No previous experience is needed, we would just love to hear from people who can interact and chat with our guests and make them feel welcomed and valued from the minute they arrive until we wish them farewell. This role is vital in providing an amazing welcome in all areas of the offer here at Brodie Castle, helping our visitors have a fantastic experience, and create wonderful memories.

Based in the Castle, Welcome Centre or Car Park, your role is to make a great day out truly exceptional for our guests. You’ll help us maximise all charity income opportunities through excellent customer service, product knowledge and taking a pride in everything we do, as well as inviting visitors to support our work through membership.

This role also includes conducting guided tours of the Castle for groups of up to 25 people or being a guide during our self-guided visits. You will shine a light on the fascinating history of the Brodie Family and the Castle they lived in through warm and enthusiastic story telling.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide excellent customer service to all who choose to visit.
• Be responsible and proactive. Ensuring all day-to-day tasks are completed as instructed.
• Welcome customers to the property by providing information on the site and facilities.
• Lead tours of the Castle and Grounds which tell the stories of the past, present and future of Brodie Castle.
• Help manage car park arrivals, process payments and give site orientation
• Work with the Visitor Services Managers and property staff to deliver targets and other KPI’s.
• Handling cash accurately and processing sales.
• Working closely with the Visitor Services Manager and property staff to ensure perpetually high levels of accuracy are maintained for stock inventories.
• Actively drive-up selling opportunities through strong product knowledge and an excellent customer service with a strong focus on membership and retail.
• Working with the Visitor Services Manager and property staff to ensure high standards of display, preparation, serving and merchandising at all times.
• Cash reconciliation duties including end of day and administration tasks.
• Be able to take responsibility for your own development and learning.
• Have a flexible approach to working hours and days including working weekend and Bank Holidays as appropriate.
• Work across departments when necessary, supporting the wider Brodie Castle teams.
• Develop a working knowledge of the history of the site and being able to relate that to products.
• Provide consistently excellent customer service when dealing with high volumes of customers.
• Assisting in the general ongoing operational cleaning of all areas as necessary.
• Ensuring health and welfare of property staff, volunteers and visitors by adhering to the Trust’s Health, Safety and Environment policies and guidelines. This includes working within the property’s “Safe System of Work” (the system for managing Health & Safety).
• Play your part in ensuring that the presentation of all areas is of the highest standards including wearing of uniform.

The current duties of this job do not require a criminal records (Disclosure Scotland) check to be carried out.

SCOPE OF JOB

People Management
• Will have regular (daily) interaction with members of the public of all ages and abilities.

Finance Management
• Share till reconciliation duties, as appointed by Visitor Services Manager.
• Assist Retail with stocktaking and goods receipting.

Tools/equipment and cleaning chemicals
• Will be an occasional user of cleaning chemicals.
• Is expected to work and ensure compliance within the property’s ‘safe systems of work’ (the system for managing health and safety)

REQUIRED SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

Essential:

• Ability to work within a team or independently, with minimal supervision to a high and safe standard.
• Ability to be flexible, to adapt working patterns and tasks to meet day-to-day variations in visitors, catering and general property needs.
• Ability to adjust pace to match customer flow without compromising quality of service.
• Excellent front of house persona – warm, welcoming, patient and understanding.
• Genuine belief in the value of good customer service.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrable time management skills and the ability to prioritise.

Desirable:

• Previous tourism or tour guide experience.
• Interest in the work of the NTS.