Jobs

About the role

We are delighted to be hiring both part-time and full-time Visitor Assistants to join our welcoming and dedicated team to support our exciting 2026 exhibition programme. We’re looking for confident, friendly and proactive individuals who thrive in public-facing environments and genuinely enjoy engaging with people. You will have proven experience in visitor attractions, retail, hospitality, or other customer-focused roles where delivering excellent service and clear communication are central to your work.

This is a highly visible front-of-house role where no two days are the same. Working at key entry points across our galleries and on the Switchboard, you will act as the first point of contact for visitors. You’ll respond to questions, actively approach and engage with visitors, providing a warm welcome and helping them make the most of their visit from the moment they arrive.

You will communicate confidently and professionally with visitors in person, over the phone and via email, answering queries, resolving issues and providing accurate information across all contact points. Strong IT skills are essential, as you will use digital systems to access information, log enquiries and support day-to-day operations.

You will regularly deal with a wide range of situations, from routine visitor enquiries to more complex or unexpected challenges. This may include supporting visitors with accessibility needs, responding to complaints or concerns, and handling operational issues calmly and professionally. The ability to think on your feet, remain composed under pressure and adapt your approach is essential.

As a Visitor Assistant, you will also support income generation activity by promoting our Friends scheme, encouraging donations and actively selling tickets and other products, while always delivering an excellent visitor experience.

If you have a confident, outgoing manner, strong communication skills and enjoy working in fast-paced environments where people come first, we’d love to hear from you.

Working from a choice of 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, or 5 days per week on a variable pattern over 7 days, we have roles available over the following dates: 
– 25 July 2026 to 31 January 2027
– 01 August 2026 to 01 November 2026

Please note: Applicants must be available to start no later than 01 August 2026 and able to commit to the full duration of the contract period. These roles are not suitable for those seeking short-term summer employment.

The difference you’ll make

Our Security and Visitor Experience team exists to ensure our visitors can explore, experience and enjoy our artwork safely and securely at our various Galleries. In all that you do, you’ll support your colleagues by welcoming visitors, helping them enjoy their experience of the National Galleries of Scotland and making the most of their visit. The Security and Visitor Experience team’s three key responsibilities are: 

– Visitor Engagement: aiming to deliver an exceptional experience to all our visitors in a welcoming, inclusive, and informative environment. 
– Income generation: encouraging donations, selling tickets for paying exhibitions, and signing up visitors to our Friends scheme.
– Security: endeavouring to keep people, our buildings and works of art safe, responding effectively to risk. 

Reporting to Supervisors and Operations Manager you will:

-Provide welcoming and engaging conversations with our visitors at the entrances, on the phone and via email giving advice and answering queries.
– Actively promote our Friends scheme and convert visitors into Members.
– Drive satisfied visitors to make donations to our boxes situated at the entrance/exit to the Galleries.
– Sell tickets and other products.
– Seek out all NGS related content gaining knowledge to act as an ambassador about our galleries, our collection and exhibitions, events, our shops and cafes and other activities.
– Communicate with colleagues across departments to gather information to answer visitor enquiries.
– Share knowledge and expertise with team members to improve understanding across the department.
– Accurately collect all customer data in line with GPDR and NGS guidelines.
– Follow departmental cash handling procedures performing accurate reconciliations.

Who we are looking for

To succeed in this role, you’ll need the following range of knowledge, skills, and experience:

– Outstanding interpersonal skills enabling you to engage with people to provide information and deliver sales. 
– Previous experience of working within a front-line, retail, sales, customer services or entertainment environment. 
– Be a strong communicator in person, in writing and over the telephone.  
– Competent at using office systems such as Office 365.
– Have the resilience to positively respond to challenges and prioritise operational demands.
– Work well in a busy environment with strong organisational skills.
– Accurate with figures and experience of cash handling and other methods of payment.
– Enjoy working as part of a team and with the public.
– Flexible approach to the job and be able and willing to work weekends, evenings and any required overtime. 

It would also be great if you have:

– Knowledge of Gaelic and/or other languages is desirable but not essential. 
– Knowledge and appreciation of art 

Please apply directly via our careers portal. Applications via email will not be accepted.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday, 25 May 2026.

Application Deadline: Monday 25/05/2026