Management

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions is Edinburgh’s oldest purpose-built visitor attraction, situated at the top of the Royal Mile. The attraction is a 5-star VisitScotland-rated visitor experience consisting of a historic Victorian Camera Obscura, 5 floors of interactive exhibits, rooftop terrace, reception area and Gift Shop. The attraction is a ‘must-visit’ for families and adults from all over the world and due to its popularity has the longest opening hours of any attraction in Edinburgh.
Camera Obscura is an award-winning attraction and has recently won the Scottish Thistle Award for Hospitality and Tourism Employer of the Year as well as the Trailblazer Award from Living Wage Scotland. The attraction holds a Gold Green Tourism Award and a regional Thistle Award for Climate Action.
Part of Visitor Centres Ltd, the company also manages Landmark Forest Adventure Park in Carrbridge, Inveraray Jail and Landmark Press.
You can find out more about us at www.camera-obscura.co.uk

Benefits
Pension: 2% contribution for first 6 months of employment, rising to 10% thereafter
Holidays: 29 days annual holiday pro rata
Discretionary annual company bonus
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions is a Living Wage employer and offers all staff contribution towards uniform, breakfast while on shift, refreshments throughout the day and seasonal team meals. Staff get a generous discount in the Gift Shop and free entry for friends and family to visit the attraction, as well as free entry to sister attractions Landmark Forest Adventure Park and Inveraray Jail. Access to ASVA passes for discounted entry to Scotland’s other top attractions.
Flexible working options and a variety of shift patterns are available.
Staff are given full training and offered personal development and training opportunities. Staff are also offered access to our employee assistance programme, providing access to information, advice, and answers to a range of workplace and personal issues as well as access to ‘My Staff Shop’ online discount platform.

What we are looking for in our staff:

– A friendly and helpful personality, with the ability to provide exceptional customer care.
– Someone who can pick up new skills quickly and is not afraid to try new things.
– Someone who can be relied on to work independently and will support other members of the team.
– Excellent communication skills including clarity of spoken English.
– Experience in a tourism or customer service environment.
– Knowledge of Edinburgh and general Scottish history.
– Availability to work late hours, at weekends and over public holidays.

TITLE: Guide / Evening Supervisor (ES)

RESPONSIBLE TO: Assistant Manager (AM)

Trial Period: as agreed, between 3 – 6 months

Rate of pay: Guide – £13 p/h, Evening Supervisor – £15.70 p/h

Duties-overview
The job of a Guide / Evening Supervisor (ES) is a split role that involves both working as a guide as well as stepping up when required, being responsible for the day to day running of the building. This will include checking the exhibits, reporting issues to the Maintenance department as they arise, carrying out the Morning Tour to check exhibits are working, ensuring a 5* service for our visitors, assisting as necessary to keep these areas clean and tidy, overseeing the preparations pre-opening and check the building is safe and secure before closing at the end of the day, checking that all closing-up protocols are followed.
The role will also involve staff supervision, involving monitoring all aspects of the Guiding role. This will be to ensure all staff are delivering a consistently brilliant experience. We do this by supporting guides and retail staff to provide the best possible service by being available at all times. The ES should also have a mind to the business needs of Camera Obscura, ensuring that resources are used appropriately.
The job of Guide at the Camera Obscura is an interesting and varied one. You will be required to give presentations in the Camera to groups of up to thirty-five people, as well as working in the exhibition spaces to ensure our visitors are getting the most out of their visit. In addition to selling tickets to the public on reception you will be required to welcome visitors as they arrive, organising and taking care of visitors as they queue to come in. You will need a sound knowledge of the local area, to answer queries from visitors. In all aspects of the job we expect that you will provide exceptional customer service for our visitors.

MAIN DUTIES:
The building/exhibition – Ensure everything is safe, in working order, clean and ready for visitor use. Liaise with janitorial and maintenance teams to achieve this. Conduct regular tours of the building. Be a key-holder with the ability to open the building before hours or close it securely at the end of the day.

Performance Management – Monitor all aspects of the Guiding role, ensuring that all staff are delivering a consistently brilliant experience. If required, develop training programs to improve skills and knowledge. Deal with inconsistencies in liaison with AM.

Guiding – Be the best example of a guide, knowing all of the roles well and have the ability to step in at a moment’s notice should it be required.

Customer Service Recovery – Be the point of contact for complaints or issues with customers. Resolve issues immediately and to the satisfaction of the customer, and support other staff who may have been affected by the issue.

Emergencies/Security – Be very familiar with fire procedures, power failure procedures, bomb scare procedures and be able to direct others. Ensure appropriate and prompt action is taken concerning suspicious people in the building. Be the first point of contact for any emergency both internally and externally.

Operations – Prepare the daily rota and diary for each day in advance. If required, assist with the planning of the daily rota templates.

Cash Handling – Ensure all staff are following cash handling procedures. Cash up as required, and bank takings after successful trial period.

Development – Be aware of your professional development, asking for assistance where necessary. Assist management in the development of the attraction by observing visitors and sharing ideas. Propose projects to supervise that will improve the visitor experience.

Please send your CV and a cover letter to Irena@camera-obscura.co.uk
You will then be sent an application form and a link to an online test.

JOB PURPOSE

The Property Manager is our first point of contact and main local representative at Ben Lawers and Moirlanich Longhouse, building trust and confidence in our organisation and its objectives through sound management and delivery across a wide spectrum of activities. They can expect to be “hands-on” dealing with operational issues on-site, pro-active in ensuring legal compliance, planning initiatives that help keep the Trust at the forefront of conservation management and visitor engagement.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Manage Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve (NNR) and Moirlanich Longhouse to conserve and enhance their significant natural and cultural heritage

• Engage with visitors to ensure their visits are as inspiring, memorable and accessible

• Plan and deliver the operational budgets and ensure all legal compliance

• Increase opportunities for financial sustainability through assessing and monitoring costs and identifying and instigating opportunities for income

• Manage the staff team (currently: Ranger, Property Secretary/Cleaner/Housekeeper, Seasonal Ranger, Seasonal Ecologist, 2 x Visitor Services Assistants and volunteers)

• Maintain regular contact and good working relationships with partners and stakeholders including NatureScot, graziers and licensees, neighbouring land owners, local community, etc

• Promote high standards of management on Ben Lawers NNR aimed at maximizing benefits for wildlife and the community

• Promote wider understanding of our role and the value of supporting the Trust
 

KEY PURPOSES

This job exists to develop and communicate Trust policy in order to guide conservation and visitor management practice. In addition the post-holder will contribute to the Trust’s role as an advocate for the conservation of Scotland’s heritage, and for access, learning and enjoyment of that heritage.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Key Purpose of the job will be met by:
1. Initiating/facilitating the development of new Trust policies through consultation with relevant Trust staff and other experts
2. Promoting the Trust’s policy agenda and raising the Trust’s profile by building sustainable external relationships and proactively engaging with the Scottish Government, its agencies and other stakeholders and interest groups
3. Contributing to national policy debate on key heritage issues to further Trust policy objectives
4. Tracking external policy and legislative developments and drafting submissions/responses such that the Trust’s position on heritage issues is widely known and understood, and is influential in shaping government policy and legislation
5. Alerting colleagues to relevant policy and administrative developments in their areas
6. Working closely with internal colleagues to ensure that the Trust’s Principles and policies are understood by all staff and volunteers and embedded into Trust-wide decision-making and work-planning processes.
7. Undertaking general administrative tasks (such as correspondence, filing, copying, diary management, making practical arrangements for meetings/interviews, taking/distributing meeting notes or actions, collating data and updating databases, and reports to funders) appropriate to the effective delivery of the role.

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

SCOPE OF THE ROLE

People Management:
 No line reports;
 Will have daily, frequent interaction with immediate Policy colleagues and wider Trust teams;
 Will interact frequently with external stakeholders, interest groups, and legislators.

Financial Management:
 Not a budget holder;
 Process financial transactions (e.g. expense claims, purchase orders) on an infrequent basis using an IT-based finance package.

Personal Management:
 Generally office-based/home-working but expected to travel within Edinburgh and across Scotland to attend meetings (may involve occasional overnight stays).

SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE

The Key Responsibilities above outline the core skills and experience the post-holder must have in order to fulfil the role. In addition, s/he should be able to demonstrate:

Essential:
• Understanding of, and substantial experience in, the process of policy development (either in terms of public policy or organizational policy, or both), implementation, research, evaluation and advocacy;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, across a wide spectrum of internal and external stakeholders;
• Excellent research and writing skills, and ability to present information;
• Ability to quickly acquire, assimilate and synthesise knowledge on unfamiliar subjects;
• Familiarity with a range of research approaches, potentially including qualitative research, statistical analysis, Geographical Information Systems, mass survey and depth interviewing;
• Competent IT skills (Microsoft Word and Excel).

Desirable:
• Knowledge and understanding of natural and/or cultural heritage issues in general (knowledge of marine conservation, or of town and country planning would be particularly useful at this time);
• Understanding of Scotland’s legislative process;
• Experience of consulting, influencing, negotiating and facilitating;
• Experience of committee/group working.

The Unicorn Preservation Society is seeking a Project Manager to lead Project Safe Haven, our ambitious £1 million conservation initiative to relocate HMS Unicorn to Dundee’s East Graving Dock and create a purpose-built visitor centre.

Reporting to senior management, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across all aspects of this transformative project. Key responsibilities include developing comprehensive project management systems using Microsoft Project, managing budgets and financial reporting, overseeing the technical and logistical aspects of the ship’s relocation, acting as liaison with funding bodies and coordinating with contractors, stakeholders, and external partners. You will also represent UPS at national and regional meetings while ensuring seamless integration with the organisation’s broader objectives.

This role requires a degree-level qualification or equivalent with advanced project management certification (Prince2, PMP), extensive experience leading complex multi-stakeholder projects (minimum 3 years), exceptional communication and leadership skills, strong financial management capabilities, and proven proficiency in Microsoft Project and Microsoft 365. Experience in maritime heritage, museum sector, or public sector project management is desirable.

As HMS Unicorn undergoes this pivotal transformation in her 200-year history, this is an exceptional opportunity to join our team during a critical moment, helping to preserve this irreplaceable maritime treasure while delivering a world-class heritage experience for future generations.

This is a full-time position (£43,000 per annum) on a 1-year contract with potential extension, offering 34 days annual leave. The role is remote/hybrid with at least 4 days per month required in Dundee, plus occasional travel elsewhere in Scotland and the UK.

Application deadline: Monday 25th August at 17:00
Interview date: Wednesday 3rd September 2025

To apply, please email a CV along with a covering letter explaining how you meet the requirements of the role to recruitment@hmsunicorn.org.uk

An exciting opportunity to join our grounds team. We are looking for somebody to play an important role in the development, repair and maintenance of the grounds of Jupiter Artland.

Contract Type: Permanent Full time
Working Hours: 8am – 5pm. Flexible 5 out of 7. Weekends required.
Salary: Depending on Experience

The position encompasses the following:

– Maintain the grounds to the highest possible standard and liaise with the Head of grounds about improvements.
– Overseeing & completing a wide range of tasks such as grass cutting, tree and hedge trimming, weeding, maintain planted areas, litter picking, and waste management.
– Ability to plan, schedule and prioritize tasks effectively.
– Manage equipment and materials, ensuring they are properly maintained and readily available for use.
– Safety checks of the park before public entry.
– Maintain safe working practices, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
– Assisting the Front of House Staff and Events team as and when required.
– Respond pro-actively to emergencies in the grounds, including the public.
– Manage and instruct permanent and temporary staff, contractors and volunteers as required.
– Assist artists and contractors in a proactive way.
– Assist with events and functions in Jupiter Artland and off site if required.
– Assist with the maintenance of artwork as needed.
– Waste management including recycling, general waste, composting.
– Basic DIY in the grounds, buildings
– Assist with animal husbandry including Vet and farrier appointments.
– Be responsible for the tidiness and cleanliness in the communal areas of the yard and compound.

Applications with a covering letter and full CVs should be sent to Lee Millar, Head of Grounds.
Email: leemillar@jupiterartland.org

Closing date by Thursday 21st August 5pm.
Location: near Edinburgh

Full-time and Permanent 
Salary £42,938 – £48,054 (pay award pending) 
Plus generous benefits package 
On site 

About the role

We’re excited to be recruiting for two newly created Operations Manager roles within our Trading Company, One focused on Retail, and this one dedicated to Hospitality & Events responsible for developing and leading our vibrant and distinctive events portfolio.

Based across four stunning, listed gallery buildings in the heart of Edinburgh, this role offers a unique opportunity to lead the growth of our events business. You’ll recognise the commercial potential of our unique venues, and know how to unlock and grow revenue, while enhancing our visitor offer.

With a strong commercial mindset, you’ll bring solid hospitality and events experience with the ambition to grow profit through exceptional delivery, innovation and creative thinking. You will already be comfortable in a strategic leadership role with proven experience in managing change and delivering measurable results.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping and supporting our dedicated events team, embedding clear performance metrics and a culture of continuous improvement. You’ll be at the forefront of integrating hospitality and events into our visitor experience, working closely with colleagues across the organisation to ensure alignment with our brand and long-term strategic ambitions to grow self-generated income. 

Reporting to the Director of Audience & Development, you’ll be responsible for driving our commercial success through the development of an efficient and effective hospitality and events service. As part of a team committed to building our financial resilience, you will help recognise its importance in meeting our purpose: we make art work for everyone. 

The difference you’ll make

You’ll work collaboratively with Trading Company colleagues to support the delivery of the overall business plan and achieve profit targets. Your duties will include:

– Leading on the development and delivery of a successful events strategy.
– Alongside the Director of Audience & Development and Trading Company management colleagues, contributing to the overall Trading Company business plan including producing reports for Leadership Team and the Trading Company Board as required. 
– Leading, motivating and developing the Hospitality & Events team, promoting collaborative working to deliver a world class experience for visitors and clients alike. Ensuring the agreed strategy and profit targets are met alongside the delivery of exceptional standards of service.
– Leading the team through change management and driving continuous improvement of processes. Inspiring and motivating the team to deliver Trading Company ambitions and goals.
– Developing plans for future progress and optimising opportunities in hospitality and events promoting our venues including our cafes. Providing creative input into the development of hospitality and events products and services; from promotion to pricing and delivery.
– Building successful relationships with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure and promote the success of the hospitality and events offer.
– Taking the role of ‘Contract Manager’ to lead and manage the contract relationships with concession partners, café and event catering suppliers ensuring shared success. You’ll be responsible for this relationship from procurement and contract negotiations through to ensuring performance measures and quality standards are met.
– With the Director of Audience and Development managing the performance of all catering suppliers including our cafes. Resolving any issues arising between the concession holders, the event catering suppliers and the galleries as they may arise.
– Collaborating with Estates & Facilities Management colleagues and concession holders to ensure the catering and events areas are working efficiently and effectively to deliver a great visitor experience in accordance with the responsibilities defined within the concession holder’s service level agreement(s).
– Establishing key performance indicators to measure and evaluate customer satisfaction of the hospitality and events services. You’ll use the findings to champion continuous improvement to meet the Trading Company’s ambitions and goals. 
– Contributing to the management and monitoring of the Trading Company budget with devolved responsibility for budgets allocated to the department and any relevant project activity. 
– Working with the Director of Audience and Development and colleagues across the organisation to collaboratively develop new initiatives and projects, exploring which spaces could be best utilised to grow events and income. You will participate in all stages from idea generation, business case development and resource planning through to implementation.
– Working with the Marketing & Communications team colleagues to develop an effective marketing strategy for hospitality and events activities.
– Responsibility for ensuring compliance with all related legal/statutory, regulations, professional duties, responsibilities and obligations in relation to hospitality and event services delivery.
– Represent the Trading Company at internal or external working groups or project teams as agreed.

Please see the full Job Description on our website and apply directly via our careers portal. Applications via email will not be accepted.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday, 18 August 2025.

Full-time and Permanent
Salary £42,938 – £48,054 (pay award pending)
Plus generous benefits package
On site

About the role

We’re excited to be recruiting for two newly created Operations Manager roles within our Trading Company, One focused on Hospitality & Events, and this one dedicated to Retail responsible for developing and leading our evolving and ambitious retail operations.

Based across four stunning, listed gallery buildings in the heart of Edinburgh, this role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of our distinctive retail offer and delight visitors. You’ll have the vision and drive to see the commercial potential of our brand, exciting exhibitions programme and amazing world-class art collection.

With a strong commercial mindset, you’ll bring senior level retail experience and a keen understanding of both product and audience. You’ll be a strategic thinker and hands-on leader, confident in managing your team through change, identifying opportunities, and delivering measurable results.

This is a brilliant opportunity for an experienced retail professional looking for a varied role interacting with both the strategic and operational sides of the organisation. You’ll work closely with colleagues across the organisation to ensure that retail is fully integrated into the visitor experience and delivering on our strategic ambition to grow self-generated income.

You’ll oversee all aspects of our retail operation from buying and merchandising to store management, warehousing, eCommerce, and licensing. From optimising product ranges and stock levels to analysing sales data and launching new commercial initiatives, your leadership will be instrumental in making sure our retail offer is as profitable, efficient, and as audience focused as possible.

Reporting to the Director of Audience & Development, you’ll lead a skilled team, setting direction and tone to achieve excellent customer service and drive high performance across our retail activity. As part of a team committed to building our financial resilience, you will help recognise its importance in meeting our purpose: we make art work for everyone. 

The difference you’ll make
As Retail Operations Manager you will provide strategic leadership to the retail team. Your duties will include:
– Leading the development and delivery of a successful retail strategy. You’ll deliver a coherent strategy encompassing buying to end sales in shop, online, books and licensing.
– Working with colleagues to establish plans, targets, and budgets for the retail offer to achieve set profit targets.
– Alongside the Director of Audience & Development and Trading Company management colleagues, contributing to the overall Trading Company business plan including producing reports for Leadership Team and the Trading Company Board as required.
– Leading, motivating, and developing our retail team to promote collaborative ways of working to ensure that our shops, warehouse, Buying, Licensing, and eCommerce offers are appealing and aligned to our brand and audience offer.
– Promoting collaborative ways of working across the retail team to ensure alignment to meet our strategy aims and agreed profit targets.
– Overseeing operations to drive solid sales performance and maximise sales, including fully utilising the opportunities for merchandising and licencing of branded goods based on the art collection.
– Analysing performance data and implementing effective strategies, including setting product pricing, to improve the profitability of retail sales.
– Contributing to the management and monitoring of the Trading Company budget with devolved responsibility for budgets allocated to department and any relevant project activity.
– Responsibility for performing all duties in compliance with related legal/statutory, regulations, professional duties, responsibilities, and obligations in relation to retail management, including ensuring the Trading Company holds all relevant insurances and licenses relevant to retail operations.
– Ensuring compliance with relevant accounting and tax legislation is met, particularly concerning eCommerce sales as well as the exporting and importing of goods.
– Establishing key performance indicators to measure and evaluate customer satisfaction of the retail offer. You’ll use the findings to champion continuous improvement to meet the Trading Company’s ambitions and goals.
-Working with the Director of Audience & Development in developing, leading, and implementing new initiatives to maximise opportunity for income generation through retail sales.
– Developing and implementing process improvements which enhance operational efficiency, including overseeing inventory levels to determine the need for stock supply at each retail outlet.
– Working with Development, Marketing and Audience colleagues to develop a coherent approach to marketing and promoting retail activities, extending our offers, and building up specific audiences.
– Joining or leading organisational or commercial project teams as agreed and where there is appropriate cross over retail management.

Please see the full Job Description on our website and apply directly via our careers portal. Applications via email will not be accepted.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday, 18 August 2025.