Visitor Services

JOB PURPOSE
Under the direction of the Head Gardener and First Gardener, to ensure that the formal garden and estate at Haddo House are managed and maintained to a high standard in line with the aims and objectives of the National Trust for Scotland.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
1. Assisting with general horticultural duties to the required standards expected by the Trust and for the maximum safety of, and enjoyment by, visitors. Activities may include but not limited to:
a. Hand-weeding of beds and borders
b. Planting out (under direction of staff)
c. Grass-cutting, strimming, hedge-cutting and raking/collection
d. Cutting of lawn edges
2. Assisting with general property maintenance duties for the maximum safety of, and enjoyment by, visitors. Activities may include but not limited to:
a. Refuse disposal
b. Raking gravel paths
3. Assisting as required with the general enjoyment of the gardens and estate by:
a. Responding to general visitor enquiries
b. Assisting at events held within the garden or on the estate
4. Assisting with interpretation activities such as answering basic horticultural enquiries from visitors.
5. Working with the full-time staff to foster positive relationships with local communities, visitors and promoting the work of the Trust, and actively seeking opportunities to increase Trust membership.
6. Working with volunteers to ensure they deliver required outputs at the appropriate standard and gain benefits from their volunteering
7. Ensuring compliance with the Trust’s health, safety and environment policies and procedures to ensure the safety of staff, volunteers and visitors. This includes recognition of the Trust’s environmental policy with respect to sustainable gardening policies.
This role does not require you to undertake a criminal records check.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
Qualifications
• No formal educational qualifications required – but previous gardening experience is highly desirable
• Driving License, valid for driving within the UK
Experience
Essential
• Should be experienced with a wide range of hand tools and basic machinery / equipment (e.g. lawn mowers, strimmer) or willing to be trained
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, confident in interacting and dealing with a wide range of people, and able to represent the Trust
• Some practical knowledge of Health and Safety processes and the ability to work effectively within these processes
• Capable of working effectively within a team environment, but equally able to work unsupervised
• Good organisational and time management skills – including the ability to prioritise work where necessary
• Must have a genuine understanding of, and belief in, the work of the National Trust for Scotland

Desirable
• A genuine love for gardening and garden maintenance is highly desirable
• Experience of working in a garden open to the public
• Competent IT skills sufficient for use of the internet and for completing intranet training modules

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

Culzean Castle is one of Scotland’s most loved castles, as one of the Visitor Services team within the castle, you’ll ensure that all visitors receive an excellent visitor experience and leave feeling inspired by this magical place. This will be achieved through being welcoming; engaging and knowledgeable; prepared to answer visitors’ questions about objects, stories of the castle and its family and the NTS.

The role involves some physical activity and will include standing for periods of time and/or walking through the building undertaking guided tours. Due to the historic nature of the building physical access from the upper levels in the event of an emergency is currently only by stairs.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Visitor Welcome & Front of House Duties
• Warmly welcome visitors to the Castle, checking tickets and upselling guidebooks to enhance their visit
• Ensure the highest level of customer service so all visitors receive an excellent experience
• Maximise visitor enjoyment and understanding of the property by engaging them with the history of Culzean and the Kennedy family
• Ensuring accurate recording of visitors through the till system

Membership Engagement & Promotion
• Share the benefits of membership with ticket holders and actively seek innovative ways to encourage recruitment
• Actively promote the work of the National Trust for Scotland and the value of membership to existing and potential members

Tours, Interpretation & Learning
• Deliver a broad range of high-quality guided tours and talks for the public and organised groups, following a pre-arranged script within the allotted time of 45 minutes
• Deliver engaging school workshops for all ages and abilities
• Enhance the visitor experience through third-person costumed interpretation, object handling and conservation demonstrations (where applicable)
• Promote and sensitively encourage donations during guided tours and/or at the Front Desk ensuring that visitors understand the impact of their support on the property’s conservation work.

Security, Conservation & Property Care
• Be mindful of the security needs of the property and its contents, minimising opportunities for theft or damage through diligent monitoring of visitors and the implementation of security measures (e.g. locking up procedures etc.)
• Support the VSS Collections Care and the conservation the property and its contents, reducing the risk of accidental damage through visitor engagement and appropriate conservations/object handling practices

Health, Safety & Emergency Procedures
• Share in the common responsibility of implementing the Trust’s Health & Safety policy, being mindful at all times of health & safety of self, staff, volunteers, and visitors
• Participate in the safe evacuation and management of colleagues and visitors in the event of a fire, security alert or alarm

Housekeeping & Daily Operations
• Share responsibility for housekeeping duties at the beginning of and end of each shift (e.g. hoovering, rubbish removal) including staffroom and staff bathroom

JOB PURPOSE

As a front-line member of the Engagement team your job is give an amazing welcome and tell the story of the Culloden Battlefield. You will be working in the gallery delivering handling workshops, delivering daily tours in the peak season, costumed presentations and facilitating school and military programmes as well as supporting in other departments.

This role is key to the visitor experience; your role is to put smiles on faces and ensure our visitors have an amazing visit.

Benefits include
• Cycle to Work Scheme – offering excellent discounts on bicycle costs
• Up to £50 towards the cost of your glasses or contact lenses if you need them for work
• Staff discounts through Reward Gateway, our online employee discount scheme – offering a variety of discounts on a wide range of high street retail brands
• 10% discount from the rental price (excluding the booking fee and any other ancillary charges) on all self-catering holiday accommodation managed by our partner Sykes Holiday Cottages
• Your employee card gives free entry to you, any of your children under the age of 18 and one other adult to National Trust for Scotland and National Trust properties, as well as a 20% discount on most purchases in National Trust for Scotland retail outlets.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

This role will assist the Engagement team to deliver high quality visitor experience at Culloden Battlefield, and across the Culloden Cluster (including but not limited to):

• Deliver daily high quality informal and formal engagement programming
• Develop strong historical knowledge of site and wider area
• Be responsible and proactive. Ensuring all day-to-day tasks are completed including record keeping and reporting figures, cleaning, and basic administration as required.
• To provide consistently excellent customer service when dealing with high volumes of customers
• 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 Culloden cluster
• Adhering to the property’s quality standards including but not limited to the 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).
• Promoting National Trust for Scotland brand to include our Membership scheme, events, upselling other properties and any promotional campaigns, being proactive in the selling of Membership and Gift Aid.
• Cash reconciliation duties including start and end of day tasks, must have experience handling cash accurately and processing sales

This role is one for which the duties, responsibilities or accountabilities of the role require you to become a member of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, administered by Disclosure Scotland. This role involves regulated work with children / vulnerable adults.

Storytellers/Guest Services – The Loch Ness Centre- Drumnadrochit-Inverness

We are looking for passionate, engaging individuals to become part of our Storytellers/Guest Services team and help us create unforgettable moments for our guests.

Join us as we walk guests through 500 million years of Loch Ness history. Our guests delve deeper into the real places, people, stories, and scientific research that has turned Nessie into an iconic Scottish legend.

As a Storyteller/Guest Services Team Member, you’ll play a central role in bringing the stories, science and magic of Loch Ness to life.

Whether you’re welcoming guests at the start of their adventure, answering enquiries and supporting admissions, or leading dynamic guided tours, you’ll help ensure each visitor enjoys a warm, memorable and immersive experience.

These seasonal positions will be active between March and September of 2026 with a selection of different hours. Through our exceptional, bespoke training program you will have the skills to deliver memorable and enjoyable guided tours, deliver guest engagement across the attraction and work as a team to provide every guest with an exceptional experience.

The Ideal Candidate

You will be confident engaging with groups and have the desire to bring a genuine passion to the storytelling, and share the tales of Nessie with warmth, energy and enthusiasm. You will have the ability adapt to the needs of each guest, whether delivering the scripted tour with confidence and flair or helping visitors explore the attraction with ease. Every interaction you have contributes to the journey we promise—one that is engaging, informative and full of wonder.

A genuine desire to learn, grow and continually develop your knowledge of Loch Ness is essential, as you will regularly interact with guests who are eager to ask questions and explore the stories behind the legend. You must have the flexibility to work weekends and bank holidays.

What We Offer

• Cash back on your medical costs

• An additional day off for your birthday

• Shopping discounts and much more…

Contract: 0 hours contract-6 months March to September

Hourly pay rate: £13.45

If you are passionate about storytelling, have an interest in the Loch Ness legend, thrive in a guest‑facing environment and want to help shape unforgettable moments at one of Scotland’s most iconic attractions, we’d love to hear from you.

You may be a student seeking flexible hours, a creative soul looking for an inspiring environment, or someone eager to be part of something truly special—we have opportunities designed to fit your life. Loch Ness has a story. Now it’s your turn!

Please send your cv’s and cover letter to recruitment@continuumattractions.com

JOB PURPOSE
Under the direction of the Head Gardener and as part of the property team, assist with the conservation and development of the gardens to ensure that Culzean Castle Gardens are presented at the highest standards to its visitors and guests. The post exists to in order to ensure that the garden and policies across the Property are managed and maintained as an internationally recognised garden of outstanding horticultural importance.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
The Key Purposes of the job will be met by:
1. Undertaking practical maintenance of the garden and wider estate (e.g. managing trees and shrubs, herbaceous plants, and turf care; pest/disease/weed control; composting and soil improvement; hard-landscaping; path care; waste management) to the required standards expected by the Trust and for the maximum safety of, and enjoyment by visitors;
2. Fostering positive relationships promote the work of the Trust.
3. On occasion, working with volunteers and/or staff members to ensure they deliver required outputs at the appropriate standard, and gain benefit/satisfaction from their activities.
4. Demonstrating self motivation, organizing, planning, and the ability to prioritise along with good time management;
5. Undertaking such other reasonable duties as may from time to time be required to ensure the smooth running of the property as required by the Head Gardener.
6. Ensuring compliance with the Trust’s health, safety, and environment policies and procedures.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
The below outlines the key skills the post-holder will need to possess and exercise. In addition, either knowledge of or experience in the following is required:

Essential
 An interest in gardening and the outdoor environment and a willingness to learn about the care and husbandry of our historic gardens and designed landscapes.
 Some knowledge of basic tool and machinery use and maintenance.
 Some practical knowledge of Health and Safety processes and procedures and the ability to work effectively within these processes
 Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; confident in interacting and dealing with a wide range of people; and able to represent the Trust
 Good organisational and time-management skills – including the ability to prioritise work where necessary and also the ability to work using own initiative, In the absence of direct line management.
 Eye for detail and finish, quality standard and best practice.
 Current driving licence valid for driving in the UK

Desirable
 Some basic IT skills sufficient for use of the internet/intranet, assisting volunteers, on-line learning etc.
 Experience of working with the public in some capacity
 Experience of working in a mixed-team that includes short-term/seasonal staff and/or volunteers

DIMENSIONS AND SCOPE OF JOB
People Management
 Occasional supervision of volunteers/apprentices or other work parties.
 Works closely with other members of the Culzean Castle, Garden and Country Park team.
 Regular interaction with members of the public of all ages and abilities.
 Occasional working with external contractors.

Finance Management
 Not a budget-holder, but will be expected to take responsibility for the careful and effective management of Trust tools, materials, equipment and resources.

Tools/equipment
 Will be required to be a user of driven vehicles such as ride-on mowers;
 Will be a frequent user of powered tools such as, mowers, strimmers, hedge-cutters;
 Will be a frequent user of hand-tools such as spades, forks, trowels, rakes, hoes, shears, and secateurs.
 Occasional user of IT to assist with maintenance of records.