Visitor Services

Reports to: Learning and Engagement Manager (Community Programmes)
Salary: £27,825 – £32,550 (Team Specialist Band) [Pro-rata – 0.6 FTE]
Hours of Work: 3 days a week (largely between Monday-Friday, but flexibility required for some evening and weekend sessions). Fixed term from June 2026 to March 2027.

Background:
Dynamic Earth is an educational charity on a mission to empower people with understanding and empathy for the Earth. Our Learning and Engagement team creates, curates and delivers a diverse programme of events and experiences throughout the year which support the delivery of Dynamic Earth’s strategic plan and charitable purpose. You can find out more on our website.

With thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we are delivering an ambitious programme of work to enhance our connectivity with our surrounding environment of Arthur’s Seat and Holyrood Park.

This programme of work will see Dynamic Earth create a new free-to-access gallery exploring the science and heritage of Arthur’s Seat and Holyrood Park, enhance our outdoor interpretation and deliver an enhanced programme of outdoor learning for communities and underrepresented audiences to engage with outdoor spaces.

In this role, you will work closely with the Learning and Engagement Manager (Community Programmes) and colleagues from across the Learning and Engagement Team to create and deliver new opportunities for underrepresented communities to engage with the science and heritage of Holyrood Park, including the creation of an outdoor community garden in the grounds of our centre.

Role Purpose:
To develop, co-ordinate and deliver outdoor learning and engagement events and experiences which support our strategic priority of enhancing the connectivity of Dynamic Earth and our immediate surroundings of Holyrood Park.

Main Duties:
Communities: You will work within the community learning and engagement team to develop and deliver outdoor events and experiences which reach underserved and underrepresented audiences.

You will place evolved co-creation and values-driven practice at the heart of our programmes with a focus on repeat engagement models in an in-reach and outreach capacity. You will play an active, regular and hands-on role in delivering our community events and experiences with colleagues and audiences.

Schools and Families: You will work with colleagues to support the development and delivery of events and experiences which support learners in accessing their entitlement to outdoor learning as part of the Learning for Sustainability national priority.

Evaluation, Storytelling and Advocacy: You will capture and co-create powerful stories and data which showcase the value and impact of our outdoor activity together with colleagues across the charity.

Across the breadth of work within the Learning and Engagement Officer role, you will demonstrate commitment to Dynamic Earth’s organisational values of passion, care and inclusion, always acting as a science engagement role model with colleagues, audiences and peers.

Experience and Qualities:
Required qualifications and experience:
• Educated to undergraduate degree level in a science or related discipline – or lived experience as an alternative to a formal qualification.
• Experience of developing and delivering outdoor science learning and engagement experiences with a range of audiences, including children and young people.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, planning and organisational skills with strong attention to detail.
• A pro-active, enthusiastic and friendly disposition with the ability to build rapport with people quickly.
• An enabling and pro-active attitude and commitment to a culture of continuous improvement.
• A flexible approach which helps deliver results.
• A pro-active and enabling approach to problem solving.
• A reflective practitioner with the ability to reflect both on self and situation.
• Experience of working effectively in a team with shared goals as well as on individual projects.

Desired qualifications and experience:
• Outdoor Learning Postgraduate Qualification or equivalent (e.g. Outdoor Activity Instruction).
• Experience of working in a science centre or museum setting.
• Awareness and experience of implementing sector-wide community best practice.
• Experience of working in partnership with peers and other organisations.

Appointment to the Learning and Engagement Officer position is subject to enhanced pre-employment checks as part of our approach to ensuring Child Protection & Wellbeing, including membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.

Dynamic Earth are committed to creating an inclusive workplace culture where our people feel a sense of belonging and can bring their authentic self to work each day. You can find our inclusion statement on our website.

To apply, please send a covering letter and accompanying CV (circa x2 pages each) outlining why you are the right candidate for the position to peopleandculture@dynamicearth.org.uk by the deadline of 23:59 on Thursday 30th April 2026.

Successful candidates will be invited to an in-person interview at Dynamic Earth scheduled to take place week beginning Monday 11th May.

This interview will last around one hour and consist of a presentation task element and a series of questions from the panel, which will help us understand your knowledge, skills and experience in more depth.

JOB PURPOSE

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual to join our team, helping to make our properties the best possible places to visit and work.

To maximise our visitors’ enjoyment of National Trust for Scotland managed sites by maintaining the excellent standards we set across our properties. Providing an efficient and reliable service based on the needs of each property and ensuring that all areas are cleaned and maintained to the highest standards.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

Undertaking a wide variety of housekeeping duties in connection with the well-being and care of the holiday accommodation and visitor facilities at Drum, including:

• Maintain stock-levels of housekeeping consumables and janitorial supplies.
• Routinely clean and look after the holiday accommodation which will involve but is not limited to:
• vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, polishing of floors
• dusting/polishing of surfaces and fittings such as furniture, ornaments, panelling, stairs, and doors
• dusting/wiping of sills, skirtings, door, and window frames
• cleaning of windows
• cleaning of lavatories, sinks, etc
• cleaning of bathroom/toilet areas and fittings
• cleaning of kitchen areas and equipment
• checking functionality of lighting, heating, TV/radio etc
• replenishing of welcome/hospitality trays, and consumables
• changing of bed linen and towels, providing clean laundry for each occupancy
• disposal of general household waste
• monitoring any loss or damage and reporting to the Visitor Services Manager

• The general ongoing operational cleaning of all areas as necessary, as toilet cleaning, emptying waste bins and as appropriate vacuum cleaning, mopping, sweeping, dusting and polishing when required etc.

• Share in the common responsibility of working in a manner mindful of the Trust’s obligations to minimise impact on the environment, through e.g. efficient use of water/heat/light, recycling and the disposal of waste, and considered use of transport.
• In accordance with the property’s procedures, share in the common responsibility for the safe evacuation or management of colleagues and visitors in the event of a fire or security alert or alarm. This includes weekly fire alarm checks whilst cleaning and communicating with the Duty Manager to record.

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

We are looking for enthusiastic, motivated and talented customer focused individuals to join our team at Castle Fraser.

Castle Fraser is a fabulous place for tourists and locals to soak up the atmosphere of old Scotland. 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

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.

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).

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

To maintain cleanliness of Balnain House by delivering the highest standards of housekeeping and cleaning. This includes, but is not limited to, cleaning of the canteen area, toilets, offices, main reception and staircase.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The key purposes of the post will be met by following an appropriate regime for the House, in line with current Trust best practice. Such practice includes, but is not limited to:

General Housekeeping:

Undertaking the routine cleaning and housekeeping of visitor and staff areas of the property, including but not limited to:
• Deep (planned and ad-hoc) cleaning
• Reporting any concerns to the Office Manager
• Vacuuming and sweeping floors
• Dusting/polishing of fittings such as panelling, stairs, and doors
• Dusting/wiping of sills, skirting’s, doorframes, window frames, bannisters and spindles
• Cleaning of desks, including keyboards and monitors weekly
• Cleaning of windows on doors
• Cleaning of toilets, sinks, staffrooms etc.
• Deep clean micro, fridge, toaster, etc. (clean fortnightly, deep clean monthly)
• Set up meeting rooms – Balnain House
• Clear and clean meeting rooms – Balnain House
• Empty bins, remove and clean any crockery left in offices/meeting rooms.
• Any other reasonable tasks requested by line Manager.
• Maintain external steps & path at all times (including clearance of leaves, moss and ice*)
o *Apply salt/de-icer when required
o Keep fire escape clear of leaves and debris

The current duties of this job do not require a criminal records (Disclosure Scotland) check to be carried out nor is the post holder required to become a member of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, which replaces the ‘Enhanced Disclosure’ check and is administered by Disclosure Scotland.

SCOPE OF ROLE

People Management
• Not a line manager.
• Will work closely with other property colleagues and will interact with other technical/specialist advisory colleagues based in other locations and departments;
• Will work closely with contractors working on site and suppliers.

Financial Management
• Not a budget holder.

Tools/Equipment
• Will be a frequent user of cleaning materials, tools and specialist cleaning solutions.
• May be a frequent user of ladders, hand tools etc.
• user of IT equipment
• May wear PPE for personal protection and protection of the property and artefacts.

SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

The above outlines the key skills and behaviours the job holder will need to possess and exercise. In addition, either knowledge of or experience in the following is required:

Essential
• A personal commitment to high standards of cleaning
• Attentive to detail with an eye for presentation and finish.
• Must have a genuine understanding of, and belief in, the work of the National Trust for Scotland
• Personal commitment to excellence in visitor experience

Desirable
• Previous housekeeping experience

The Key Responsibilities and 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.