Visitor Services

Admissions Manager

About us

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is a wildlife conservation charity with a bold vision: a world where nature is protected, valued and loved.

Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park are our gateways to the natural world through which people can experience nature.

How you you’ll contribute to our mission

Manage the admissions team at Edinburgh Zoo, deliver a safe, inclusive and exceptional five-star visitor experience.

Maximise revenue through ticket sales, admissions donations, Gift Aid, membership and other sales opportunities, achieving agreed targets.

Some of the things you’ll do:

Manage the admissions team, receiving approximately 600k visitors annually
Line management of the admissions team leaders and indirect management of Visitor Assistants
Meet agreed targets for admission donations, Gift Aid, membership and other opportunities
Proactively develop admissions procedures, maximising the use of ePos systems and functionality to drive efficiency and income
Management of additional on-site ticketed opportunities
Collaborate closely with teams across RZSS to ensure smooth and efficient daily operations
Engage proactively with visitors to gather real-time feedback and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives
Support the delivery of a five-star customer service culture and visitor experience, ensuring visitors receive a personal, knowledgeable, and positive level of service on a daily basis
What we’re looking for:

Degree-level education or equivalent professional experience
Strong understanding of the visitor attraction sector
Strong understanding of ePOS and ticketing systems
Understanding of health and safety, diversity, inclusion and compliance (training can be provided)
Budgeting and financial analysis
Stakeholder engagement and relationship building
Customer engagement and empathetic communication
Management in a customer-facing or visitor attraction environment
Duty management (ideally within a visitor attraction)
What you’ll get in return:

Starting pro-rated salary of £34,526 to £35,389 (offer based on experience) with future salary progression up to £38,483 per annum
37.5hr working week (may require some weekend working)
34 days annual leave (pro rata)
Discount in both retail/catering
Access to a healthcare plan
Access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), that provide 24-hour counselling and support, including health, legal, finance, wellbeing and family advice
Employer contributory pension scheme
You will receive a staff membership which will give you (and family/friends) free (and discounted) entry to both the Highland Wildlife Park and Edinburgh Zoo as well as a number of other Zoo’s across the UK.
Please see the role profile for further information on what the role involves and essential/desirable criteria.

If this role excites you and aligns with your career aspirations, click APPLY now.

This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate’s right to work in the UK and Basic Disclosure check.

Please note that shortlisting of applications and interviews for this position will take place while the advert is live. The advert will close once a successful candidate has been found.

Interested candidates are therefore encouraged to submit applications, as soon as possible.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is an equal opportunities employer. Our policy is to recruit a diverse workforce following the guidelines of the Equality Act 2010.

Visitor Services Assistant – Collections Care

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
To help maximize our visitors’ enjoyment of National Trust for Scotland managed sites by maintaining excellent standards of service, optimising 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 cleaning at the property. The post holder will work independently on a variety of tasks to help achieve a high level of presentation throughout the property and its associated collection and will work as part of a wider team of employees and volunteers helping to support the property where necessary.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Collections Care
 To carry out a wide range of collections care duties as directed by the Visitor Services Supervisor Collections Care in line with current NTS best practice.
 Care for the collection of furniture, ceramics, metals, textiles, other objects and historic interiors on site.
 To undertake general conservation housekeeping tasks to ensure standards of care are maintained within the property.
 Assisting with a deep conservation-clean of collections & property and setting up/putting property to bed pre/post season opening.
 Assisting with continued documentation of the collection to ensure collections records are maintained and up to date in line with NTS collections management procedures.
 To help identify those items at risk or requiring specialist attention/remedial conservation and bringing to the attention of the Regional Conservator for Edinburgh & East.
 Help to ensure the NTS Integrated Pest Management regime is in place and monitored.
 Help to ensure Emergency Plans and related equipment is up to date.
 Work with conservation volunteers and take an active role in staff and volunteer training in liaison with your line manager.
 Ensure collections care cleaning and conservation materials are available, properly maintained and stored in accordance to NTS standards.
 Support the Trust’s obligations to minimise impact on the environment, through efficient use of water/heat/light, recycling and the disposal of waste, considered use of transport.

Gardener and Grounds Person

We are seeking a motivated and professional Gardener and Grounds Person to join our friendly gardens team. The role involves taking care of the grounds maintenance for the Caravan park and Blair Castle Gardens. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a renowned and historic environment where you will be working alongside guests and visitors.

Main responsibilities and duties:

The chief share of the role is mowing and strimming.
You will be operating commercial size ride on and pedestrian mowers. Use of garden machinery as necessary including pedestrian mowers, strimmer’s, hedge cutters, tractor and trailers, and other plant machinery.
Further assistance to the garden team will involve maintaining beds and borders in the surrounding gardens and other occasional landscaping tasks.
Upholding professional standards within a public environment to ensure the grounds are kept to a high quality.

Experience required:

Essential:

Operating powers tools including but not limited to mowers and strimmer’s in a professional environment.
Minimum one year’s trade experience.
Clean UK driving licence.

Desirable:

Knowledge of machine maintenance, both 2 and 4 stroke machinery.
First aid training.
Spraying tickets – ideally PA1 & PA6.
Hedge Cutting experience.
Chainsaw experience.

Employee benefits

Attractive, competitive salary, supported by an excellent company pension scheme. Other benefits include free tickets to: Atholl Gathering and Highland Games and Blair Castle and Gardens. Discounts off: The Larder, Castle Gift Shop, Restaurant, fishing and more. Join in on great social and wellbeing initiates including, a staff book club, summer BBQ, fireworks BBQ and quiz nights.
If this sounds like the role for you, apply now and seize this incredible opportunity to join our team.

Application process:

Please email enquiries or your CV to Teal at teals@atholl-estates.co.uk

Visitor Experience Team

Choose Mercat for a reason, not just a season!

A Warm Welcome for Everyone

Mercat Tours promises to provide valued Living Wage jobs and make diversity, equity, and inclusion part of everything we do – from the team we nurture, the visitors we welcome and history we share.
We’re responsible for all the choices we make – how we run our business, spend our money and mindful that our team is representative of our visitors. Thank you for wanting to be a part of our community.

https://www.mercattours.com/why-mercat/vacancies/

Benefits:
Your personal development and training are core to your time with Mercat
• REAL Living Wage + for all
• Permanent, secure contracts – no fixed term or ‘zero hour’
• Guaranteed minimum hours
• Flexible working incl jobshare options
• Fair Work Employer
• Mercat holds a Home Office Sponsorship License for Skilled Worker Visa applicants
• Personal development and training plan
• Access to Bike to Work scheme
• Access to ASVA card
• Trained Mental Health First Aiders onsite
• Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 confidential support for you and your families
• Critical illness cover
• Access to free counselling sessions
• Interest free loans
• Use of company holiday home
• Profit-share bonus

Your Skills and Strengths:
• Passion for high quality product and visitor experience
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Positive and proactive approach to problem solving
• Attention to detail and record keeping
• Thrives working in a team
• Friendly, energetic and helpful
• Commitment to be the best you can be
• A sense of humour!

Main Duties and Responsibilities:
✓ Provide visitors with a 5 star warm welcome and farewell
✓ Advise and assist visitor’s choice of tour by phone, email and in person
✓ Promote and process visitor and trade sales by phone, email and in person
✓ Maintain our historic site ensuring 5 star experience throughout
✓ Represent Mercat Tours in a positive, professional manner outdoors at the Mercat Cross and indoors
in our reception at 28 Blair Street
✓ Deliver authentic, high-quality experience for our visitors, helping to create memorable moments
✓ Work as a positive, supportive member of our great team
✓ Help drive the growth of Mercat in a positive, sustainable future as part of our dynamic team

Details:
• Permanent role
• Part-time and full-time roles available
• 14hrs per week minimum paid, guaranteed
• Annualised hours, average 7-35hrs pr/wk across season
• Shifts vary in length from 4.5 to 7hrs per day
• Operating hours 9am – 10pm
• Flexible working requests available from day 1
• Working week Monday to Sunday with 2 consecutive days off guaranteed
• 3-month probationary period
• We are a Living Wage and Living Hours employer

Interview Process:
We want you to feel comfy, confident and at your best when we meet. Get in touch to help us understand how we can meet your needs and give you a warm welcome.

Stage 1: Successful applicants will be called for an initial ‘meet the team’ chat by phone.

Stage 2: Invitation to interview with three members of our team. Their photos and bios will be provided in advance to ensure you shine at your best.

Please note without the application form and video your application will not be considered.

Storyteller Tour Guide

Choose Mercat for a reason, not just a season!

A Warm Welcome for Everyone

https://www.mercattours.com/why-mercat/vacancies/

Your Skills and Strengths:
• Passion for history, culture and Edinburgh!
• Excellent communication skills
• Friendly, energetic and helpful
• Responsible, reliable and trustworthy
• Thrives working in a team
• Adaptable and resourceful
• Passion for high quality product and visitor experience
• Commitment to be the best you can be
• Sense of humour!

Main Duties and Responsibilities:
✓ Give history a damn good telling
✓ Deliver authentic, high quality walking tours for our visitors, helping to create memorable moments
✓ Represent Mercat Tours and our city in a positive, professional manner
✓ Responsible for visitor safety and security
✓ Work as a positive, supportive member of our great team
✓ Help drive the growth of Mercat in a positive, sustainable future as part of our dynamic team

Details:
• Permanent role
• 1 month+ paid training, plus First Aid training after probationary period
• 6 hrs paid per week minimum guaranteed
• 2 days per week minimum, inc Fri &/or Sat
• Shifts vary from 2-6hrs per day
• Annualised hours contract: work averaged 2-12.5hrs pr/wk across Jan-Dec
• Working hours 9am – 10pm
• Flexible working requests available from day 1
• Working week Monday to Sunday with 2 consecutive days off guaranteed
• 3-month probationary period
• We are a Living Wage and Living Hours employer

Audition Process
We want you to feel comfy, confident and at your best when we meet. Get in touch to help us understand how we can meet your needs and give you a warm welcome.

Stage 1: Successful applicants will be called for an initial chat by phone

Stage 2: Invitation to interview and audition with two or three members of our team. Full bios and questions will be shared in advance to ensure you shine at your best. You will be asked to tell a story,
provided in advance

Stage 3: Successful interviewees will be called for a second audition and storytelling workshop (approximate duration 2.5 hours) date to be confirmed after audition stage.

Areas covered in training
• Initial induction sessions to teach and develop guiding skills
• Storytelling practice with fellow trainees: peer to peer and online
• As skills progress, trainees share tours for the public supported by experienced Storytellers
• Full H&S, fire and first aid procedures

To Apply:
Please complete your application by the deadline:
1. Application form – available via website
2. 30sec video – tell us about yourself and why you want to join our Mercat Team (YouTube link
preferred)
Please note without the application form and video your application will not be considered.

Retail Assistant

Your role of Retail Assistant will be a part year permanent position. The likely start date for this role is in July 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.

Visitor Services Assistant

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).

Seasonal Exhibition Assistant

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.

Ghillie

JOB PURPOSE

To assist the sporting team in managing and enhancing the game management activities on Mar lodge Estate In accordance with the Deer Management Plan. Principally this will involve the use of ATV vehicles for extraction of deer carcasses, associated larder work, and general estate maintenance duties as required.

This position plays a vital role in the practical implementation and successful delivery of the written management plans. The location of the estate in such an area of environmental significance as well as high levels of public usage means that the role is often employed in practical ways to inform and educate both staff and members of the public thus reducing the risk of potential conflict between our three core principles which are, Conservation – Access – Field Sports.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Helping to Deliver the MLE management plan and DMP, under the training, supervision and direction of a Stalker.
• Working at all times to a level of service delivery equivalent to, or above, published codes of conduct and best practice relating to areas of work undertaken as part of the duties of a Ghillie.
• Care and use of estate vehicles and machinery required to undertake the necessary duties of a Ghillie, such as ATV’s, 4WD’s, Tractors, including the maintenance and operator checks necessary for all vehicles and machinery used, as per training and manufacturers guidelines.
• To implement fully the National Trust for Scotland’s Health and safety policy.
• To extend the understanding of visitors to the estate of game management and field sports and the harmonious benefits to be experienced for both sports and conservation.
• General estate duties as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

Qualifications

Essential

 A full driving license

Desirable

 A trailer driving license
 Shotgun and/or FAC certificate
 DMQ1
 Argo/skid steer ATV certificate
 Previous experience of the same or similar role.
 First aid certificate.
 A game keeping/stalking, college qualification.

Experience

Essential

 The ability to work in the challenging environment of the highlands, undertaking arduous and challenging work, mostly in remote locations.
 A sound and practical knowledge of health and safety processes and procedures and the ability to work effectively within these processes.
 A commitment to undertaking field sports and nature conservation to the highest standards.
 A methodical approach to undertaking tasks.
 The tenacity to undertake lone working in remote areas as required by the role.
 The ability to conduct or the willingness to learn estate maintenance skills like, but not limited to, grass cutting, grass strimming and firewood processing.

Desirable

 Experience of ATV’s on and off tracks/roads
 Experience of 4WD’s on and off tracks/roads
 Basic larder butchery or the willingness to learn.
 Knowledge of all forms of deer extraction.

Assistant Custodian

Dunnottar Castle is recruiting for an Assistant Custodian on a full time and permanent basis.

This is an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of visitor services at one of Scotland’s most iconic visitor attractions, the succesful candidate will be responsible for ensuring every visitor receives world class service.

For more information or to apply please forward your CV and cover letter to joseph.sellors@dunechtestates.co.uk.

Visitor Services Assistant – Welcome

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.

Library Assistant

Job Title: Library Assistant
Contract Type: Temp (March 2027)
Grade: FC04
Salary: £26,786 – £29,170 (pro rata)
Hours: 25.5h per week
Location: Benarty Library
Job Reference: ON000623

We are OnFife and as Fife’s largest cultural organisation we specialise in making jaws drop, hearts warm, eyes light up and imaginations run wild.  We work with a huge range of partners, artists and creatives and our spaces are some of Fife’s favourite places. An ambitious leadership-oriented charity, we’re built on strong values, and those values make us who we are – Fearless, Inviting, Fair and Exciting. 

We’re a Real Living Wage employer, and we offer a local government pension scheme, generous holiday allowance and flexible working opportunities. We have a dedicated training scheme offering professional development opportunities and you can also access our employee discount scheme which offers local and national savings and a range of employee benefits. 

The Role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Library Assistant to join our team. This post is at Benarty Library. Benarty is a single staffed branch located within Benarty Centre, and is part of the Cowdenbeath Cluster. This is a temporary post working 25.5 hours per week on Mondays and Tuesdays 9.30am – 5.00pm, Thursday 10.30am – 6pm and Friday 9.30am – 2.00pm.

You’ll provide a friendly, efficient and effective first point of contact for OnFife customers and visitors within the library. This includes providing advice, information, logging requests for services and taking payments. You’ll help with the delivery of OnFife services and contribute to the ongoing development of OnFife. 

You can view the full job spec here.

About You

We are looking for someone who puts the customer first, strives to provide an excellent experience to customers and visitors and who has a can-do attitude. Flexibility will be required and access to transport is necessary, as there may be travel throughout the region and you may be asked to change your working days from time to time. 

How to Apply

If you would like to find out more information about this role before applying, please contact Shirley Ballingall, Assistant Area Manager for an informal chat. Please email Shirley at shirley.ballingall@onfife.com to arrange this.

When you’re ready to apply, please complete our application form and equal opportunities form and return them to the HR team at hr.fct@onfife.com

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 2nd July.

OnFife is an equal opportunities employer.

We are proud to support the Armed Forces community and are committed to the Armed Forces Covenant.