Visitor Services

Salary Range: £12.37 (hourly rate): Full time weekday contract; 37.5 hours; flexible working considered

Dundee Science Centre is currently looking for an outgoing, dynamic, confident, exceptional communicator to join our team to fulfil the key role of Science Communicator in a full-time capacity.

You will be part of a team responsible for the smooth operation of Dundee Science Centre’s programmes and services on a daily basis, supporting the Visitor Experience Leader (VEL). You will support the wider team in science communication and ensure the quality of delivery by team members meets audience expectations and standards. Primary objectives will be championing enhanced visitor engagement, ensuring that audiences have an enjoyable, safe, and inspiring experience.

You will be an ambassador for and the public face of Dundee Science Centre. You will be an excellent communicator and an effective team player with the ability to multi-task. Your main function will be to interact with all visitors in a friendly, outgoing manner ensuring an exceptional experience.

You will be responsible for delivering high quality science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programmes across all audiences (including schools and community groups), either in-centre or via outreach, all in line with Dundee Science Centre’s key aims and objectives, alongside local and national government initiatives, and priorities.

You will be an advocate for Inclusion & Diversity, contributing to the development of DSC’s widening access strategies creating a culture of inclusion for our team and audiences.

The successful candidate will have a positive, resourceful, and confident nature with the ability to work independently and play a key role across the organisation. You will have an excellent knowledge and understanding of visitor engagement and an enthusiasm to talk to people. A full clean UK driving license is required.
In-depth STEM knowledge is a desirable trait in this role, however having a confident and charismatic nature would be more advantageous. An understanding of science can be enhanced with on-the-job training; but an ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences is essential.

You will work flexibly within the Dundee Science Centre team; hours of work to be discussed, flexible working will be considered, and weekend and evening work will be required.

To apply for the post, please submit your CV and a covering letter, clearly indicating your suitability for the role. Applications should be sent FAO Caitlin to:

Email: recruitment@dundeesciencecentre.org.uk

Applications to be submitted by 5pm on Thursday 9th May 2024. Short listed candidates will be invited to interview on 21st May 2024; no alternative dates are available so if you are not able to attend, please do not apply.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Conduct Integrated Pest Management checks; monitor & maintain the Environmental Monitoring & Control Systems; create, manage & develop Housekeeping Plan, conduct collections handling training and install and improve collections protection; proactively action reported recommendations for treatments and improvements.

Work closely with the Regional Conservator to improve and develop the collections care and preventive conservation practices & processes, assist in remedial conservation planning and conduct conservation cleaning as required; improve storage & access to collections and archives.

Assist the Regional Conservator in property wide projects, supervise contractors / film crews on site, ensure the collections and interiors remain protected & cared for during building, filming and other events that impact on the collections, as required.

Assist with the recruitment, training, and coordination of the Volunteers (Collections Care) to plan, deliver, maintain, and conduct the conservation cleaning and care of the collections, the historic interiors and other collections spaces to a high standard.

Use of Trust systems to monitor the condition, security and location of the collections and interiors to ensuring any damage, deterioration or threats to the collections are promptly reported and mitigated; assist with object loans, acquisitions, and disposals: administration of collection enquires.

Work closely with the relevant property staff to achieve the collections objectives ensuring clear channels of communications are maintained at all times.

Work closely with the Regional Curator to assist with the research, exhibition, presentation, and interpretation of collections and interiors.

Work closely with the Collections Management team, to ensure that the Trust’s object movement and location procedures are maintained, updated, and adhered to so that location inventory information remains accurate.

Purchase, manage and improve conservation / collections care supplies in agreement with budget holders and in consultation with relevant property staff and the Regional Conservator.

Assist the property staff to deliver training associated with the property Collections Incident Response Plans and to ensure these plans are kept up to date.

Develop knowledge and understanding of the collections and be a passionate advocate for widening access and engaging visitors.

Support the wider property duty management team with the day to day running of the property, including occasional duty management shifts.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Conduct Integrated Pest Management checks; monitor & maintain the Environmental Monitoring & Control Systems; create, manage & develop Housekeeping Plan, conduct collections handling training and install and improve collections protection; proactively action reported recommendations for treatments and improvements.

Work closely with the Regional Conservator to improve and develop the collections care and preventive conservation practices & processes, assist in remedial conservation planning and conduct conservation cleaning as required; improve storage & access to collections and archives.

Assist the Regional Conservator in property wide projects, supervise contractors / film crews on site, ensure the collections and interiors remain protected & cared for during building, filming and other events that impact on the collections, as required.

Assist with the recruitment, training, and coordination of the Volunteers (Collections Care) to plan, deliver, maintain, and conduct the conservation cleaning and care of the collections, the historic interiors and other collections spaces to a high standard.

Use of Trust systems to monitor the condition, security and location of the collections and interiors to ensuring any damage, deterioration or threats to the collections are promptly reported and mitigated; assist with object loans, acquisitions, and disposals: administration of collection enquires.

Work closely with the relevant property staff to achieve the collections objectives ensuring clear channels of communications are maintained at all times.

Work closely with the Regional Curator to assist with the research, exhibition, presentation, and interpretation of collections and interiors.

Work closely with the Collections Management team, to ensure that the Trust’s object movement and location procedures are maintained, updated, and adhered to so that location inventory information remains accurate.

Purchase, manage and improve conservation / collections care supplies in agreement with budget holders and in consultation with relevant property staff and the Regional Conservator.

Assist the property staff to deliver training associated with the property Collections Incident Response Plans and to ensure these plans are kept up to date.

Develop knowledge and understanding of the collections and be a passionate advocate for widening access and engaging visitors.

Support the wider property duty management team with the day to day running of the property, including occasional duty management shifts.

Thank you for your interest in the post of Stirling Castle Guide with Historic Environment Scotland based at Stirling Castle. This is a fixed term and pensionable appointment until 31 March 2025, working 35 hours per week (five days out of seven), which will include weekends and public holidays.

The Stirling Castle Guide will be a member of the Stirling Castle Visitor Operations team – Stirling Castle is the second most visited attraction within the Historic Environment Scotland portfolio, welcoming more than 500,000 visitors in 2023/2024. The post holder will have a key role to play in ensuring that we continue to deliver a high-quality visitor experience, as well as achieving our commercial targets.

You will provide the highest standard of customer care to visitors, and you will also be responsible for enthusiastically providing information and assistance, where appropriate. You will also be responsible for ensuring visitor safety at all times, whilst maintaining the high standards of presentation and professionalism that Stirling Castle prides itself in.

For further information about the role, please refer to the job description.

Closing date for applications is noon on Wednesday 8th May with interviews expected to take place Thursday 23rd May 2024.

Eden Scott is delighted to be working with Stair Estates, a diversified rural estate in Stranraer in southwest Scotland with a varied let property portfolio; in-hand farming, forestry, tourism and country sports enterprises.

The Estate rental portfolio comprises let farms, grass park lets, cottages, industrial premises and telecoms and renewable leases. In-hand enterprises include forestry, country sports, Castle Kennedy Gardens, and events at Lochinch Castle.

A new role has been created to focus on Castle Kennedy Gardens and we are seeking a Visitor Services Manager to join the team and play a pivotal role ensuring that the management objectives of Stair Estates are achieved through excellent customer service, and with delegated responsibility for tourism, catering, retail, events, and duty management and will be the “face” of Stair Estates to visitors and suppliers.

The position is primarily responsible for delivering the highest standard of visitor experience for all visitors to Castle Kennedy Gardens where they will ensure the efficient and profitable running of Castle Kennedy Gardens Shop, Plant Centre, and Tea Room as a successful commercial enterprise and consistent with its status as a 4* Visitor Attraction.

The role involves leading and managing a small team of staff, managing performance, recognising training needs and potential where appropriate.

Responsibilities include day to day management of the Shop, Tea Room and Plant Centre, and as line manager to the Shop and Tea Room staff. Strategic, creative, and financial management of the gift shop and tearoom, ensuring that innovative ideas and current trends in catering are being delivered, managing the till and stock, generating weekly report, and constantly looking at ways to maximise income through effective purchasing and creative merchandising.

The role will be responsible for all aspects of the visitor experience for individual and group visits, and will involve regular monitoring of customer feedback, mystery visitor and Visit Scotland audits and the development of suitable action plans depending on the results.

The position will assist with the annual marketing programme, working where appropriate with internal and external marketing support, reporting to the Estate Factor and the Owners, the Earl and Countess of Stair.

As the role develops there is scope for the post holder to take over responsibility of managing and developing the visitor experience at the Holiday Cottages working closely with Housekeeping and the Properties Manager, take responsibility for managing the visitor experience for a varied programme of sporting activities and be responsible for planning, implementing and reviewing a wide range of annual events.

Skills and experience required:

Experience in retail and visitor services sectors, ideally within another Visitor Attraction, Hospitality, Tourism or similar operation.
Experience supervising and motivating staff
Ability to demonstrate good health and safety awareness
Strong IT skills – office management, report and stock takes
Excellent written communication, copywriting, and proof-reading skills (blogging, vlogging and social networks)
A good understanding of public expectations of a garden attraction
An appreciation of marketing, promotion and the influence of social media
An enjoyment of rural life and working on an Estate
Full driver’s license is required

Salary is up to £40k dependent on skills and experience plus company benefits.

Accommodation is available in a two-bedroom cottage with garden at a very reasonable rate and re-locating candidates will be offered this property or another rent free for the first three months.

Eden Scott is dealing exclusively with this client on this vacancy so if you are keen to join this rural business, please submit your CV online or for an informal chat please call Sally on 07776 662506.