Visitor Services

JOB PURPOSE

To maximise our visitors’ enjoyment of Culross Palace by maintaining excellent standards of service, optimising opportunities to generate income and ensuring that the site and its assets are safe and secure. To ensure the smooth and safe running of operations primarily focusing on admissions and retail.

To provide the highest degree of customer service:  greet and welcome all visitors to the property; recruit new Trust members and promote fund-raising initiatives; deliver appropriate admissions procedures; and provide general visitor information. Please note that the job involves some physical activity in the form of periods of standing, walking, etc. 

Some flexibility may be required as to when hours are worked and weekend working may on occasion be expected. 

Is a key holder for the Townhouse shop and will be required to open/close on Visitor Service Supervisor’s days off.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES 

This role will assist the property team in delivering a high-quality visitor experience at Culross Palace (including but not limited to): 

Providing excellent customer service. 

Be responsible and proactive. Ensuring all day-to-day tasks are completed including responding to customer enquiries, answering the telephone, cleaning, recording statistics etc.  

Handling cash accurately and processing sales across all platforms. 

To ensure perpetually high levels of accuracy are maintained for all transactions and data recording.  

To actively drive-up selling opportunities through strong product knowledge and an excellent customer service to maximize sales of admission tickets, membership and donations. 

Working with the Guides and supporting with tours. 

Cash reconciliation duties including end of day and administration tasks. 

Be able to take responsibility for your own development and learning. 

Taking booking enquiries and process appropriately. 

To develop a working knowledge of the history of the site and being able to relate that to visitors in a friendly and engaging way. 

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). 

Work somewhere where a job is not just a ‘job’, where you can be part of a team with a passion for sharing Scotland’s heritage and making a real difference to local lives. Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott, is one of Scotland’s most important heritage sites and easily accessible from Edinburgh by road and rail. Now cared for by an independent charity, we are seeking an exceptional individual to coordinate our award winning volunteer programme.

In this interesting and varied part time role you will be responsible for administering and supporting volunteering; recruiting, training and supporting volunteers across the organisation, from the historic house and visitor centre to the garden and estate. You will also work with colleagues to develop new initiatives to engage under-represented audiences, and will ensure that all our volunteers have a positive and fulfilling experience.

As a small charity run by staff and volunteers, you should be personable and flexible in your approach to others, and be prepared to be bitten by our passion for Scott and Abbotsford.

Part time at 14 hours a week, salary of £8,936 – £9,331 per annum (£22,340-23,328 pro rata full time), dependant on experience. To be worked over 2 or 3 days a week.

Application Process
For more details of the role, please download the Job Description.

To apply, follow the link https://www.scottsabbotsford.com/about/vacancies/volunteer-coordinator-pt and download and complete the Application Form. Candidates are asked to send the completed document, and if they wish an additional CV, to vacancies@scottsabbotsford.co.uk.

Enquiries: giles.ingram@scottsabbotsford.co.uk 01896 752043 / 07811 100182

Closing date for applications is 9am on 22nd July.
Interviews are scheduled for Thu, 1st August.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

In this role the post holder will:

Establish and deliver Timesliders at Drum Castle and Estate, liaising with the Visitor Services Manager, the Operations Manager, central Learning team, and other internal/external stakeholders

Form, build, and maintain relationships with local schools

Liaise with the Timesliders’ development team of creators, contractors, and suppliers to develop and deliver the programme’s products

Coordinate logistical arrangements for the outreach activities to visit participating schools

Deliver and coordinate schools sessions on-site, working with external contractors, staff and volunteers

Maintain detailed records of participating schools and visits and input into reports by the central learning team

Contribute to and coordinate evaluation of the programme, working with an external evaluation specialist and the central learning team

Create and develop resources, guidelines and plans as required to ensure all schools programmes meets the needs of the schools

Create, develop and deliver new family events and resources to encourage return visits

Ensure all work is carried out in line with our Conservation principles and Safe Systems of Work (H&S)

Carry-out any essential administrative tasks as required; e.g. raising purchase orders, contributing to monthly reports, arranging project meetings, etc.

Castle Fraser

Castle Fraser is situated in the foothills of the Grampian Mountains. Only 3 miles from the village of Kemnay the estate is set in the rolling farmland of Aberdeenshire with mixed forestry plantations nearby. The history of the Fraser family goes back to the 15th century with parts of the Castle itself date back to 1576.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

The Housekeeper is responsible for a wide variety of housekeeping duties in connection with the well-being and care of the holiday accommodation and visitor facilities at Castle Fraser (as per the Trust’s Housekeeping Procedures Manual), including the following:

Maintain stock-levels of housekeeping consumables and janitorial supplies.

Routinely clean and look after the holiday accommodation and 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

changing of bed linen and towels, and making of beds

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

cleaning and providing clean laundry for each occupancy

disposal of general household waste

To be first point of contact in case of queries or questions from clients regarding the holiday property and to provide additional service or help when requested.

Assist with the administration of any repair works.

Monitor the condition of furniture – reporting any loss or damage to the Visitor Services Manager

Ensure COVID 19 Guidelines and Safe Systems of Work is implemented effectively within function and with external contractors.

Undertake any administration required in support of housekeeping, including (but not limited to): planning regimes for routine and in-depth cleaning; stock control and ordering of recommended cleaning consumables/janitorial supplies; recording work undertaken.

Deliver excellent customer care to foster a friendly and inviting atmosphere for visitors.

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 keeping a record of the checks.

POST Museum Assistant (Supply)

GRADE Zero hours contract £12 per hour

HOURS Shifts are allocated Wednesday to Sundays between 10am and 5pm. (Normally a 4-hour shift) Evening shifts will be allocated between 5pm – 10pm. (Normally 3-hour shift)

QUALIFICATIONS & Good general education with experience of public service.
REQUIREMENTS Two references required.

SKILLS REQUIRED Demonstrated ability to communicate with the public.
Demonstrated ability to take responsibility.
Fit and able to assist with the carrying and shifting of equipment.

MAIN AREAS OF WORK Security of public places.
Reception/shop duties when required.
Cleaning, maintenance and exhibition preparation.
Servicing the needs of groups who hire the theatre.
Invigilating in Galleries and Museum

The Stirling Smith is a small museum and art gallery serving Stirling and Central Scotland. We aim to give all visitors and users of the building a pleasurable and satisfactory experience. As the organisation is small, the staff are expected to be flexible, and to undertake a variety of duties. The main duties of the Museum Assistant are to ensure security for exhibitions and public spaces when the Smith Art Gallery and Museum is open to the public, to carry out Reception/Shop duties and facilitate events as and when required, and to assist with cleaning and maintenance of the building.

1 Security of Public Places
1.1 To follow agreed building opening procedures, and see that private sections are protected.
1.2 To supervise the Smith during times when public are admitted.
1.3 To follow agreed closing procedures for the Smith building.
1.4 To be solely responsible for security and safety of the Smith on Saturdays and Sundays.

2 Reception/Shop and other Public Duties
2.1 To staff reception/shop as required, including use of tills.
2.2 The primary duty of a Museum Assistant is the safety and security of exhibitions and public spaces, and to ensure that visitors have a good experience.
In addition, Museum Assistants are expected to assist the public in a courteous manner to ensure their visit to the Smith is to their satisfaction.
Museum Assistants often provide the only personal contact between the Smith and the public. It is important therefore for all staff to be neat and tidy in appearance and appreciate that they are always representing the Smith to the public.
2.3 To answer any questions from the public on the exhibitions/displays and guide where necessary.
2.4 Museum Assistants will be required to be available for evening duty.

3 Cleaning, Maintenance and Exhibitions Preparation
3.1 To clean and dust all display cases.
3.2 To update noticeboard and outside display cases.
3.3 To ensure the grounds are tidy and free from weeds and litter.
3.4 To assist Cleaner with cleaning as required.
3.5 To repaint display areas and boards in preparation for exhibitions.
3.6 To assist with unloading, loading and preparation of both temporary and permanent exhibitions.
3.7 To see that the toilets are tidy, and have supplies of soap, towels and paper throughout the day and during and after events.

4 Servicing the needs of evening groups
4.1 To open – up the building in preparation.
4.2 Lay out crockery/glasses/tables/projectors/stands.
4.3 Adjust seating where necessary.
4.4 Maintain security of the building during group use.
4.5 Clear and tidy after the visit, making sure the building is secure.
4.6 Locking up and setting alarm system afterwards.

2024