Visitor Services

National Museums Scotland is one of the leading museum groups in Europe with one of the largest and most diverse collections in the world.
We are looking for enthusiastic, passionate, honest, service-driven individuals to join our team.

Benefits of joining us as our Assistant Stockperson will include:
• Civil Service Pension (26.6% employer contributions!)
• Generous annual leave (28.5 days – rising to 33.5) as well as an additional 8 days public holidays (Pro-rata where applicable)
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Free access to national (and international) museums and exhibitions
• Exclusive discounts on both local and national High Street and online retailers
• Access to all the above and more from day one of employment.

About the Assistant Stockperson role:
This is a varied role involving both front and back of house duties. This role encompasses aspects of animal husbandry and welfare duties as well as friendly and regular interaction with our visitors directly through things like milking presentations that will help to encourage learning and engagement we well as help create an overall memorable visitor experience. From presenting public demonstrations to looking after our animals, our collections (and our visitors!), every day there is always something new to see at our working farm.

As an Assistant Stockperson at the National Museum of Rural Life you will:
• Tend to all husbandry tasks and livestock needs on the farm across our Ayrshire dairy herd, Tamworth pigs, Aberdeen Angus cattle, Highland Cattle, Scottish Black-faced sheep, Clydesdale horses, hens and farm cats
• Milk around 16 Ayrshire dairy cows using a traditional Round the Byre milking system
• Ensure public spaces at the farm are maintained to the highest standards of presentation, taking appropriate remedial action where necessary
• Engage with visitors daily in a professional manner in pursuit of the provision of a high-quality visitor experience.

Skills and experience we’re looking for in our Assistant Stockperson:
• A keen interest in agriculture, farming, history, or social culture
• Be in possession of a full clean UK Driving License with category F for Agricultural tractors
• Practical experience caring for farm livestock
• Knowledge of established animal welfare practices
• Ability to demonstrate an exceptional standard of customer service through well-established and effective communication skills

Hiring the right person for the right job is everything to us. We want to encourage you to apply if you think this is the role for you!

Dalkeith Country Park has been enjoyed by visitors for 120 years and its woodlands, riverside trails, cycle tracks and events calendar are valued by visitors from near and far. The Park includes Fort Douglas, which is an exciting adventure play park for visitors of all ages, while the stable yard houses Restoration Yard, a unique venture comprising a retail store, food hall, restaurant and wellness space.

We are looking for an experienced Cleaner to help ensure we deliver a consistently clean and welcoming environment to our visitors.

• Do you have high professional standards?
• Can you demonstrate a ‘can-do’ approach to work?
• Are you a team player with good communication skills?

Hours of work will be 5pm to 8pm on a four days on, four days off basis.

Interested? Please email a copy of your CV and covering letter to recruitment@buccleuch.com.

Closing date for applications is Friday, 10th November.

Please view our privacy policy at http://www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/privacy/

Permanent, Part-time (26.25 hours)
Salary £22,845 per annum pro rata
Plus, generous benefits package

About the role

We are looking for an experienced traffic / security professional to join our team working in an amazing location in the heart of Edinburgh amongst magnificent, listed buildings.

Working mainly on the Mound Precinct, you will be responsible for safely managing vehicle access and egress outdoors while providing security and helping visitors to the Galleries. The position can be physically demanding as you will be standing for most of your shift and a love of working outdoors is a must.

You will be an important point of contact for all visitors therefore excellent customer service and strong communication skills are required. The role also involves maintaining accurate records and interacting with contractors and tradespeople in accordance with daily schedules. Strong health and safety awareness is required.

The difference you’ll make

Reporting to the Gallery Supervisor your responsibilities will include:

-Providing a high standard of security and visitor care, maintaining a professional
manner and being the public face of the National Galleries of Scotland whilst welcoming and assisting visitors.

– Exercising control over vehicles entering and leaving the Mound Precinct.

– Supervising of contractors and trades people.

– Staffing fixed duty or access points including searching incoming baggage or containers as necessary.

– Maintaining accurate records.

– Assisting the public in emergency situations and resolving customer concerns and complaints.

– Supervision of members of the public to ensure the safety of the collections and regulation of those failing to comply with the Gallery’s conditions of entry.

– Manual handling tasks as well as light cleaning and portering duties.

– Adherence to Health and Safety guidelines.

– Proactively keeping up to date with our exhibitions, events and displays and to engage with the public on these, whilst also remaining vigilant.

Who we are looking for

To succeed in this role, you’ll need the following range of knowledge, skills, and experience:

– Proven experience in traffic control management is essential.

– Previous experience of working within a Customer Services environment.

– Security experience and knowledge of Health & Safety guidelines.

– Strong communication skills and ability to relate to visitors in a friendly and professional manner.

– Ability to use initiative, work independently and have the resilience to positively respond to challenges.

– Enjoy working as part of a team and with the public.  

– Flexible approach to the job and be able and willing to work weekends, evenings and any required overtime.

It would also be great if you have:

– Knowledge and appreciation of art.

– Knowledge of Gaelic and/or other languages is desirable but not essential.  

– First Aid qualification or be willing to undertake training to obtain.

Please apply directly via our careers portal.

The closing date for completed applications is 12 noon on Monday, 13 November 2023.

Salary £22,845 per annum (£11.83 per hour)
Working from a choice of 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, or 5 days per week
Fixed Term (to either 26/02/24 or 31/03/24)
Plus generous benefits package

About the role

Every day we create connections with our visitors and our colleagues. From world class art to extraordinary buildings, we have plenty to inspire people. 

If you have proven experience working in a public facing role within a front-line, retail, sales, customer services or entertainment environment using excellent customer service and communication skills, we want to hear from you. You will have a confident, outgoing personality and enjoy connecting with people.

Working across the Galleries at each of the building’s entrances, and on the Switchboard, the Visitor Assistant is responsible for providing an excellent welcome and leaving experience for our visitors. You will provide outstanding service and information, answer queries, and will actively sign-up new Friends, encourage donations, sell tickets and other products.  

You must be available to start with us at the end of November / beginning of December. These fixed term contracts are to either 26 February 2024 or 31 March 2024.

The difference you’ll make

Our Vision

National Galleries of Scotland Security and Visitor Services Team provide an exceptional visitor experience and service. The team embodies our strategy ‘We make art work for everyone’, in protecting our art, people and our buildings and ensuring an inclusive welcome for all.

Our Mission

National Galleries of Scotland Security and Visitor Services team exists to enable our visitors to explore, experience and enjoy our artwork safely and securely at our various Galleries. The department has three key areas of responsibility:

Visitor Engagement: aiming to deliver an exceptional experience to all our visitors in a welcoming, inclusive, and informative environment.

Security: endeavouring to keep people, our buildings and works of art safe, responding effectively to risk.

Income generation: encouraging donations, selling tickets for paying exhibitions, and signing up visitors to our Friends scheme.

In all that you do, you’ll support your colleagues by welcoming visitors, helping them enjoy their experience and making the most of their visit. Reporting to Supervisors and Duty Managers you will:

– Provide welcoming and engaging conversations with our visitors at the entrances, on the phone and via email giving advice and answering queries.

– Actively promote our Friends scheme and convert visitors into Members.

– Drive satisfied visitors to make donations to our boxes situated at the entrance/exit to the Galleries.

– Sell tickets and other products.

– Seek out all NGS related content gaining knowledge to act as an ambassador about our galleries, our collection and exhibitions, events, our shops and cafes and other activities.

– Communicate with colleagues across departments to gather information to answer visitor enquiries.

– Share knowledge and expertise with team members to improve understanding across the department.

– Accurately collect all customer data in line with GPDR and NGS guidelines.

– Follow departmental cash handling procedures performing accurate reconciliations.

Who we are looking for

To succeed in this role, you’ll need the following range of knowledge, skills, and experience:

– Outstanding interpersonal skills enabling you to engage with people to provide information and deliver sales. 

– Previous experience of working within a front-line, retail, sales, customer services or entertainment environment. 

– Be a strong communicator in person, in writing and over the telephone.  

– Competent at using office systems such as Office 365.

– Have the resilience to positively respond to challenges and prioritise operational demands.

– Work well in a busy environment with strong organisational skills.

– Accurate with figures and experience of cash handling and other methods of payment.

– Enjoy working as part of a team and with the public.

– Flexible approach to the job and be able and willing to work weekends, evenings and any required overtime. 

 
It would also be great if you have:

– Knowledge of Gaelic and/or other languages is desirable but not essential. 

– Knowledge and appreciation of art 

Please apply directly via our careers portal.

The closing date for completed applications is 12 noon on Tuesday, 31 October 2023.