Visitor Services

We are looking to recruit a Head Conservation Housekeeper. The ideal candidate will come from a background of conservation housekeeping within a museum or historic house environment, with at least 2 years experience.
They shall be expected to organise and assist with conservation of the castle, with our archivist and housekeeping team. Cleaning duties in all areas of Blair Castle. As a frequent contact with our visitors is part of the daily routine, a smart appearance and a high standard of customer care are expected.

Duties will include; Monitor and rectify if necessary housekeepers performance, demeanour and attitude towards visitors.
Monitor and rectify if necessary housekeepers awareness of their security responsibilities.
Monitor and rectify if necessary housekeepers’ attitudes towards timekeeping.
Resolve minor disciplinary incidents directly involving the team and refer any incidents with wider implications or that require recording to the head housekeeper.
Carry out the conservation cleaning programme and general housekeeping as devised and directed by the Housekeeping & Castle Manager in all areas of the building
Take an active role in monitoring the condition of all items and report immediately any signs of deterioration
Undertake the conservation cleaning and dust protection of items of furniture, ceramics, metalwork, carpets and tapestries as directed by the Archivist
To assist with general housekeeping and cleaning duties, including vacuuming and dusting, working with extra care around antique and museum items in the castle.
Cleaning of all public areas including the castle exhibition.
Daily deep cleaning and daily maintenance cleaning of toilets.
Cleaning staff areas
Assistance and support to other teams within the Castle enterprise as required.
Comply with health & safety directives and organisational policy, including regular fire drills.
Comply with organisational policy for green tourism and recycling policies.
Attend team meetings and training sessions as required including after hours sessions – reasonable notice is given and staff are paid for their time.
Monitor and record environmental conditions of exhibition rooms.

Please send your cv to kerryw@blair-castle.co.uk to apply

Full-time and Permanent
Salary £23,771 – £24,825 per annum (pay award pending) (Band 7)
Plus shift and weekend allowance and 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 at our galleries – the National, Portrait, and Modern.

If you have proven supervisory experience working in a visitor attraction, or in the retail or hospitality sector combined with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, we want to hear from you.

We’re looking for an experienced Supervisor with a people-focused approach to lead, coach and inspire a team of Security Attendants supporting the delivery of an exceptional visitor experience through strong leadership while helping keep our people, art, and buildings safe and secure.

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.

Working closely with the Head of Safety and Security and with Operations Managers across our Galleries, you will take responsibility for the smooth, secure, and safe running of our Galleries and your duties will include:

Operations Management

Motivate, coach, and manage Security Attendants to ensure an exceptional standard of artwork care, safety, security and building presentation.

Working on a rota basis, you will help deliver all aspects of public and asset safety and security through 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Communicating effectively and proactively across departments, gathering, and sharing information with other visitor-facing colleagues. 

Being prepared to assist in safe evacuation of our buildings in the event of any incident or emergency.

Security Systems

Support Security Attendants by monitoring all security and safety systems including fire safety, CCTV, intruder alarms, and other building management systems.

Responding to, and dealing effectively with system activations, taking prompt and appropriate action to resolve any issues.

Have an up-to-date knowledge of all NGS operational procedures and requirements of any exhibitions, displays and events and coach and develop Security Attendants to gain and use their expertise to enhance security and deliver an excellent colleague and visitor experience.

Team Management/Leadership

Lead a team of Security Attendants including recruitment, induction, training, development, and performance.

Manage the Security Attendants to ensure that best practice is followed regards health, safety, and welfare.

Ensure the necessary security coverage, including arranging overtime as required, effective allocation of annual leave, and distribution of staff between locations.

Support colleagues working as Gallery Supervisors.

For more information and to apply, please visit our careers page.

The closing date for completed applications is 12 noon on Tuesday 18 April 2023.

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.

We are seeking a Visitor Services Manager to join the team to focus on Castle Kennedy Gardens 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, manging 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
• 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 £34k dependent on skills and experience plus company benefits.

Accommodation is available 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.

Full-time and permanent
Plus 1 x Fixed term until 30th September 2023
Salary £23,771 – £24,825 per annum (pay award pending)
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 at our galleries – the National, Portrait, and Modern.

If you have proven supervisory experience working in a visitor attraction, or in the retail or hospitality sector combined with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, we want to hear from you.

We’re looking for an experienced Supervisor with a people-focused approach to lead, coach and inspire a team of Gallery Attendants to deliver an exceptional visitor experience through strong leadership while helping keep our people, art, and buildings safe and secure.

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: endeavoring 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.

Working with Operations Managers across our Galleries, you will take responsibility for contributing to the smooth, safe running of our Galleries and your duties will include:

Operations Management

Motivate, coach, and manage Gallery Attendants to ensure an exceptional standard of visitor and artwork care, safety, security and building presentation.

Act as Duty Manager on a rota basis when required supporting Operations Managers to deliver all aspects of public and asset safety and security and visitor care during opening hours.

Communicating effectively and proactively across departments, gathering, and sharing information with other visitor-facing colleagues.

Being prepared to assist in safe evacuation of our buildings in the event of any incident or emergency.

Visitor Engagement

Support Gallery Attendants and other visitor-facing staff by responding to and dealing effectively with visitor queries or complaints, taking prompt and appropriate action to resolve any issues.

Have an up-to-date knowledge of all NGS exhibitions, displays and events, and coach and develop Gallery Attendants to gain and use their expertise to enhance visitor experience.

Team Management/Leadership

Lead a team of Gallery Attendants including recruitment, induction, training, development, and performance.

Lead the Gallery Attendants team to ensure that best practice is followed regards health, safety, and wellbeing.

Support colleagues working as Security Supervisors.

For more information and to apply, please visit our careers page.

The closing date for completed application is 12 noon on Tuesday 18 April 2023.