Visitor Assistant

Job title: Visitor Assistant - Temple Newsam House

Salary: A3 £26,016 (Pro rata) Plus enhancements for working weekends and bank holidays

Hours:POST 1: 20hrs per week annualised salary, worked over 37 weeks per year: wk1 8.00-17.15 Mon/Tue/Wed; wk2 9.00-17.15 Mon, 8.00 - 17.15 Thu/Fri, 10.15-17.15 Sun. 15wks per year 0 hours.

POST 2: 19hrs per week annualised salary, worked over 37 weeks per year: 8.30-16.15 Mon/Tue, 9.00-16:15 Thu/Fri. 15 wks per year 0 hours

Contract: Permanent

Location: Temple Newsam House, Temple Newsam Park, Leeds, LS15 0AE

As a Visitor Assistant you'll be passionate about history, have an appreciation for museum collections and be able to deliver excellent customer care. We are looking for enthusiastic, visitor focused individuals to join our team as Visitor Assistants, helping us deliver an unforgettable experience for every visitor

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Visitor Assistant you will bring to the role:

• Good interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal).
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of people individually, in groups at all appropriate levels.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team or alone without regular supervision.
• Experience of maintaining direct contact with customers through day-to-day involvement with service delivery and promotion.
• Knowledge of good practice in visitor services.

About the role

Your primary responsibility will be to provide exceptional customer service. Contributing to the delivery of a friendly, safe, accessible environment for our diverse range of visitors ensuring that they enjoy their visit experiencing the site and collections.

You will actively participate in bringing the House to life by engaging visitors with the history, stories, and collections of the site. You will be responsible for ensuring that the house and collections are clean, and presentable at all times.

The role involves supporting ticketing, admissions, and retail sales and assisting with events, tours, school visits, and seasonal activities. The 19hr post will focus mainly on assisting school delivery. You will need to uphold security and safeguarding procedures for the building and its collections.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions

• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidancefor further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Thomas Hodgson, Visitor Experience Supervisor email Thomas.hodgson@leeds.gov.uk.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

To provide a safe, easily accessible and friendly environment for all users ensuring they enjoy their visit learning about the site and collections.

Responsibilities

• To be reasonable, polite and courteous with all users, providing information on the service's sites, collections and activities, interpreting and demonstrating exhibits as necessary.
• To carry out proactive reception and sales duties (including cash handling).
• To be responsible for carrying out security procedures for the site, collections, and shop within agreed guidelines.
• To assist the Learning & Access Officers in the provision of learning activities such as family workshops, school visits and guided tours.
• To ensure the Site is clean, tidy and safe, participating in installing exhibitions, display maintenance as directed by Collections staff and ensuring public information points are appropriately stocked.
• To assist with the preparation and support of conferences, functions and events including evening working.
• To report any changes in the standard environmental conditions (humidity, lighting etc) of public areas to appropriate technical or collections staff.
• To participate in briefing sessions to develop skills and knowledge pertinent to the post.
• To ensure that dress and personal appearance presents the highest standard.
• To present a positive image of the Service at all times and to assist in the promotion of Leeds Museums & Galleries through promotional and learning activities and events.
• To be aware of and adhere to Leeds City Council Health and Safety Policy being responsible for your own health and safety whilst at work and that of your colleagues and our customers. Achieve recognised Health & Safety qualification specific to job need. Carry out risk assessment and implement safe systems of work as required.
• To promote and apply consistently the principles of Leeds City Council Equal Opportunities Policies both with colleagues and members of the public to ensure fair and equal access to services and opportunities
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications n/a

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

• Good interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal).
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team or alone without regular supervision.
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of people individually, in groups at all appropriate levels.
• Ability to deal with the public in a polite, friendly & helpful manner even in difficult circumstances.
• Knowledge of the requirements of the Health & Safety and Equalities legislation.
• Knowledge of good practice in visitor services.
• Experience of working in a customer facing role- engaging with the public.
• Experience of cash handling and maintaining accurate financial and statistical records.
• Experience of following security procedures.
• Experience of maintaining direct contact with customers through day-to-day involvement with service delivery and promotion.

Essential behavioural and other characteristics

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council values and behaviours and codes of conduct
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures
• Carry out duties having regard to an employee's responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
• Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality and diversity of Leeds City Council
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters

Desirable requirements Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

• Knowledge of a range of ICT applications including Microsoft Office.
• Demonstrate an interest in the work of Leeds City Council Museums & Galleries.
• Experience of basic object handling and care.