Full Time

We are looking for an experienced and forward-thinking individual to join the management team at the vibrant Pitmedden Garden and Museum of Farming Life.

This is an exciting opportunity within the heritage industry and the ideal candidate must be passionate about our vision for the future and what we do every day as a business: Bringing people together and providing them with the greatest visitor experience.

Brilliant design and meticulous maintenance give Pitmedden Garden its unique charm. With almost 6 miles of clipped box hedging, the parterres at the heart of the garden are a masterpiece of intricate patterns and sparkling colours, drawing visitors from near and far.

JOB PURPOSE

You will be responsible for the operational delivery of the overall visitor experience within Pitmedden Garden and the wider Estate.

Delivering performance standards and targets to ensure excellent levels of visitor satisfaction, while maximising key commercial, financial and development objectives, to ensure the property is property fully sustainable.

Your vision and drive will continue to build on our current , from creating fresh visitor numbers, bringing fresh ideas to showcasing our site to a wider audience, to handling initial enquiries and delivering memorable visitor experiences. Ultimately ensuring Pitmedden Garden is recognised as a first-class visitor attraction.

You will be part of a broader management team responsible for delivering an overall visitor service strategy, promoting good communication within the property and across the division as well as a joined-up service provision.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Staff and volunteers – (recruitment, induction, development, motivation, performance management) such that they are fully equipped and motivated to undertake their duties to the required Trust standards and that staffing budgets are adhered to;
• Responsible for the line management of Visitor Service Supervisors and Visitor Services Assistants, within Pitmedden Garden.
• Instil a Health & Safety culture across the property, ensuring the team work within the properties Risk Assessments to reduce risk of incidents and accidents to volunteers, employees and visitors.
• Budgets – (setting, phasing, monitoring, reporting, pro-active and re-active adjustments together with the Operations Manager, General Manager, Business Manager and Finance Manager) to ensure that the finances are sustainable within the context of the wider property budgets;
• Plan and deliver annual events and functions strategy with support of NE regional office and Visitor Service Supervisors.
• Create a culture of ‘exceptional service, every time’. Delivering high standards of delivery and a consistently warm welcome within the catering department
• Driving the visitor services experience to achieve financial targets, maximising income and profitability, using the Trust’s procedures and instructions. You will strive to be efficient and ensure cost effectiveness in all the work you do.
• Ensure the cornerstones of the National Trust for Scotland are achieved at every property namely, conservation, access and memorable visitor experiences for all guests.
• You will ensure high standards of presentation at all times, you may have delegated tasks within other departments and you will understand and help deliver your overall properties business plan.
• Taking responsibility for opening and closing and security of buildings as well as emergency procedure implementation, duty management and providing relief cover as required;
• The post holder will be designated for the property as the “responsible person” concerning issues around the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. For this element of your role, you will be required to undergo a criminal record check.

KEY PURPOSE
To ensure that the garden, grounds and related policies of gardens are managed and maintained as nationally recognized gardens of outstanding historical and horticultural importance, contributing to the properties’ overall conservation and development, and its enjoyment by visitors and supporters.
The role of ‘Gardener’ as a key member of the team, will be heavily involved in the implementation of development plans for the gardens and wider designed landscape.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
• Undertaking practical maintenance of the garden and estate, managing trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, and bulbs; turf care; pest/disease/weed control; staking, plant nutrition, composting and soil improvement to the required standards expected by the Trust and for the maximum safety of, and enjoyment by visitors including other professionals in the horticultural industry.
• As requested, assisting with education/interpretation activities such as introductory talks and guided talks;
• Fostering positive relationships with local communities and organizations and promote the work of the Trust.
• Supervising and working with volunteers to ensure they deliver required outputs at the appropriate standard, and gain benefit/satisfaction from their activities.
• Undertaking such other reasonable duties as may from time to time be required to ensure the smooth running of the property as required by the Operations Manager.
• On occasion, contributing to the review and development of annual operating plans and operational workplans for the gardens.
• Ensuring compliance with the Trust’s health, safety, and environment policies and procedures.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
Qualifications
• A formal qualification at NVQ/ SVQ Level 2 in amenity horticulture supported by knowledge and demonstrable work experience in an amenity garden context.
• PA1 and PA6a spraying certificates, or willingness to be trained in the use of pesticides and to exercise that training.
• Current driving licence valid for driving in the UK.

Skills, Experience & Knowledge
Essential
• Practical experience in general amenity gardening ideally in a garden open to the public.
• Demonstrable skills in plant husbandry, particularly trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, turf culture and pruning.
• Sound demonstrable plant knowledge and identification skills.
• Sound knowledge of basic tool and machinery use and maintenance.
• Ability to willingness to support other gardens in the cluster
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; confident in interacting and dealing with a wide range of people; and able to represent the Trust.
• Good organisational and time-management skills – including the ability to prioritise work where necessary and also the ability to work using own initiative,
• Eye for detail and finish, quality standard and best practice.

Glasgow Science Centre (GSC) is an educational charity and leading science centre and visitor attraction with a 5-star status. Our mission is to inspire everyone to explore and understand the world around them and to discover and enjoy science.

We are a place of learning, creativity, curiosity, and fun, inspiring and empowering around half a million people every year, both inside and outside our amazing centre in Pacific Quay, on the banks of the Clyde.

Our state-of-the-art centre contains more than 450 interactive exhibits, a digital planetarium, a science show theatre, Newton Flight Academy, a teaching laboratory, an IMAX cinema, and a maker space. We also take science out of our centre and across Scotland with our On Tour programme and our Community Engagement Programme works closely with people in our local communities.

Our staff are vitally important to us and play a key role in achieving our mission. We value diversity in our workforce and want our workforce to reflect the diverse communities we serve bringing a range of skills, experiences, knowledge, and ideas to help towards our mission.

Our company values are important to us as they underpin who we are and how we work, what we believe in and stand for:

We strive for excellence

We are inclusive

We innovate

We collaborate

ABOUT THE ROLE

Are you committed to seeking excellence, creativity and innovation? Do GSC’s mission and values excite you? Do you want to work in a positive, vibrant and collaborative environment?

We are recruiting for a Science Communicator to join the team at Whitelee Visitor Centre (WVC) on an annualised contract based on 36 hours per week. This exciting role involves engaging with, promoting discussions and linking scientific concepts to visitors (including education, public and corporate visitors) everyday experiences through the delivery of science shows, workshops, mini activities, labs and other activities.

Whitelee Visitor Centre is based in Eaglesham and is managed by GSC. Transport to/ from WVC is provided by GSC.

We are looking for someone with excellent interpersonal and communication skills and can display an inclusive approach while working with a range of people. You’re inspired by our mission and share our company values.

If this sounds like you then we would love you to get in touch!

APPLICATION DETAILS

Please find full job description and application form available on the Jobs and Volunteering section of our website.

We are equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

JOB PURPOSE

This role will establish and deliver the pilot of a new schools programme at Pollok House, Glasgow, liaising with the programme developers, property colleagues, and teachers/schools. As well as the delivery of the pilot, the role plays an important part in evaluating the programme and creating practical operational guidance that may be used by other properties when delivering the programme in future roll-outs.

CONTEXT

At the National Trust for Scotland, we recognise the importance that learning and engagement plays in adding value to our properties. The provision of an engaging and interesting day out for schools has been a key feature at Pollok House for many years, and we’re ready to pilot a new, innovative primary schools programme here. This new programme will involve digital resources, an outreach Theatre in Education show, on-site workshops and new ways of engaging with the site in line with the Curriculum for Excellence.

Pollok House is Glasgow’s “country house” and is a fantastic place to soak up the atmosphere of Scotland’s history. With its beautiful gardens, popular park café, famous art collection, busy functions business and events programme, Pollok House is a popular family-friendly visitor attraction in Scotland’s largest city. Pollok House boasts a range of private dining and entertainment space, as well as one of the most impressive interiors that oozes history and character, making it ideal for weddings, corporate events and functions. With the reopening of The Burrell Collection, Pollok Country Park is developing as a major cultural destination as well as building strong links to its local communities. Pollok House is keen to explore how National Trust for Scotland best engages with the people of Glasgow, with an ambitious exhibition series and cultural outreach programme underway, of which our approach to schools and learning will play a central role.

This new schools project aims to engage up to eight local schools over the next 12 months, leading to long term relationships and visiting habits being formed, plus new engagement techniques being trialed and evaluated before they are rolled out to other venues. The outcomes of the pilot will inform practice across National Trust for Scotland.

The delivery of this pilot will run in parallel with existing educational/schools provision, and these existing arrangements are not part of this role’s remit.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

In this role the post holder will:

• Liaise with the programme development team of creators, contractors, and suppliers to understand the programme’s products and liaise with Pollok’s staff to enable the delivery of the programme;
• Form, build, and maintain relationships with the schools participating in the programme so that they understand what is offered, the potential for satisfying elements of the Curriculum for Excellence, and their role as participants;
• Make all the logistical arrangements for the outreach theatre elements to visit participating schools
• Make all the logistical/operational arrangements for participating schools when at Pollok – including setting-up equipment and props, timings, cloakroom/lunch facilities etc;
• Plan and deliver schools sessions, working with external contractors, staff and volunteers, both in school and on-site, embedding new digital resources as they are developed;
• Maintain detailed records of participating schools contacts and visits;
• Contribute to and collate the evaluation of the programme from all perspectives: participating schools, Pollok staff, contractors/suppliers, creative consultants;
• Create other resources, guidelines and plans as required to ensure pilot programme meets the needs of the schools involved, and document the organization and delivery of the programme into an “operational manual” that can serve as a guide to future properties considering adopting the programme;
• Ensure that historic spaces are used appropriately and in accordance with conservation principles
• Ensure Safe Systems of Work (H&S) are implemented effectively within all activities undertaken and with any external contractors.

JOB PURPOSE

The Assistant Printer role exists to provide support to the Robert Smail’s team in carrying out the day-to-day work to keep Smail’s as an operational jobbing Letterpress Printers today and for the future. The role includes the practical application, demonstration and communication of these unique, traditional skills to a visiting public whilst supporting the preservation of the craft of letterpress printing in the wider context of the conservation principles of the National Trust for Scotland.

CONTEXT – Robert Smail’s Printing Works

Robert Smail’s is a 156-year-old Letterpress Printers, a living property and as such provides a compelling insight into one aspect of Scotland’s cultural, social and industrial heritage. It continues to add to the legacy left by three generations of the Smail family and contributes significantly to the town of Innerleithen, through the continuing functions of the business. It is one of only four industrial heritage sites held within the NTS and as such is an important part of the Trust’s portfolio, showing the organization’s commitment to conserving a diverse and varied sample of Scotland’s heritage.

Its active visitor experience, and the people who deliver it, are the property’s greatest strength. The Property is currently open for tours four days per week during the visitor season (April until October). The tour is guided in three sections: Office, Caseroom and Machine Room of which the Assistant Printer takes an active role. The retail shop is also open in the run up to Christmas. Commercial printing work, an important income stream, is undertaken all year round. Workshops and conservation work are progressed during the closed season.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

People
 The Assistant Printer will be directly responsible to the Printer, but also report to the VSS in relation to the VE, Education, Outreach etc.
 The role has no line management responsibility however there is a need to liaise and work closely with other property staff, volunteers as well as NTS support staff, customers and visitors to the property. They will supervise young people on educational visits.

Daily Operations
 Assist with the maintenance, cleaning and operation of printing related machinery and equipment. Follow property opening and closing procedures as per property guidelines.
 To run, work and help maintain all of the property’s presses (Arab Treadle Platen, Wharfedale Reliance, Original Heidelberg and Conqueror Guillotine) to the highest standards.
 To lead the Machine room section of the visitor tour during the open season by confidently communicating the process of letterpress printing, the role of the printer and their historical context to audiences of varying age and ability.
 To balance the demands of both visitors and jobbing work by giving realistic ideas of timescales to meet deadlines for jobbing work, property needs, and NTS requests.
 Be a keyholder and have occasional duty management responsibilities.
 To cover other areas of the property (tours/shop) for breaks etc.