Visitor Services

Summer Visitor Services Assistant (Warden)

Apply now for an amazing opportunity to join our team at The Palace of Holyroodhouse, where your everyday summer job can become truly exceptional.

Standing at the end of the Royal Mile, The Palace of Holyroodhouse attracts thousands of visitors from around the World, to explore the Palace’s close associations with some of Scotland’s most well-known historic figures and learn how today it is used by The King.

As a Visitor Services Assistant, you’ll welcome visitors from around the world and ensure every visitor has an exceptional experience from welcome to goodbye.

Responsibilities:
• Provide a warm welcome to visitors, actively engaging with them to enhance their understanding and enjoyment of the Royal Collection, Palace and local area.
• Assist in preparing the visitor route before opening by ensuring all areas are clean and tidy, maintaining high presentation standards throughout the day.
• Provide exceptional customer service, always maintaining a friendly and professional demeanour.
• Be aware about security, emergency, and evacuation procedures ensuring the safety and security of the visitors and the site.
• Work collaboratively as a team to ensure the smooth flow of visitors along the route.

Essential Criteria:
• Friendly and customer-focussed attitude and great verbal communication skills, you’ll enjoy working with people and take pride in delivering an exceptional visitor experience.
• You’ll feel confident initiating conversations with visitors, understanding their needs and providing tailored information and knowledge.
• At your best working as a part of a team and with lots of initiative, you can anticipate visitor needs, ensuring the visitor route is managed to a high standard throughout the day.
• Pro-active and organised, you can work effectively even when it gets busy.

Additional Information:
• We are currently advertising for two summer roles: Visitor Services Assistants as well as Retail and Admissions Assistants. Please consider which role best suits your aims, skills and experience, as you can only submit one application.
• This role will involve standing on your feet for a large part of the day.
• We have three contract start dates available: 1st April, 15th May and 16th of June all until the 30th September 2025. Please specify your availability in your application. Both part-time and full-time roles are available.
• If working a full-time contract, you will typically work 37.5 hours per week and be rostered to work 5 days, Monday through to Sunday.
• Selection processes likely to take place on the 16th and 17th of January 2025.

Benefits:
• Competitive pay of £12.60 per hour.
• Complimentary lunch during your shift.
• The opportunity to join a large, friendly, and sociable team.
• Benefits including complimentary tickets to Royal Collection Trust sites and a 20% discount at Royal Collection Trust shops.

Curator (Glasgow History)

Glasgow Life

Curator (Glasgow History)
£34,877.18 – £40,497.04
Location: Citywide
Ref: GLA12964

Glasgow Life is looking for a Curator (Glasgow History) to join us on a 35 hours full time, fixed term contract for a period up to 2 years until March 2027.

More about the People’s Palace and our Museum team
As a Curator (Glasgow History) you’ll be joining our Glasgow Life Museums team working on this exciting transformational project of the Peoples Palace and Winter Gardens.
The project will develop and create a community-led museum to become of one of the world’s most socially engaged and internationally significant local museums. With Glasgow’s social history at its heart, we will reintegrate the glasshouse and museum, to create a dynamic museum offer with new flexible space and facilities that meet audience needs. The building will be restored, will be more environmentally sustainable and help put the east end of Glasgow more on the tourist map.
Our museums are committed to making sure people experience our world-class collections and have the chance to engage with our rich heritage. The cultural programmes we provide bring value to people’s lives. Read more on our website. https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums

About Glasgow Life
Glasgow Life is the charity which inspires people to lead richer, more active lives through culture and sport. Simply put, we believe that everyone deserves a great Glasgow life. We do this by delivering innovative cultural and sporting programmes and events which improve the mental, physical, and economic well-being of Glasgow. Glasgow Life also creates unforgettable experiences for tourists, strengthening the city’s visitor economy. We help put on world-class events, conferences and festivals which enhance Glasgow’s international reputation.

The role
As a Curator (Glasgow History) you’ll be an integral part of the Glasgow Life Museums curatorial team. You will be required to develop an expert knowledge of the collection through research and documentation, to enhance the collection through active collecting and disposal, and to manage the development and delivery of displays and other programmes of public engagement and communication.
The candidate
If you’re interested in joining us as a Curator (Glasgow History) you’ll need:
• A degree or equivalent experience in a relevant subject area
• Excellent understanding of the needs of audiences, especially those who do not regularly visit museums
• Demonstrate experience of using collections to develop content and interpretation for diverse audiences within a museum context.
• Ability to work in partnership with other organisations, including community organisations
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal.

You can read the full person specification for this role under the ‘Job Attachments’ section.
Our city-wide contracts mean you will be flexible to work in any of our locations. This post is city wide however your primary location will be Glasgow Museums Resource Centre and Kelvin Hall with occasional working at other Glasgow Museums venues.
Some of our roles are piloting hybrid working, with teams working between the office and home. Your line manager will agree this with you. This balance enables you to continue much-needed collaborative working.

Our Glasgow Museums Resource Centre and Kelvin Hall have great links to public transport and free parking

This role is working Monday to Friday, 9-5, but occasional evening and weekend work will be required for community engagement activity.

We believe in the transformational power of the programmes and events we provide for the people and visitors of Glasgow. If you would like to be a part of what we do, we’d love to hear from you.
Important Dates: Closing date 19th January and interviews are provisionally scheduled for 3rd February
Benefits at Glasgow Life
• 30 days holiday allowance plus 6.5 public holidays (for full-time roles). After 5 years completed service, the entitlement will increase to 35 days from the next annual leave year
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Discounted Glasgow Club membership and money off in our museum shops and online store
• Option to buy extra annual leave
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• And much more!

Please note that Glasgow Life, as an ALEO to Glasgow City Council, is currently completing a Job Evaluation exercise and introducing a new pay and grading structure which may impact on current salaries quoted in job adverts, see https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/jobevaluation for more information.

For Fixed Term Roles – If offer is made to internal employee (Glasgow Life or Council Family), at the end of the temporary period, eligible employees, if agreed will have a right to return to a role at their substantive grade within the council family.

Diversity matters at Glasgow Life
We’re determined to reflect the extraordinary diversity of Glasgow in our workforce. Glasgow Life is on a journey to develop a workplace that reflects the communities we serve. Where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. We’re a Disability Confident and Carer Positive employer and invite candidates from all backgrounds to apply. Read more about our commitment to equality and diversity on our website. https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/the-small-print/an-inclusive-employer

Please note that Glasgow Life, as an ALEO to Glasgow City Council, is currently completing a Job Evaluation exercise and introducing a new pay and grading structure which may impact on current salaries quoted in job adverts, see
https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/jobevaluation for more information.

For further information about working for us please refer to our website https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/work-with-us

To apply for this vacancy online please visit Curator (Glasgow History) – Fixed Term – GLA12964 | Glasgow Life | myjobscotland

Closing date is 11.59pm on Sunday 19th January 2025.

Visitor Services Supervisor – Retail

Join the leadership team at Glenfinnan Visitor Centre and Monument, one of the National Trust for Scotland’s most iconic sites, welcoming over 500,000 visitors a year. As Visitor Services Supervisor – Retail, you’ll play a key role in creating exceptional visitor experiences, enabling our charity to generate the income that supports the conservation of this important site.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to use your retail expertise in a meaningful way, helping to share Scotland’s stories and heritage. You’ll lead a vibrant team, ensure smooth day-to-day operations, and inspire visitors to connect with Glenfinnan’s history, all while achieving ambitious retail and customer service goals.

In this fast-paced environment, you’ll use your creativity to enhance visitor engagement, maximise retail success, and support the Trust’s wider mission of caring for Scotland’s heritage and making it accessible to everyone.

Key Responsibilities
Lead and motivate a dynamic retail team:
• Supervise and inspire a team of permanent and seasonal Visitor Service Assistants (VSAs).
• Provide ongoing training and coaching, enabling the team to deliver exceptional service.
• Support the preparation of staff rotas to ensure our operation is effectively resourced.

Deliver exceptional visitor experiences:
• Lead by example to offer every visitor outstanding customer service, setting high standards for the team.
• Gather and respond to visitor feedback to continually improve the retail offer.
• Inspire visitors by sharing stories about Glenfinnan and the impact of their spending with our charity.

Drive sales and manage performance:
• Achieve retail income targets, contributing to an annual goal of > £1 million in sales.
• Create eye-catching and engaging displays to maximise sales opportunities.
• Nurture a culture of upselling and cross-promotion among all retail staff.
• Optimise stock management processes, including deliveries, inventory, and stock-takes.
• Monitor commercial performance, adjusting activities to capitalise on opportunities.

Support wider property goals:
• Act as a Duty Manager for the whole site, overseeing smooth and safe operations, including opening/closing and handling any on-site issues.
• Promote additional income streams, including memberships, donations, and food & beverage.
• Champion environmental sustainability in all activities, including energy use and waste disposal.
• Contribute photos, videos, and story ideas for social media and promotional materials.

What We’re Looking For

Essential skills & experience:
• Proven experience or a qualification in retail leadership.
• Strong staff supervisory skills, with experience in motivating, training and coaching teams.
• A passion for delivering exceptional customer service.
• Visual merchandising expertise with an eye for presentation.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and comfortable using retail systems.

Desirable skills:
• First Aid certification (or willingness to train).
• Personal License holder.
• Current UK driving license.

What we offer:
• The chance to work at a world-renowned heritage site, surrounded by stunning scenery.
• A dynamic, fast-paced role with opportunities for professional development.
• Sociable hours, generous holidays and one-hour of paid breaks a day.
• The satisfaction of making a tangible impact by supporting the conservation of Scotland’s heritage.
• A supportive and inclusive team environment.

HES/24/265 – Guide, Stirling Castle

Your role of Castle Guide with Historic Environment Scotland will be a fixed term appointment up until 31 March 2026. The likely start date for this role is in April 2024.

Are you looking for a flexible seasonal job that is both fun and unique? You’ll get a unique view into Scotland’s rich history and gain valuable experience in the tourism industry and help bring Scotland’s dramatic history to life for our visitors from across the world. Explore the fascinating stories from Scotland’s past and share your passion with international and local visitors who come to Stirling Castle during the season.

Our castle guides are the connection between the monument’s history, the visitor and the monuments future. We educate and provide information to enhance the visitors experience, helping them to make the most of their visit to the castle.

Stirling Castle was the ‘key to the kingdom.’ Likened to a ‘huge brooch’ that clasps the Highlands to the Lowlands. Stirling Castle is steeped in history having served as a royal residence, military garrison, prison and fortress. With links to the turbulent lives of William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, Mary Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie. It’s the historical past of the site that makes it an interesting and exciting place to work.

Peaking as the preferred royal residence during 1500s, the Great Hall is the largest banqueting hall ever built and today still host spectacular events.

Stirling Castle still has a strong military connection, with the former headquarters for the Argyll Sutherland Highlands now the regimental museum housed in the King’s Old Building. Due to this connection various military parades and gun salutes take place on selected dates within the castle calendar, assisted by castle staff, this can make each day different.

HES/24/256 – Steward, Edzell Castle

Are you looking for a flexible seasonal job that is both fun and unique? You’ll get an insight into Scotland’s rich history and gain valuable experience in the tourism industry and help bring Scotland’s dramatic history to life for our visitors from across the world. Explore the fascinating stories from Scotland’s past and share your passion with international and local visitors who come to Edzell Castle during the season.

Come and work in Edzell Castle in Edzell, Angus, a county of rolling hills and glens along the stunning east coast of Scotland. A role that will enable you as part of the Visitor & Community team help visitors create memories to last a lifetime at these fantastic properties.

Edzell Castle was home to the Lindsays, a gifted, turbulent and tragic noble family who acquired the estate in 1358. The lordly seat was a motte and bailey residence near the medieval church. In the 1500s, the family built a brand new castle – the one we admire today. What do you know about the Seven Cardinal Virtues, Seven Liberal Arts & the Seven Planetary Deities & how do they relate to the gardens of Edzell, can you excite visitors about that?

HES/24/254 – Admissions Assistant, Stirling Castle

Your role of Admissions Assistant with Historic Environment Scotland will be a part year permanent position up until September 2025. The likely start date for this role is in April 2025. For the rest of the year (i.e. the winter season), the role will be 0 hours.

This post sits within the admissions team at Stirling Castle, working closely with members of the castle’s retail and guiding teams, to deliver a seamless visitor experience across the castle. The role will involve duties such as selling tickets and promoting memberships, greeting visitors and working in the car park.

Stirling Castle is the second most visited attraction within the Historic Environment Scotland portfolio, welcoming 526,864 visitors in 2023/24. You will have a key role to play in ensuring that we continue to deliver a high-quality visitor experience, as well as achieving our commercial targets.

HES/24/255 – Admissions Assistant, Stirling Castle

HEs/24/250 – Roving Steward, Doune Castle / Huntingtower Castle

Your role of Roving Steward in Historic Environment Scotland’s Central Mid District is a part year permanent position working an average of 4 days a week (28 hours per week April – September and 0 hours for the rest of the year).

There is no typical day for the Roving Team, however you will work an average of 7 hours a day. Following the transition from a 37 to a 35 hour week, our properties have a number of different working patterns, with, for example, the team at Huntingtower, Elcho and St Serfs working 9:30am-5pm with a 30 minute unpaid break and Inchmahome and Lochleven working 9:15am-5pm with a 45 minute break. There is some degree of flexibility, as long as the Monument Manager of the property you are working at is content our opening hours can be delivered and our processes completed during the timeframe you have committed to.

You will be responsible for delivering the highest standards of visitor experience across sites in the Central Mid District. Reasonable agreed travelling is expected to cover sites within Stirling district, Clackmannanshire, Perth and Kinross, and potentially further afield. A pool car may be available for this purpose.

Are you looking for a flexible, fun and unique role? You’ll get an exceptional view into Scotland’s rich history and gain valuable experience in the tourism industry, helping to bring Scotland’s dramatic history to life for our visitors from across the world. Explore the fascinating stories from Scotland’s past and share your passion with international and local visitors who come to sites within Central Scotland during the season.

The post sits within the Mid District of the Central Region’s Visitor and Community (V&C) Team. The district is comprised of twenty-six properties, of which ten are staffed, including Doune Castle, Dunblane Cathedral, Castle Campbell, Elcho Castle, Huntingtower Castle, Inchmahome Priory, Lochleven Castle, Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum, Stanley Mills and St Serf’s Church. You will be part of a team of stewards working across these properties and potentially others within the neighbouring East District (i.e. you will principally cover sites in Stirling District, Perth & Kinross, Clackmannanshire, and may be asked to cover Fife and potentially, but not usually, Angus).

HES/24/248 – Steward, Doune Castle

Your role of Steward at Historic Environment Scotland’s Doune Castle will either be one of 2 part year permanent positions (35 hours per week April-September or 25 hours per week June-August and 0 hours for the rest of the year) or a fixed term position (16.3 hours per week April-September and 15 hours per week 1-13 October). See ‘Overview of the role and more about my team’ for further information on
working hours/patterns).

Are you looking for a flexible seasonal job that is both fun and unique? You’ll get an exceptional view into Scotland’s rich history and gain valuable experience in the tourism industry and help bring Scotland’s dramatic history to life for our visitors from across the world. Explore the fascinating stories from Scotland’s past and share your passion with international and local visitors who come to
Doune Castle during the season.

This role is based at Central Mid District’s flagship site, therefore you will make a meaningful contribution to Scotland’s tourism industry and local economy by encouraging visits beyond the typical tourism destinations to the rural areas.

Doune Castle attracts visitors who are interested in its film/TV heritage (principally Outlander, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Outlaw King and Game of Thrones), as well as its history. Doune Castle employs a team of around 20 stewards, who may witness rather unusual behaviour, such as visitors ‘cantering’ around the courtyard to the clatter of coconuts.

Reporting to the Monument Managers, the team sits within the Mid District of the Central Region’s Visitor and Community (V&C) Team. The district is comprised of twenty-six monuments, of which ten are staffed (including Doune Castle). Other staffed properties within the District include Castle Campbell, Dunblane Cathedral, Elcho Castle, Huntingtower Castle, Inchmahome Priory, Lochleven Castle, Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum, Stanley Mills and St Serfs Church.

HES/24/247 – Steward, St Andrews Castle and Cathedral

Your role of Steward will be either a part year permanent or fixed term position up until 30 September 2025. The likely start date for this role is in April 2025.

Come and work in the Kingdom of Fife, Scotland’s stunning east coast, where it all begins. A role that will enable you as part of the Visitor and Community team to help visitors create memories to last a lifetime at these fantastic properties

Get wrapped up warm next to the rugged coastline of St Andrews, what stories can you tell the visitors about the siege mines? Where is the best view in St Andrews? Can you answer all the golf enthusiasts everyday on where Old Tom Morris is?

HES/24/236 – Tantallon Castle PYP Steward

Your role of Steward at Historic Environment Scotland will be a seasonal position up until 30th September. The likely start date for this role is 17th March 2025.

Are you looking for a flexible seasonal job that is both fun and unique? You’ll get a unique view into Scotland’s rich history while gaining valuable experience in the tourism industry and helping bring Scotland’s dramatic history to life for our visitors from across the world. Explore the fascinating stories from Scotland’s past and share your passion with international and local visitors who come to Tantallon Castle during the season.

Tantallon Castle is a dramatic cliff-top fortress, with a significant history, varied wildlife and extensive views. As a steward, you are key to enhancing the visitor experience by engaging with visitors about all aspects of the site.

Tantallon Castle sits within Lothian District, which is made up of 7 staffed sites and 27 unstaffed sites. Nearby properties include Dirleton Castle and Seton Collegiate Church.

Benefits of working with HES

– A generous holiday allowance of 25 days holidays + 11.5 public holidays per year (pro-rata for employees)
– A Civil Service pension which means you will receive an employer contribution of 27% of your annual salary
– Free entry to Historic Environment Scotland sites (with up to three guests) and all English Heritage, Manx and Cadw properties
– Discounts on 100’s of online retailers
– Interest free loans for bicycles and annual travel passes

HES/24/233 – Scottish Borders Steward

Your role of Steward at Historic Environment Scotland will be a Part Year Permanent position with hours up to 30th September 2025 the likely start date for this role is in March 2025.

You can work at one of the following attractions:

• Jedburgh Abbey – Local landmark with Romanesque and early gothic architecture.
• Melrose Abbey – Burial place of the Heart of Robert the Bruce.
• Dryburgh Abbey – a romantic rural ruin and final burial place of Sir Walter Scott and Earl Haig.

The Scottish Borders is home to some fantastic and unique attractions, the iconic Border Abbeys in Melrose, Jedburgh and Dryburgh alongside the atmospheric Hermitage Castle and Smailholm Tower.

Together these attracted around 100,000 visitors in 2024.