Senior Visitor Services Assistant Four Day Week

Senior Visitor Services Assistant

CONTEXT:

Nestled in the beautiful village of Hutton-le-Hole, in the heart of the North York Moors National Park, Ryedale Folk Museum offers a unique glimpse of the past. For half a century we’ve conserved some of Ryedale’s most magnificent heritage for future generations to enjoy. Our atmospheric buildings and collections, spread over six acres, tell a story about a rural way of life from the Iron Age to the 1950s. The Museum also features a gift shop and art gallery.

The successful candidate will be employed to provide a welcoming experience for visitors through the efficient handling of admissions and shop sales and maintain our excellent standards of customer service. The postholder will undertake work which supports the running of the Museum’s gift shop and basic administrative duties.

Job Title: Senior Visitor Services Assistant

Reporting To: Operations Manager

Pay: £9.50/hour

Contract: Mid to late May until mid-November 2021.

Working days and hours: 4 days/week = Saturday – Tuesday
9.30am – 5.30pm from May to September on weekdays
9.00am – 5.30pm from May to September on weekend days
9.30am – 4.30pm in October and November on weekdays
9.00am – 4.30pm in October and November on weekend days

One weekend in every four is off.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the responsibilities required of the candidate, Ryedale Folk Museum is only inviting applications from persons aged 18 years or older. Due to the site location, candidates must be able to arrange transport to and from the Museum – public transport is not available.

Main Purpose of the Job

To provide a welcoming, friendly and informative experience for visitors.

To sell Museum admissions and make shop and gallery sales.

To support front of house volunteers and other weekend Visitor Service Assistants.

To have a good understanding of Museum operating procedures.

To carry out administrative tasks including data entry.

To take responsibility for cleanliness and tidiness of the gift shop area as well as stock rotation, pricing of goods and restocking.

Operations

• To be the duty or lead member of staff at the weekends when the Museum is open to the public.
• To open and close the Museum and its buildings (at the weekends) and feed the Museum animals.
• To undertake light cleaning duties including the main public toilets.
• To provide information and support to volunteers working front of house ensuring that they are aware of any activities which may affect visitors.
• To answer the telephone and general email enquiries.
• To deal with any operational issues or emergency situations which arise at the weekends.
• To book in and allocate times to Front of House volunteers
• To understand the alarm systems and emergency procedures, perform first aid and assist with or carry out the evacuation of the site in the event of an emergency.
• To provide information on any issues reported by visitors or volunteers to the Operations Manager.

Visitor Experience

• To engage, welcome, inform and orientate the visitor.
• To ensure that the reception area and art gallery are clean and tidy at all times with relevant and up to date information available.
• To engage with visitors, answering queries relating to their visit, the Museum and the North York Moors National Park.
• To ensure that visitors are dealt with efficiently during busy periods by “queue busting”.

Admissions / Retail

• To work on admissions/tills as required, selling admissions and encouraging visitors to Gift Aid etc.
• To support other team members including volunteers with the use of the sales system.
• To build up an understanding of the sales and stock system in order to carry out basic stock control functions.
• To adhere to financial policies when handling money e.g. when obtaining change etc.
• To ensure cashing up duties are performed accurately.
• To assist with restocking, cleaning the gift shop, stock rotation, pricing and anything else reasonably requested.
• To liaise with the Commercial Manager over stock levels and any other retail issues.

Other duties/responsibilities

• To complete relevant paperwork as required – e.g. accident forms
• To undertake data entry tasks including recording Gift Aid and other similar tasks
• To promote and develop equality and diversity in line with RFM’s Equality and Diversity Policy
• To attend and undertake training as required
• You may from time to time be required to undertake such other duties of a similar nature which fall within the job purpose outlined above and which are consistent with the grading of the post.

Qualifications/Skills and Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with the public in a customer facing role
• Experience of using retail and/or admissions equipment, e.g. tills and cash handling
• Ability to communicate with a diverse range of people in a friendly, effective and helpful manner, and the ability to consider the needs of visitors with different needs e.g. disabilities and other languages
• A general awareness of health and safety
• Ability to work well under pressure during busy times
• A smart and professional appearance at all times

Desirable

• Experience in delivering first aid and ensuring public safety
• Experience of working with volunteers
• Experience of working with stock control systems

If you are interested in an informal conversation about the role please contact Craig Irving, Operations Manager on 01751 417367.

How to apply

1. Complete the application form at www.ryedalefolkmuseum.co.uk
2. Complete the Diversity Monitoring form
3. Send all documents by the closing date to Craig Irving at: craig@ryedalefolkmuseum.co.uk

Application deadline – 12 noon on Wednesday 21 April

Interviews – likely to be held on Monday 26 April (please indicate in your application if you are unavailable that day).

Applicants invited to interview will be informed by Thursday 22 April.

We hope to re-open the Museum on Monday 17 May (restrictions permitting) with shifts beginning shortly thereafter.