Job Introduction
Role Purpose
We are seeking to recruit a Visitor Services Assistant to join the busy Front of House team at the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum in Bournemouth. We are looking for a practical, problem-solver with excellent customer care skills who wants to work in the historic environment.
The Russell-Cotes is a spectacular Victorian villa on Bournemouth’s East Cliff, with a collection of extraordinary art and world collections. Your role will be to ensure the day-to-day secure and smooth running of the Museum and to ensure the best possible visitor experience.
This role is for 23.75 hours a week. There are 6.5 hours per week to cover a two year Apprenticeship on a fixed term contract. There are 17.25 permanent hours of which 1.5 hours are used on a pro rata basis for a minimum of 14 evening events annually. The job involves working weekends, a share of Bank Holidays and evenings. It is likely there are extra evening and staff cover hours available
Main Responsibilities
A significant part of the role is to look after the historic building, monitoring environmental conditions and undertaking conservation cleaning to ensure the conservation of the fabric, fittings and collections in our care. Working at heights and in awkward locations is part of the role and the necessary training is given. There are also cleaning duties top ensure excellent presentation for visitors.
Old buildings need a lot of care and you will be responsible for facilities management, including basic maintenance and escalating building issues and escorting engineers, all within the context of the historic resource.
You will be a part of the keyholder team, ensuring the safe and secure unlock and lockup of the building, You will have key holding responsibilities and ensure security protocols within the museum. You will also be part of a team responding to out of hours emergencies on a call out basis.
You will supervise the front of house team on the day working together to ensure an excellent visitor experience, that standards are followed and there is staff cover.
There are bi annual exhibitions and it is part of the role to assist the curatorial team in moving and hanging paintings and collections items for which training will be given. You will also set up and manage evening events; providing security patrol, porterage and assisting performers as needed.
The Ideal Candidate
You will be good at thinking on your feet, and relish working in the unique historic environment. You will be good at responding to emergencies and issues as they arise and able to protect the historic resource as part of your decision making.
You will be a people-person, who delights in engaging with our visitors. You will have the skills to supervise and motivate staff and volunteers. You will enjoy working evening hours and be responsible for 14 evening events in the year including Halloween. The ideal candidate will also be computer literate, confident using an electronic till system and willing to help problem-solve when technical issues arise.
If this sounds like an inspiring challenge, then we would love to hear from you.
About BCP Council
BCP Council provides services to a diverse community of 400,000 residents and employs more than 5,000 people. Our area includes over 15 miles of beautiful world-renowned coastline. We can offer career defining roles to transform and improve services. By working with us, you can help deliver a vision of a thriving, word-class, prosperous and inclusive place for generations to come.
Our Benefits
We offer an excellent benefits package to colleagues. Find out more on our website.
As a result of the creation of BCP Council in 2019, we are working on simplifying our terms and conditions of service and will be creating a single pay structure which is to be applicable for all employees. It is important to us that we offer benefits that our colleagues value as part of their total employment package and we are reviewing these to make sure we have it right. We are in the process of establishing a timescale for implementation and colleagues joining us will be included in these changes. This is expected to be in place in 2024.
