Job Description
Post:
Visitor Services Manager, No.1 Royal Crescent
Terms:
Full time, permanent; £17-21k depending on experience
(Job shares will be considered)
Reporting to:
Head of Museums
Purpose of role:
Ensuring the smooth running of No.1 Royal Crescent at all
times
Background
No. 1 Royal Crescent has recently undergone a major redevelopment project to reunite the
house with its original service wing. The revitalized historic house museum reopened to
the public in June 2013, double the size with improved and more accessible visitor facilities.
This is an exciting time to join us as we continue to build on the success of the museum.
The main activities are described below. In addition, the post holder may be required to
undertake other duties and responsibilities compatible with the overall scope of the post.
Key responsibilities
Volunteer management
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Organising and preparing the monthly rota of guides and shop volunteers.
Filling vacancies in the rota where possible and arranging emergency cover as
necessary to ensure the rooms are adequately staffed at all times. Acting as a room
guide if required.
Supervision and support of volunteers on a daily basis, including welcoming
volunteers on arrival, updating them on daily activities or changes and ensuring they
are in position when the museum opens.
Management of the guides’ rest room, provision of refreshments, maintaining and
budgeting for supplies, ensuring the room is clean and tidy at all times.
Being responsible for the smooth running of the museum, including providing front
desk, shop and housekeeper breaks and dealing with visitor queries and complaints as
necessary.
Overall responsibility for the welfare of volunteers whilst on duty, including helping
to create a friendly atmosphere and communicating feedback to curatorial staff and
senior management.
Overall responsibility for recruitment, induction, training and development of new
volunteer guides.
Organising and budgeting for Guide outings, Christmas lunch and winter lectures,
the latter in collaboration with the Curator.
Managing the ‘Guide Mentor’ scheme and holding regular meetings, in collaboration
with the Curator.
Front of house management
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Acting as line manager for all Front Desk staff, Assistant Administrators, and
Costumed Housekeepers, including recruitment, induction and training.
Management of staff records for the monthly payroll for these staff in collaboration
with the Bath Preservation Trust Administrator.
Managing weekly staff rota for Front Desk staff, Assistant Administrators and
Costumed Housekeepers including cover for holidays and special events.
Opening up the museum at the beginning of the day (unlocking doors and shutters)
and setting up public spaces to ensure security of objects and the safe presentation
of all public spaces for visitors.
Making sure the museum is ready for opening including audio visual equipment,
ticket stocks, written materials, desk merchandise, room information etc.
Restocking/checking during the day as required.
Closing up the building at the end of the day and alarming/un-alarming the building
as necessary. Acting as key holder for the building, including being on alarm call out
list.
Maintaining a list of emergency key holders and liaising with alarm companies as
required, to ensure that there is an emergency key holder available on call at all
times.
Checking floats for the desk and shop at the beginning of the day and cashing up the
shop at the end of the day.
Overseeing and locking away admission and shop takings on a daily basis ready for
the cashier.
Maintaining records of admissions and income and providing regular reports to the
Museums and Education Committee.
Property administration
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Supervision of the cleaners. Ensuring adequate supplies of
domestic cleaning materials, waste bags etc. Putting refuse out for weekly
collections and ensuring the waste collection area is kept tidy.
Liaising with the Bath Preservation Trust colleagues with regard to
general maintenance, including heating/boilers, fire detection systems, security
alarms and arranging for miscellaneous maintenance work.
General administration
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Dealing with standard group visits and arranging out of hours tours as requested.
Liaising with Bath Preservation Trust colleagues to support press visits and special
tours/high end packages.
Liaising with and arranging access for film/TV production companies in conjunction
with the Curator.
Answering telephone, written and email enquiries.
Arranging staffing for out of hours visits and being available to help at special events
as required.
Processing petty cash receipts and guide expenses.
Attending staff meetings, representing the museum, submitting written reports as
required.
Any other duties as may be required.
Knowledge, skills and experience
Essential
Self-supporting in standard IT skills (Word/Excel/Powerpoint etc)
Numerate
Degree level education or equivalent
Experience of working with volunteers or as a volunteer
Experience of working with the public
Enthusiasm for history / 18th century
Highly desirable
Experience
Experience
Experience
Experience
of managing volunteers
of working within historic houses / museums
of customer service.
of producing reports and managing budgets
Skills and attributes
The post will be self-supporting in a small organisation. Flexibility, ability to communicate
at all levels and a ‘can-do’ attitude will be necessary.
Working hours
Normal working hours will be 10am-6pm (the museum opens 10.30am-5.30pm) or
alternatively 9am to 6pm 4 days a week and 9am to 1pm on 1 day a week.
Normal working hours will include regular weekend working (typically two weekend days
including a Sunday per month to be on rota with equivalent days off during the week).
This post will also require some working out of normal working hours and time off in
lieu will be provided.
Job shares will be considered, please indicate on your application form if you are applying
on this basis.