JOB DESCRIPTION
Role: Battle Coordinator
August 2013
Business Area: Properties & Visitor Services
Pay Band/Starting Salary: Band C, £17,200 (rising
to £18,105 after 1 years’ satisfactory performance in
Reports to: Property Manager, Bannockburn
the role) – subject to formal job evaluation after 9
months
Type of Contract:
 2 roles - Permanent, 40 hours per week, will
Location: Bannockburn Visitor Centre, Glasgow
include some weekend working on a rota basis
Road, Stirling, FK7 OLJ
 1 role – Permanent, 20 hours per week, will
include some weekend working on a rota basis
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The key purpose of this post is to ensure that – as far as possible – visitors to the Battle Room at the
Bannockburn Visitor Centre have an enjoyable, entertaining, and educational visit, whether as participants in
the Battle Simulator or as spectators. To this end the post supervises visitor flow through the Battle Room as
per the Centre’s viewing arrangements, engages with visitors, runs the Simulator, and clears/re-sets the area
at the end of each “battle” ready for the next inflow of participants. This post also plays an important role in
wider advocacy of the property, and will participate in other on-site and off-site learning/interpretation
activities as required.
CONTEXT
The iconic monuments at Bannockburn commemorate the ‘armed forces’ of the day, men who fought and
died at the battle. The National Trust for Scotland are restoring this nationally important place of
commemoration and ensuring its future. The new visitor centre is a striking but subtle design, inspired by
traditional Scottish buildings; it will have vastly improved catering facilities, and more space for learning
groups.
Inside, we will use cutting edge technology to bring the 14th century battle to life for visitors. We will
immerse visitors in a 3D virtual environment: a compelling and realistic simulation of the two armies’
camps on the eve of battle. Here, they will witness training drills accompanied by awesome ‘premonitions’,
depicting the brutal mechanics of warfare. The context of the battle, the personal motives of those involved,
and the tactics which determined victory will be conveyed in similarly creative and engaging ways.
All of this will ultimately prepare visitors to take command of a division of men in the Battle Room. Here,
up to 30 visitors can take part in a turn-based competitive simulation of battle, in which either side – Scots
or English – can win. This dramatic audio visual inter-active aims to create a powerful and memorable
learning experience. The Battle Room and Battle Simulator are presided over, controlled and interpreted by
the Battle Coordinator.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Key Purposes of the job will be met by:
1. Ensuring that the Battle Room and Battle Simulator are ready to receive visitors – including
checking/re-setting all technology elements, lighting, doors, making appropriate health and safety
checks etc;
2. Following the Centre’s agreed schedule (usually a “timed ticket” arrangement) for visitor flow
through the Battle Room;
3. Running the Battle Simulator, which includes:
a. Ensuring participants are at their correct battle station;
b. Explaining the context for the simulation and the rules of play;
c. Extracting ‘commands’ from participants and inputting to the simulator;
d. Interpreting/explaining the effects of the inputted commands on the battle;
e. Bringing the battle to a close and interpreting/explaining the overall outcome of the battle
(arising from the participants actions during the simulation);
4. Engaging with those spectators who are not involved as participants in the battle simulation to
ensure that the battle they witness is interpreted and explained for them;
5. Enacting contingency plans should the Battle Simulator fail or be otherwise unavailable – this could
include guiding visitors through other parts of the Centre or wider site, providing appropriate
interpretation based on visitors’ needs etc;
6. Being a pro-active advocate for (specifically) the Battle Simulator, identifying and securing new
audiences, and undertaking outreach work as required;
7. Undertaking any such reasonable duty or activity at the Centre or on the wider Property as required
by the line manager (or his/her nominee) for the provision of a safe, well-presented, enjoyable place
to visit or to work at – this includes (but is not limited to):
a. Assisting with wider visitor engagement activities at the property such as front-of-house
‘welcome’, learning /interpretation activities, special events, etc;
b. Following all instructions and plans for Health & Safety, fire and security, and emergencies;
c. Proactively maintaining clean and well-presented visitor and work areas;
d. Proactively engaging with local and national initiatives such as customer care, membership
recruitment, and promotion of the wider Trust;
e. Working flexibly to suit the needs of the property, and working positively with colleagues in
the best interests of the Trust.
As this role does not, as part of normal duties, include being in sole care or charge of unsupervised children
or vulnerable adults this role does not require membership of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG)
scheme.
SCOPE OF ROLE
Technical:
The post-holder:
 Uses technology (computerised simulator and digital effects) to fulfil the core purpose of the role –
this involves enacting pre-programmed routines – but there is a degree of judgement involved in
selecting the correct routines in response to the commands of the battle players;
 Uses personal skills as an experienced (heritage/educational) interpreter to bridge the gaps between
participants/spectators, the battle simulation technology, and the Battle of Bannockburn (as
[believed to be] actually fought);
 Is required to wear and maintain the costume provided.
People Management:
The post-holder:
 is not a manager or supervisor of other staff or volunteers;
 interacts extensively with visitors as a core purpose of its role – whilst this is mainly on-site, on
occasions may be asked to undertake work off-site;
 interacts extensively with other staff and volunteers; whether based locally or at other Trust
sites/offices;
 may have some interaction with contractors/suppliers who maintain (in particular) the Battle Room
technology.
Financial Management:
The post-holder:
 is not a budget-holder;
 may handle cash occasionally (if supporting general visitor services).
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
Essential
 A recognised qualification in the Arts/History, or Drama, or equivalent knowledge;
 Previous experience in directly working with visitors in a heritage or public performance
environment – including managing visitor/audience engagement and flow;
 Demonstrable knowledge or enthusiasm for medieval Scottish history/warfare;
 Previous experience in costumed re-enactment/performances.
 Comfort and confidence using hi-tech IT/digital equipment;
 Superlative levels of interpersonal and communication skills and confidence in dealing with a wide
range of visitors, colleagues and other stakeholders;
 Ability to manage time efficiently and effectively coupled with skills in adapting and manipulating
situations to fit into pre-determined schedules.
Desirable
 Demonstrable enthusiasm for, and experienced player in, war- or strategy-gaming.
The Key Responsibilities, Scope of Role, and Required Qualifications, Skills, Experience & Knowledge
reflect the requirements of the job at the time of issue. The Trust reserves the right to amend these with
appropriate consultation and/or request the post-holder to undertake any activities that it believes to be
reasonable within the broad scope of the job or his/her general abilities.
Applications
Interested applicants should forward a completed application form to Human Resources Department
(Applications), The National Trust for Scotland, Hermiston Quay, 5 Cultins Road, Edinburgh EH11 4DF, by
mail or by email via workforus@nts.org.uk, by first post (i.e. 10.00am) on 20 September 2013. Interviews are
likely to be held at Bannockburn during the w/c 30 September 2013.