Visitor Services Officer (West) - John Gray Centre Museum (Haddington) & Prestongrange Museum (Prestonpans)

Vacancy Information

The salary advertised is full time (35 hours per week). Part-time hours will be pro-rated accordingly.

Hourly rate of pay: £14.85 - £15.91

Days and Hours of Work:
April to September:
Wednesday & Saturday - Prestongrange Museum, 10:45-16.45 with lunch break.
Thursday - Office Day.
Friday - John Gray Centre Museum, 09:45-17:00 with lunch break.

October to March:
Wednesday - Office Day.
Thursday & Friday - John Gray Centre Museum, 09:45-17:00 with lunch break.
Saturday - John Gray Centre Museum, 09:45-16.00 with lunch break.
To start 1st June 2024.

PLEASE NOTE: As the post holder will be starting part way through the summer season, the following location rota will apply until the end of September 2024:
Wednesday – front of house Prestongrange Museum
Thursday - front of house Prestongrange Museum
Friday – front of house John Gray Centre Museum
Saturday – office day

Please note: that the post holder will work 3 days front of house & 1 day in the office. It would be possible to discuss the office day being done from home on a hybrid basis. Flexi time applies to the post with limitations on the front of house days when the hours at the front desk are fixed.

We are looking for someone with enthusiasm, creativity, flexibility, great communication and organisational skills and a passion for delivering great customer service to join our team to help visitors get the most from their visits to our museums.

As Visitor Services Officer (West) you will work front of house and behind the scenes at two East Lothian Council museums, Prestongrange Museum in Prestongrange Heritage Park and the John Gray Centre Museum. The successful candidate will supervise and lead their team of staff and volunteers to effectively manage the day to day operations of two museums ensuring visitor and facility safety and security whilst assisting with a range of things such as exhibitions, events, activities, learning and promotion behind the scenes.

The John Gray Centre Museum is part of the flagship development in the heart of Haddington, the John Gray Centre. This museum showcases the history of East Lothian in a range of long term and temporary exhibitions. The successful candidate will work closely with the team in the Archive and Local History Service who are based in the adjacent part of the centre.

Prestongrange Museum is located in Prestongrange Heritage Park just outside Prestonpans in East Lothian. Prestongrange is a site of major importance in the story of Scotland's Industrial Revolution. It was the location of a sixteenth century harbour, a seventeenth century glass works, eighteenth and nineteenth century potteries and a nineteenth/twentieth century coal mine and brick works. Remnants of these former industries can still be seen, and many of the structures are still intact including the rare Hoffman Kiln built in 1937 and the Cornish Beam Engine, unique in Scotland as it the only beam engine still on the site where it worked. This is an exciting time to join the Prestongrange team as we have just opened a new attraction, our new Engine Shed.

Job Details

To assist in the development and delivery of Museum services across East Lothian, maximising efficiency of service delivery  within specific standards and in accordance with the Council’s policies and plans with a commitment to achieve best value.

Please download the Job Outline/Person Specification (available under 'Job Attachments') for the full range of tasks and duties associated with this job. You will need to refer to these in order to complete the application form. You must ensure you meet every 'essential' criteria stated on the Person Specification to be considered for interview.

The ‘East Lothian Way’– values and behaviours we expect our employees to demonstrate in their everyday work. Should you be invited to interview, you may be asked questions based on these behaviours. Please refer to the document via the link to familiarise yourself with them.

Job Requirements

Relevant Qualifications
Educated to ‘Higher’ level, NC or SVQ level 2 and/or able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge, skills and competencies gained through relevant experience.

PVG Membership
This post is considered as Regulated Work with vulnerable children and/or protected adults, as specified in the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007.

All preferred candidates for posts carrying out regulated work with these groups will be required to become a PVG Scheme member, or undergo a PVG Scheme update if they are already a member, prior to any formal offer of employment being made by East Lothian Council.

Please note: PVG member’s records are constantly updated with any new vetting information that arises. Any information that is disclosed on a PVG membership or update check, if relevant to the post being applied for, will be discussed with the applicant and investigated prior to any formal offer being made.

Please note:
If you have spent more than 3 months working or living outwith the UK in the last 5 years then you will be required to present a copy of an overseas criminal record check. Details of how to apply and contact details can be found on the GOV.UKwebsite.

Additional Information

For additional East Lothian Council employment information please click on the following link: www.eastlothian.gov.uk/nonteachinginfo

If you have any difficulties creating an account on MyJobScotland or applying for this post please contact the MyJobScotland support team via this link https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/contact-us.

If you require further information about this vacancy, please call 01620 827868, or email us on recruitment@eastlothian.gov.uk

Please note: We do not accept CV's (either electronically or by mail). All our vacancies must be applied for by fully completing the on-line application form. Although there is an ‘import data from my CV’ function on MyJobScotland, this only imports very limited data and should not be relied upon to complete the application form.