Visitor Assistant (Summer) Multiple roles available

About Us

We are a world-class visitor attraction and leading science research centre. We use the Museums unique collections and our unrivalled expertise to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. We care for more than 80 million objects spanning billions of years and welcome more than five million visitors annually and 16 million visits to our website.

Today the Museum is more relevant and influential than ever. By attracting people from a range of backgrounds to work for us, we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things.

We employ 900 staff in a variety of roles, all united by our vision of a future where people and planet thrive. We need everyone to have the passion and drive to help us with our mission to create advocates for our planet and inspire millions to care about the natural world.

Diversity and inclusion matter to us.

Our vision is of a future where both people and the planet thrive. Diversity is one of our core values and we strive to build a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging. All new staff who join us learn about the importance of diversity and inclusion to the Museum and how to contribute to creating an inclusive environment.

We know we have more to do, but we are committed to ensuring that everyone who works at the Museum feels they can thrive and feel valued and respected.

About the role

Full Time, 37 hours per week, working 5 out of 7 days. Fixed term contract from 22/07/24 until 01/09/2024 - Multiple roles available.

The Natural History Museum is a world-class visitor attraction welcoming millions of visitors every year. Our Visitor Assistants are the key to welcoming our visitors, providing an excellent experience, a safe environment and encouraging spend to help the Museum generate income.

Visitor Assistants at the Museum are part of our Visitor Experience team within the Commercial and Visitor Experience department. They provide direction, information, experiences and sales to our visitors, inspiring people in the natural world through our collections and scientific research. They ensure that visitors to the Natural History Museum are provided with an engaging visit in a well-presented safe environment, through the active provision of excellent customer service and knowledge of the offer.

About you

Were looking for people who can provide great customer service to our visitors, through confidently presenting and promoting our products, offers and experience. Fluency in English with the ability to verbally communicate with individuals and large groups is essential. Youll need previous experience of working in a fast paced customer service role, a proactive, adaptable and flexible approach, together with great team working skills and experience to collaborate effectively with colleagues. Youll need to be able to demonstrate an understanding and flexible approach to support the needs of our diverse audiences, together with the ability to work calmly to support emergency situations, as the Visitor Assistant team plays a key role in emergency evacuations.

Working Environment

The role involves switching between a range of visitor-facing duties and tasks across the Museum and the ability to be adaptable and flexible is essential. You will be working with the public and exposed to large numbers of people in noisy and crowded environments. The role requires long periods of standing as well as working outside throughout the year in a range of temperatures and conditions.

Appropriate equipment and health and safety provisions are in place to manage any risks and hazards within the role. In line with our responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 we will explore reasonable adjustments in order to carry out the role.

Thriving at the Museum: the way we work

We are proud to work at the Museum and have identified the qualities we all need to embody to reach our shared ambition. This sits alongside the Museum’s values and forms the framework for the way we work.

Find out more here.

What we offer

• 27.5 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays (full time equivalent)
• Generous defined contribution Natural History Museum Pension Scheme (employer contribution 4 - 10%)
• Season ticket, bicycle and rental loan
• Life insurance
• Free admission to our exhibitions and many other paid exhibitions at museums, galleries and institutions across London and the UK.
• Staff discount at our Museum shops and cafes
• We offer a wide variety of training initiatives and opportunities to build skills. Investing in staff development is important to us, and we are ambitious about helping staff to grow and fulfil their potential.
• Affordable membership to the Civil Service Sports Council which offers a range of benefits including an extensive list of special offers and reduced entry fees at a selection of cinema chains, theme parks, theatres, retailers and supermarkets. It also provides entry to up to 300 English Heritage sites and other national treasures. For more details, visit https://www.cssc.co.uk
• Membership to our Sports and Social Association (for a small fee), which includes access to our in-house gym and clubs such as football, softball, table tennis and tennis and classes in Middle Eastern dance, yoga and Tai Chi

Hybrid working

Due to the nature of this role the work pattern will be 100% on site.

How to apply

If this sounds like you, please apply below by clicking on Apply for job.

Closing date: 23:59 on 11/06/2024

Assessment centres expected: 17 and 18 June 2024, 9am-4pm.

Please note that this role does not qualify for Museum sponsorship so the successful postholder will need to have a valid right to work in the UK at the point of offer.