Gallery Assistant

Experience Oxfordshire; Kidlington; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Part time

Job summary

A prominent cultural institution in Kidlington is seeking proactive and friendly Gallery Assistants to ensure visitors have an exceptional experience. In this part-time role, you will greet guests, provide directions, and assist with donations. Responsibilities include maintaining gallery security, cleanliness, and supporting the public's needs. Ideal candidates will possess strong interpersonal skills and be comfortable engaging a varied audience. This fixed-term position offers a supportive environment with comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Excellent pension scheme

38 days of annual leave

Childcare services

Cycle loan scheme

Discounted travel options

Qualifications

• Experience in customer-facing roles is advantageous.
• Interest in history or science is beneficial but not essential.
• Punctuality and reliability are crucial aspects of the role.

Responsibilities

• Greet visitors and provide directions and information.
• Support day-to-day running of the galleries, including light cleaning.
• Encourage donations and operate the shop till.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Attention to detail

Ability to work in a busy environment

Basic computer skills

Job description

The History of Science Museum is seeking two friendly, proactive and customer-focused Gallery Assistants to help provide an exceptional experience for all visitors. The museum welcomes a wide range of audiences and you will play an important role in ensuring that every visitor feels informed, supported and warmly welcomed.

You will be a visible presence in the galleries, greeting visitors, providing directions and information, handing out maps and family trails, and helping visitors with mobility requirements. You will encourage donations, operate the shop till on occasion, and support the smooth day-to-day running of the galleries. You will also highlight key objects on display, once trained and help maintain security and safety, respond appropriately to incidents, and prepare gallery spaces for opening, including light cleaning duties.

This is a fixed‑term post until 31 December 2027, with two part‑time vacancies available.

• Post 1: 20 hours per week. This position is available as a job‑share opportunity.
• Post 2: 26.25 hours per week. This position includes the opportunity to take on supervisory responsibilities, with full training provided.

Please tick your preferred working hours on the first page of the Supporting Evidence Form.

The working pattern includes weekends, evenings and Bank Holidays, according to operational need.

This role involves interacting with visitors while moving around galleries. The ability to stand and walk for prolonged periods is required, as there is limited opportunity to sit during the shift.

Due to the nature of this post, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a satisfactory Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Please refer to page 4 of the job description for further details.

About You

You will be confident engaging with a diverse range of visitors, demonstrating excellent interpersonal skills. You will be comfortable working in a busy environment while remaining calm under pressure. You will be observant in the gallery, able to judge when to refer situations to senior colleagues, and confident using basic computer systems, as rota updates and communications are shared electronically.

You will be reliable, punctual, and able to act with honesty and integrity in all aspects of your work. Experience in customer‑facing roles, an interest in history or science, or previous involvement in sales or donations environments would be advantageous, but is not essential.

Benefits

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days of annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans

More information is available at https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/staff-benefits

Diversity

The university is committed to ensuring that the recruitment processes are inclusive and accessible. If you require the job description or any other materials in an alternative format, or if you would like to request any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please contact the recruitment team at [e-mail].

How To Apply

You will be required to upload your CV and a supporting evidence form using the attached template as part of your online application. The supporting evidence form lists each of the essential and desirable selection criteria, as listed in the job description – please explain how you meet each one. CVs alone will not be considered.

The Chair of this recruitment panel will be Vienna Luk, Operations Manager, who can be contacted with enquiries relating to the role ([e-mail]). General about the recruitment and application process should be directed to the Recruitment team within the Human Resources department ([e-mail]). Please note that during the Christmas holiday period, email inboxes are unlikely to be monitored.

Only applications received online by 12.00 midday (GMT) on Monday 5 January 2026 can be considered. Interviews are expected to take place on Friday 16 January 2026.

Click here to find out more and apply