Museum Assistant

London Borough of Hillingdon; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A local government council is seeking personable Museum Assistants to deliver expert tours and support operations at the Battle of Britain Bunker and various sites across the borough. The role requires history enthusiasts who can effectively engage diverse audiences. Responsibilities include managing visitor interactions, ticket sales, and assisting with volunteer coordination. The position offers part-time hours, flexibility, and a range of employee benefits, including discounts and a pension plan.

Benefits

Flexible Working Hours

Generous Holiday Entitlement

Local Government Pension Scheme

Mental Health Support

Travel Support

Qualifications

• Passionate about history with a convincing presentation style.
• Ability to engage varied audiences including children and tourists.
• Comfortable working in diverse front-facing roles.

Responsibilities

• Deliver expert tours and support daily operations.
• Assist with ticket sales and stewarding duties.
• Coordinate volunteers and manage rotas.
• Engage audiences through regular tours and talks.
• Support tasks in social media and website admin.

Skills

Public speaking

Adaptability

Customer service

History knowledge

Tools

Box office system

Job description

Overview

Hillingdon Museums - based across the borough with key sites in Uxbridge and Ruislip - operate the Battle of Britain Bunker, the Museum & Archive Service, Eastcote House Gardens, and Manor Farm, featuring a 13th-century Great Barn and Tudor Manor House. We have ambitious plans to expand over the coming years.

We are seeking personable, engaging Museum Assistants to deliver expert tours at the Battle of Britain Bunker, support stewarding duties, assist the public with ticket sales, help coordinate rotas and volunteers, and work with visitors across our other historic sites within the London Borough of Hillingdon.

You are a history enthusiast with a convincing presentation style and the ability to tell true stories fluently and engagingly. You can adapt your delivery to suit different audiences—young children, tourists, or enthusiasts—ensuring they follow the narrative, supported by your own ongoing reading and research to deepen your knowledge and respond confidently to customer questions. You are comfortable delivering regular tours and short talks to the public on a frequent basis, bringing the same level of enthusiasm to your first audience and your hundred-and-first.

You are adaptable and willing to work across a variety of front-facing roles at the Battle of Britain Bunker and our other sites, including social media, website admin, and our gift shop. You will also need the IT skills to operate our box office system, work on rotas, and support small-scale project tasks.

We welcome applications from those interested in part-time roles. Work is scheduled on a rota basis, and there will often be a need to work during peak periods, including weekends and school holidays. Contracted hours will be annualised to reflect our more intensive summer season and quieter winter schedule.

Please note - the interviews will take place week commencing 16th February.

Responsibilities

• Deliver expert tours at the Battle of Britain Bunker and support daily operations across sites.
• Support stewarding duties and assist the public with ticket sales.
• Help coordinate rotas and volunteers and work with visitors across other historic sites within the borough.
• Adapt delivery to suit different audiences and respond confidently to customer questions, supported by ongoing reading and research.
• Deliver regular tours and short talks to the public and engage diverse audiences.
• Be adaptable across front-facing roles, including social media, website admin, and the gift shop.
• Operate the box office system, manage rotas, and support small-scale project tasks.

About You

We welcome applicants who are passionate about history and capable of presenting engaging, accurate stories to visitors.

Benefits

• Flexible Working Hours – We recognise the importance of flexibility in managing your work and personal life.
• 36 Hour Week – Standard 36-hour workweek for all full-time staff.
• Generous Holiday Entitlement – Increases with length of service (for non-casual roles).
• Hillingdon Sports & Leisure – Discounts at council-owned leisure centres and pools across the borough.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – Cycle purchase, electric vehicle leasing and additional voluntary pension contributions (subject to scheme rules).
• Cycle to Work – Eco-friendly commuting with bicycle parking, lockers, and showers at the Civic Centre.
• Local Government Pension Scheme – Access to the scheme and Credit Union membership.
• Vivup Benefits – Access to offers and discounts.
• Mental Health Support and Counselling – 24-hour confidential advice and counselling, plus legal advice service for you and your immediate family.
• Travel Support – Season ticket loans and free car parking.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

At the London Borough of Hillingdon, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds and are dedicated to reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities. We strive for a workforce representative of all sections of society and residents.

Recruitment Information

Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities that meet the essential criteria and wish to be considered under this scheme. We also offer an option for candidates declaring a disability to opt in for consideration under this scheme on a per-application basis. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Some posts are subject to The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2019 and a Disclosure to the DBS may be required. In addition to verifying Right to Work in the UK and a health questionnaire, the post is subject to the following pre-employment screening:

• Standard DBS Check
• 5 years of Referencing

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. Current employees in the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

It may be necessary due to a high volume of applications to close this role early. We therefore recommend you apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.