Steward - Huntingtower Hub

Historic Environment Scotland; Mid Devon; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A heritage organization in the UK is seeking a customer service representative for its historical sites. The role includes engaging visitors, processing transactions, and maintaining site standards. Ideal candidates will have a passion for heritage tourism and excellent customer service skills. The position offers 28 hours per week on a fixed-term contract, along with various benefits including a civil service pension, annual leave, and opportunities for personal development.

Benefits

Enrolment onto a Civil Service Pension scheme – 28% employer contribution

25 days annual leave pro-rata

Support for further education and personal development

Flexible working hours

Free entry to all Historic Environment Scotland properties

Qualifications

• Experience delivering high standards of customer service in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent teamwork skills.
• Cash handling experience or willingness to undertake training.
• A genuine interest in working in the heritage tourism industry.
• Ability to work independently at times.
• Basic IT skills and the ability to use online functions.

Responsibilities

• Provide the warmest welcome to visitors and engage proactively with customer service.
• Process retail and admissions transactions through the till system.
• Ensure a high standard of presentation throughout the site.
• Work as a team to achieve quality assurance KPIs.
• Support HES seminars, events, functions, and promotions.
• Deliver guided tours as part of the core visitor experience.
• Communicate with colleagues across the site to ensure high performance.
• Support Monument Manager on partnership and community engagement initiatives.

Skills

Customer service excellence

Teamwork

Cash handling

Interest in heritage tourism

Ability to work independently

Basic IT skills

Job description

Starting salary: £25,770 pro-rata (proportionate to hours worked and length of contract)
Contract type: Fixed Term
Grade: 1
Location: Huntingtower Hub: Huntingtower Castle, Elcho Castle, St Serf's Church (Dunning) and Balvaird Castle.
Working Hours: 28 hrs a week. 4x7hrs (includes weekend and public holidays).
Interviews: To be held in person at Argyll's Lodgings on Week Commencing 26 January 2026.

Are you looking for a flexible seasonal job that is both fun and unique? You'll get an insight into Scotland's rich history and gain valuable experience in the tourism industry and help bring Scotland's dramatic history to life for our visitors from across the world. Explore the fascinating stories from Scotland's past and share your passion with international and local visitors who come to Huntingtower Castle, Elcho Castle, St Serf’s Church in Dunning and Balvaird Castle during the 2026 season.

Each of the properties you will work at have their own unique selling points, providing a varied working life. Huntingtower has interesting stories and a superb painted ceiling, Elcho has an abundant orchard and fine plasterwork, and St Serfs Church, located within the heart of the community of Dunning, features the ornate, 2.5m high free‑standing Pictish Dupplin Cross. In season 2026 we hope to lead tours at Balvaird Castle for the first time in many years, and you may be asked to support this. Balvaird is a key location in the Outlander prequel, Blood of our Blood.

Reporting to the Monument Manager, the team sits within the Mid District of Central Regions Visitor and Community (V&C) Team (in the Operations Directorate). The district is comprised of twenty‑six monuments, ten of which are staffed. Other staffed properties within the District include Castle Campbell, Doune Castle, Dunblane Cathedral, Inchmahome Priory, Lochleven Castle, Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum and Stanley Mills.

For more information about the post and information about the team, please access the full job description for this post. Please note that if you don't have Office 365 installed on your device, this can be opened using your browser.

Benefits of joining us at Historic Environment Scotland

• Enrolment onto a Civil Service Pension scheme – 28% employer contribution
• 25 days annual leave, pro‑rata (increasing to 30 days after 3 years) + 11.5 public holidays
• Reimbursement for relevant professional subscriptions
• Support for further education and personal development
• Study leave for work related courses
• Flexible working hours (where appropriate)
• Free entry to all of our properties (with up to three guests)
• Free entry to English Heritage, Manx and Cadw properties

Key Responsibilities of this role

• Provide the warmest welcome to our visitors and engage proactively with customer service.
• Process and promote retail and admissions transactions through the till system.
• Ensure a high standard of presentation throughout the site, following appropriate cleaning processes in both public and staff areas. This will include grounds maintenance and grass cutting.
• Work as a team to achieve quality assurance Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Actively support in HES seminars, events, functions and promotions.
• Deliver guided tours/talks as part of the core visitor experience.
• Proactively communicate with colleagues across the site to ensure high performance, standards and consistency.
• Support the Monument Manager on partnership and community engagement initiatives and projects, including volunteering, weddings and other events.
• Working together with your monument team to achieve overall commercial performance targets.
• Promote commercial opportunities within the monument, such as upcoming events and retail products where appropriate.
• Assist Monument Manager to ensure accurate stock management and assist with stock ordering and deliveries as required.
• Ensure the security of the site, buildings and contents, including acting as key holder where required.
• Ensure that the health and safety of staff, visitors and contractors is paramount at all times and follow correct procedures to ensure safe operation of any equipment.

Key requirements of the role

In order for you to be successful in this post, we will be looking for you to complete a cover letter which addresses:

1. Why you are interested in the post with Historic Environment Scotland

2. How you can meet each of the essential and desirable criteria (in up to 800 words), using examples of where you have used these skills in the past.

Please ensure that you provide real life examples for each of the criteria to be considered for this post. You can use examples of how you have met this criteria from your work life, home life, education or volunteer experience. Please read our CV and Cover Letter Guidance first before completing, as you will only be eligible for selection if you use examples of how you meet the essential and desirable criteria.

Essential Criteria

• Experience delivering high standards of customer service in a fast‑paced environment.
• Excellent team working skills.
• Cash handling experience or willingness to undertake training.
• A genuine interest for working in the heritage tourism industry.
• Ability to work independently at times.
• IT skills and the ability to use basic online functions.

Find out more about desirable skills and experience in our full job description.

We are dedicated to building a workforce which is reflective of diversity within Scotland. We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, gender or gender identity, religious beliefs, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or neurodiversity. In support of our Gaelic Language Plan, we welcome applications from Gaelic speakers.

We want every candidate to have the best chance to succeed during the recruitment process. If you require your application in an alternative format, please reach out to us via email at [e-mail] or call our Head Office at 0131 668 8600 and speak to a member of our People Team.

Please note that, at this time, we are unfortunately unable to provide sponsorship as part of the recruitment process, therefore you must have current right to work in the UK to be considered for a post.

To submit your application online, please read our ‘How to Apply’ section followed by ‘Apply Now’ button to begin your application.