Visitor Experience Assistant

RSPB; Arne; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Part time

Job summary

An environmental organization is seeking a Visitor Experience Assistant at their Arne location. This part-time role requires excellent customer service and administrative skills. Responsibilities include welcoming visitors, providing information, and supporting café operations. Ideal candidates will have strong communication skills and a passion for wildlife. Salary ranges from £24,571 to £26,231 pro-rata, with benefits including a pension scheme and annual leave. Commitment to an inclusive workplace is essential.

Benefits

Pension Scheme

Life Assurance Scheme

26 days' Annual Leave (pro rata)

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English or equivalent required.
• Experience in catering or visitor attractions desirable.
• Knowledge of health and safety in the workplace beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Deliver excellent customer service as part of the Visitor Experience Team.
• Welcome and inform visitors, assist with group visits and events.
• Support café operations and serve customers.

Skills

GCSE Maths and English or equivalent

Basic food hygiene knowledge

Computer literate

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Ability to plan and prioritise workloads

Problem-solving skills

Ability to manage and respond to customer feedback

Teamwork skills

Job description

Visitor Experience Assistant

Location: RSPB Arne, BH20

Salary: £24,571.00 - £26,231.00 Per Annum, Pro Rata

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Part-time,7.5 hrs per week

Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave (pro rata)

Are you able to deliver fantastic customer service, and would you like to work for an organisation that is making a big difference to our natural world? We are looking for an enthusiastic, hard‑working and organised people person with excellent admin skills to join our small but very busy Visitor Experience Team at RSPB Arne for 7.5 hours per week.

Arne is not only a brilliant Dorset wildlife watching spot, it is also one of the few remaining places where all six of the UK’s native reptiles can be found. Situated on Poole Harbour and part of the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve, this Dorset nature reserve is a thriving visitor haven attracting people of all walks of life; landscapes don’t get much more breathtaking than Arne. It’s a rich patchwork of habitats, home to a huge array of wildlife. There are wide‑open heathlands as well as ancient oak woodland humming with bird song, coastal wetlands and reedbeds.

We carefully manage Arne's unique mix of habitats to create the ideal conditions for wildlife to thrive. As a threatened habitat in the UK, our lowland heath is of particular importance and many rare birds including Dartford Warblers, Woodlarks and Nightjars call it home. But it’s not just birds - Smooth Snakes, Silver‑studded Blue Butterflies, Ladybird Spiders and Yellow Centaury (a rare heathland plant) can also be found at Arne.

About the Role

Our work at Arne is planned via the use of rotas and may include weekend working. Full induction and training will be provided, with opportunities to learn about the running of a busy visitor operation and nature reserve operation.

Our cafe and reception operations are a crucial part of what we do here, encouraging visitors to explore the reserve, and giving them a great visitor experience.

You will be able to communicate well with our visitors and offer excellent levels of customer care. Duties may include working on our meet and greet operation, welcoming visitors to the reserve, giving out information, supporting group visits and planning events, working on our Hire a Guide experiences and encouraging visitors to support our work.

You may also support our cafe team, helping to serve customers, and undertaking other duties typical of a busy cafe and kitchen operation.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• GCSE Maths and English or equivalent.
• Basic food hygiene knowledge.
• Computer literate.
• Enthusiastic approach to work.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Ability to plan and prioritise workloads.
• Multitasking skills
• Problem‑solving skills and ability to work on own initiative.
• Ability to manage and respond quickly and positively to customer needs and feedback.
• Ability to work as part of a team.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience of working at a catering environment/visitor attraction.
• Knowledge of health and safety in the workplace.
• Knowledge of food and food service skills.
• Till operation and payment handling.

Additional Information

• This is a Permanent, part‑time position for 7.5 hrs per week.

Closing date: 23:59, Sunday 4th January 2026

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from mid January 2026.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently under‑represented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre‑existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application. As part of this application you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete a short application form with a cover letter where you can detail how you meet the criteria listed above.

No agencies please.