Visitor Experience Officer

National Trust; Dunstable; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious charitable organization in Dunstable seeks an Events Coordinator to lead their visitor engagement initiatives. The role involves planning, creating, and delivering a diverse array of events, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity. You will manage a Programming Assistant and collaborate with marketing to promote events that connect audiences to nature and heritage. Candidates must demonstrate strong organizational, leadership, and visitor engagement skills. This position offers a salary from £26,793 to £34,242, with various perks including generous holiday allowance and pension scheme.

Benefits

Pension scheme up to 10%

Free entry to National Trust places

Employee assistance programme

Flexible working opportunities

Holiday allowance up to 32 days

Qualifications

• Understanding of visitor engagement in cultural settings.
• Teamwork and leadership skills to support volunteers.
• Organisational skills to manage events and operations.
• Financial awareness for budget monitoring.
• Knowledge of health and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver a full calendar of events.
• Manage a Programming Assistant in event creation.
• Work with marketing to promote events.
• Ensure programming is accessible to all audiences.
• Participate in duty management shifts.

Skills

Visitor engagement

Teamworking

Organisational skills

Financial awareness

Communication skills

Tools

Microsoft Office

Web and social media

Job description

Summary

In line with our redeployment policy, we’ll prioritise applications from employees who are under formal notice of redundancy.

This is an exciting role if you have event and visitor engagement experience and are looking to develop your career with a high-profile charitable organisation. You'll support the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire team, with a wide-ranging programme of events and experiences. In this varied role, you’ll plan, create and deliver a full calendar of visitor activities, trails and experiences across the portfolio.

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £26,793 - £34,242 depending on experience

Working pattern: You'll primarily work Monday-Friday but will join a rota of duty managers working every 3rd weekend as well as some bank holidays. Some additional weekend and evening working will be required to support specific key events.

What it's like to work here

You’ll support the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire team across a number of sites including Ashridge Estate, Dunstable Downs and Shaw’s Corner. Ashridge Estate is a truly special place, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to its beautiful and historic landscape. Because of its growing popularity and increasing local housing development, Ashridge is entering a period of change, working to adapt and invest so that we can continue to welcome people in ways that allow nature and wildlife to thrive. Dunstable Downs and Shaw’s Corner offer very different experiences within the portfolio, each with their own unique character and audiences. At both sites, increasing visitation is a key priority, with a focus on connecting people to nature, culture, and heritage through meaningful experiences.

You'll join a community of people who enjoy, protect and want to learn more about our properties and the stories they hold. Our team are central to creating the brilliant experience that visitors have at our places. Be part of our wonderful team in offering a warm welcome to every visitor, sharing stories that intrigue and inspire.

What you'll be doing

We’re looking for a proactive and creative team player who can assist in piecing together all the strands of work: from supporting programming partnerships, designing and creating seasonal trails and activities, to planning one-off larger events. From Easter trails to overnight camping events; theatre performances to guided walks, you will constantly seek to find new ways to engage and excite our audiences, introducing them to National Trust and the beauty, nature and history that we look after. This is a hands-on, creative role, and having a keen eye for detail is essential. You will be responsible for ensuring each piece of programming is delivered to a high standard and meets our budget and income goals.

Your role will lead on the portfolio’s programme of events and will report into the Visitor Operations and Experiences Manager. You'll manage a Programming Assistant who will support you with the creation and delivery of events. You’ll work closely with our Senior Marketing and Communications Officer to promote our programme of events in a way that celebrates what makes each place so special.

Ensuring our programming is welcoming to all, you will work closely with our Community, Participation and Volunteering Manager to develop our programming to be more accessible. Specifically at Dunstable Downs, you will build on our growing cultural calendar of events to reflect our local diverse audiences.

This role will be regularly based on our properties as part of the portfolio’s operational team, including taking part in duty management shifts and a rolling weekend rota. Being on site will allow you to connect with our places and people, building strong relationships with property teams and understand the needs and requirements of our audiences.

Who we're looking for

Applications from redeployees are assessed against the minimum criteria for the role. In your application, please provide details of how you meet the minimum criteria below:

• an understanding of visitor engagement, inclusive interpretation, and audience development in cultural or heritage settings
• teamworking and leadership skills to support and develop staff and volunteers
• organisational and co-ordination skills to manage bookings, events, and day-to-day visitor operations
• financial awareness, including budget monitoring and resource planning
• awareness of health and safety, safeguarding, and accessibility standards

Criteria for all other applicants:

• experience developing and delivering a programme of events
• confident in using audience insight to develop a programme and implement change
• used to multiple deadlines and managing your own workload
• skilled in organisation and planning, with a good eye for detail
• good at talking to, and getting on with, all kinds of people
• comfortable with IT: Microsoft Office, as well as web and social media
• experienced in producing interpretive materials, such as displays and exhibitions, and marketing or promotional materials
• familiar with health and safety procedures

The package

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

•Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

•Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

•Rental deposit loan scheme

•Season ticket loan

•EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)

•Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts

•Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.

•Flexible working whenever possible

•Employee assistance programme

•Free parking at most Trust places