Visitor Experience Officer - Somerton

The National Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading conservation charity in the United Kingdom seeks a Visitor Experience Officer to enhance visitor engagement at its Somerset sites. This role involves delivering exceptional customer service, managing day-to-day operations, and ensuring high presentation standards. Ideal candidates will have strong teamwork skills, financial awareness, and the ability to engage diverse audiences. The position offers a supportive culture, flexible working, and a range of perks including a substantial pension scheme and holiday allowance.

Benefits

Substantial pension scheme of up to 10%

Free entry to National Trust places

Rental deposit loan scheme

Flexible working opportunities

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Understanding of visitor engagement and audience development in heritage settings.
• Skills to support and develop staff and volunteers.
• Organizational skills to manage bookings and events.

Responsibilities

• Deliver exceptional customer service and quality experiences for visitors.
• Assist in volunteer management and heritage engagement.
• Maintain high standards of presentation and safety.

Skills

Visitor engagement

Teamworking

Organizational skills

Financial awareness

Health and safety knowledge

IT proficiency

Tools

Microsoft Office

Social media tools

Job description

Overview

Job Details Visitor Experience Officer - SomertonSummary

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

Being a Visitor Experience Officer for the National Trust is all about people – connecting with them, inspiring them, and making sure they have the best possible day when they come to visit. If you love working with all kinds of people, and you’re excited by the Trust’s cause – to protect and care for places so that people and nature can thrive – then this could be the job for you.

Salary: 16,.80 pro rata (FTE 26, per annum)

Contract: Permanent

Hours / working pattern: hours per year. This role is based on annualised hours, where the amount of hours you work each month may vary, however your salary will be paid in 12 equal instalments over the year. The role will require weekend, bank holiday and out of season availability.

What it’s like to work here

Reporting to the Senior Visitor Experience Officer, you will be part of an enthusiastic, supportive team working at Lytes Cary Manor & Tintinhull Garden. Working over two modest site Lytes Cary Manor attracting over 80,000 visitors February – November and Tintinhull Garden attracting over 22,000 visitors April – September each year. Lytes Cary Manor is an intimate medieval manor house with a beautiful Arts and Crafts-style garden where you can imagine living. Originally the family home of Henry Lyte, where he translated the unique Niewe Herball book on herbal remedies, Lytes Cary was then lovingly restored in the 20th century by Sir Walter Jenner. The garden rooms contain a magical collection of topiary and herbaceous borders, while tranquil walks on the estate take you along the River Cary. Tintinhull garden lies in the charming village of Tintinhull, Somerset. Complete with working kitchen garden and orchard, glittering pools, secluded lawns, colourful borders and clipped hedges provide the perfect spot to relax and unwind away from the hustle and bustle.

What you’ll be doing

This role is based at Lytes Cary Manor & Tintinhull Garden and is part of a wider South Somerset portfolio. Working alongside the Senior Visitor Experience Officer and property team, you will have a flexible open mindset to go the extra mile to deliver exceptional customer service. Help deliver a quality, enjoyable, creative, engaging experience for all visitors. This role offers an exciting opportunity to develop volunteer management, explore your interest in heritage engagement, unlock your creative flare, understand how a property operates throughout the season and grow your understanding of the tourism sector. Whilst working at Lytes Cary Manor and Tintinhull Garden, you will get involved with every aspect of the daily operations including visitor experience, exceptional customer service, volunteer management, conservation, and event management. As part of a diverse team, you will be responsible for maintaining high standards of presentation and safety by managing the day-to-day operation independently as a duty manager on a rota. You will ensure all lines of communication with visitors, from the website to the signage and posters around the property, have an accurate and consistent message which aligns with the spirit of place.

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 setting
• teamworking and leadership skills to support and develop staff and volunteers
• organizational 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

Additional criteria for all other applicants. We’d love to hear from you if you’re :

• 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
• a hard-working and committed team player
• 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
• 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

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