Visitor Experience Supervisor - Retail

West Sussex; West Dean; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days annual leave

Generous pension scheme (4%–7.5% match

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Free entry to West Dean Gardens

Staff discount in Sussex shops

Free short courses at West Dean

Free use of swimming pool, library and

Subsidised bed and breakfast on campus

Job summary

West Dean is seeking a Visitor Experience Supervisor – Retail to lead the Gardens Gatehouse Shop, supervise staff, and drive sales while delivering exceptional visitor experiences at West Dean, West Sussex.

You will supervise daily shop operations, coach the team, and maintain high standards of merchandising and customer service across a busy heritage destination.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a retail or visitor attraction environment.
• Experience supervising or leading a team.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills.
• Commercial awareness and enthusiasm for retail.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• A flexible approach to working weekends and bank holidays.

Responsibilities

• Supervising the day-to-day operation of the Gardens Gatehouse Shop.
• Delivering exceptional customer service and leading by example.
• Supporting retail sales, KPIs and commercial performance.
• Creating attractive seasonal displays and maintaining visual merchandising standards.
• Managing stock replenishment, product availability and purchase orders.
• Coaching and supporting the retail team to deliver outstanding visitor experiences.
• Resolving visitor queries and promoting West Dean's gardens, events and courses.
• Ensuring the shop operates safely and efficiently.

Skills

Retail experience

Customer service

Team leadership

Communication skills

Commercial awareness

Organisational skills

Weekend flexibility

Job description

Helping people find jobs in the local area since 2008

Location West Dean

Contract Permanent

Hours Full Time- 35 hours per week, 5 days over 7, including bank holidays and weekends

Visitor Experience Supervisor – Retail
West Dean | West Sussex
£27,000 per annum | Permanent | 35 hours per week

Are you passionate about delivering exceptional customer service and creating memorable visitor experiences?

West Dean is looking for an enthusiastic and commercially minded Visitor Experience Supervisor – Retail to help lead our Gardens Gatehouse Shop. This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the UK’s most distinctive cultural and heritage destinations, where creativity, gardens, craft and education come together.

Working closely with the Visitor Experience Manager, you will supervise the day-to-day retail operation, inspire and support the team, and ensure every visitor receives a warm welcome and outstanding service. You’ll play an important role in driving retail sales, maintaining high standards of visual merchandising, supporting seasonal displays and events, and helping visitors discover everything West Dean has to offer.

About West Dean

Set within the stunning South Downs National Park, West Dean is home to internationally recognised arts and conservation education, award‑winning gardens, historic collections and a thriving visitor destination. Every year thousands of visitors come to explore our gardens, exhibitions, events, courses and unique retail offer.

What you’ll be doing

Supervising the day-to-day operation of the Gardens Gatehouse Shop.

Delivering exceptional customer service and leading by example.

Supporting retail sales, KPIs and commercial performance.

Creating attractive seasonal displays and maintaining excellent visual merchandising standards.

Managing stock replenishment, product availability and purchase orders.

Coaching and supporting the retail team to deliver outstanding visitor experiences.

Resolving visitor queries and promoting West Dean’s gardens, events, courses and exhibitions.

Ensuring the shop operates safely, efficiently and to the highest standards.

About you

We’re looking for someone who has:

Experience working in a retail or visitor attraction environment.

Experience supervising or leading a team.

Excellent customer service and communication skills.

Commercial awareness and an enthusiasm for retail.

Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities.

A flexible approach to working weekends and bank holidays.

An interest in heritage, gardens, arts, crafts or design‑led retail would be an advantage.

What we offer

Salary of £27,000 per annum

33 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays)

Generous contributory pension scheme (4%–7.5% matched)

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Free entry to West Dean Gardens

Staff discount in our Sussex retail shops

Free and discounted places on West Dean short courses

Free use of swimming pool, library and tennis courts

Subsidised bed and breakfast on the Sussex campus

Location: West Dean, West Sussex (PO18 0QZ)

Hours: 35 hours per week, 5 days over 7, including weekends and bank holidays.

Interview date: 25 August 2026.

West Dean is committed to creating an inclusive workplace and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds.