Visitor Services Assistant – Housekeeping

S1jobs; Braemar; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

National Trust for Scotland is seeking a dedicated Housekeeper for Mar Lodge Estate to maintain the Lodge and related properties to the highest standards of cleanliness and presentation. The role emphasises guest comfort, safety, and the protection of heritage assets, with the aim of enhancing visitors' enjoyment and the estate's upkeep.

You will work a full-time, 40-hour week, including weekends and some evenings, and contribute to income-generating activities while supporting a friendly team

Qualifications

• Sound housekeeping experience maintaining high standards.
• Be responsible, proactive and able to prioritise tasks.
• Strong time-management and attention to presentation.
• Able to work from a team or independently in a safe, high-standard manner.
• Excellent front-of-house persona and good communication.
• Full UK driving licence and access to own transport.
• Willingness to understand others’ perspectives and learn.
• Commitment to National Trust for Scotland values.

Responsibilities

• Undertake domestic cleaning of the Lodge and associated properties to high cleanliness standards.
• Dusting, vacuuming, polishing surfaces, and cleaning floors and windows.
• Change bed linen and towels and make beds.
• Clean bathrooms and kitchens; dispose of waste and recycling.
• Assist with collections care and ensure health and safety compliance.
• Welcome visitors and provide information about the estate and local area.
• Work weekends and occasional evenings as required.

Skills

Housekeeping experience

Proactive

Time management

Attention to detail

Team or independent work

Initiative

Front of house persona

Full UK driving licence

National Trust values

Empathy and inclusivity

Willingness to learn

Communication

Job description

Region: Mar Lodge Estate

Type of Contract: Full-Time, 40 Hours Per Week. Permanent.

The post is subject to the standard terms and conditions provided with the application pack and the following special terms also apply: Must be available to work weekends, some evening work required. This is a predominantly physical role that will include lifting, fetching and carrying objects.

Job Purpose

This job exists in order to ensure that Mar Lodge and its associated properties are cared for and presented to the very highest standards of domestic cleanliness and collections care. To maximise our visitors’ enjoyment of Mar Lodge Estate by maintaining excellent standards of service, optimising opportunities to generate income and ensuring that the property and its assets are clean, tidy, protected and safe.

Key Responsibilities And Accountabilities

• Undertaking the domestic cleaning of the Lodge and its associated properties to achieve consistently high standards of cleanliness to ensure that they meet high client expectations. Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• dusting/polishing of surfaces and fittings such as furniture, ornaments, panelling, stairs, and doors
• vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, polishing of floors
• cleaning of windows
• changing of bed linen and towels, and making of beds
• cleaning of bathroom/toilet areas and fittings
• cleaning of kitchen areas and equipment
• disposal of general household waste and recycling
• Assisting with the collections care of the Lodge and its associated properties to ensure that all housekeeping is undertaken within the context of the Trust’s preventative conservation and collections management regimes.
• To ensure the site meets with Health and Safety legislation in liaison with your line manager. To use personal protection equipment as provided and directed by your line manager.
• Reporting all H&S hazards, fire risks, and instances of damage and wear and tear issues promptly to the Visitor Services Manager and/or Head Housekeeper.
• Participate in a duty rota to ensure that visitors’ needs out with normal working hours are supported.
• Welcoming visitors to the estate/property in a friendly, efficient and knowledgeable manner, answering queries and providing information about the property, facilities and the local area.
• By maintaining excellent standards of service, optimising opportunities to generate income including

• Provide a positive visitor experience to the estate by assisting with car parking, fire patrols, property checks, tours, events and onsite activities when required. Working flexibly across departments and sites as needed.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

• No formal educational qualification required.

Essential

Skills, Experience & Knowledge

• Sound previous housekeeping experience including cleaning and presentation of public areas or holiday-rental accommodation to the highest standards.
• Be responsible and proactive, ensuring all day-to-day tasks are completed as instructed.
• Demonstrable excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritise.
• Attentive to detail with an eye for presentation and finish.
• Ability to work within a team or independently to a high and safe standard.
• The ability to take the initiative and address problems or deal with tasks as they arise.
• Excellent “front of house” persona – warm, welcoming, patient, understanding with a flexible and helpful outlook.
• Full UK driving licence and access to own transport.
• Living the values of the National Trust for Scotland and encouraging colleagues to do the same
• The ability and willingness to understand others’ perspectives and to consider the impact of your actions on them and to adapt your actions as necessary.
• The ability and willingness to learn and try new things, to be flexible and step outside of your comfort zone.
• An open and honest way of communicating, ready to ask others for their ideas and to be open to hear and consider different points of view.

Desirable

• Recognised First Aid Qualification or willingness to learn.
• An understanding and commitment to the aims and objectives of the National Trust for Scotland.
• Previous experience of collections care within a historic environment or willingness to learn.
• Certificates of attendance at recognised collections care courses such as those run by the NTS, the NT or Museums Association.
• A passion for Scottish heritage and history.

Dimensions and scope of job

• The post involves frequent physical activity including lifting, carrying and bending. The Lodge is split over several levels, many of which are not accessible other than by the stairs.
• Due to the nature of a hospitality and events business frequent weekend work can be expected as well as occasional evening work.
• The post-holder may be required to undertake errands around the estate and to/from local businesses as well as attending meetings at other Trust venues, practical only by vehicle.
• Onsite accommodation may be available for the successful applicant.

The Key Responsibilities, Scope of Job, and Required Qualifications, Skills, Experience & Knowledge reflect the requirements of the job at the time of issue. The Trust reserves the right to amend these with appropriate consultation and/or request the post-holder to undertake any activities that it believes to be reasonable within the broad scope of the job or his/her general abilities.