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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Engage with visitors, sell tickets and memberships, and create memorable experiences.
- Company: Horniman Museum and Gardens, a unique cultural attraction in London.
- Benefits: Flexible hours, friendly team, and the chance to work in a vibrant environment.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make a real impact on visitor experiences.
- Qualifications: Customer service experience and a passion for engaging with families.
- Other info: Opportunities for personal development and a commitment to diversity.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 36000 £ per year.
About Us
The Horniman Museum and Gardens is a unique attraction in south east London where global cultures and the natural world are brought together for everyone to enjoy. The Museum holds internationally important collections of anthropology and musical instruments, as well as a popular natural history gallery and Aquarium. The 16 acres of beautiful Gardens feature a tropical Butterfly House and offer stunning views across London.
About the Role
Join our friendly and dynamic Retail & Admissions team, where you'll play a key role in delivering a warm, welcoming, and customer-focused experience for all our visitors. This varied role works across our admissions desk, butterfly house, and retail shop, where you'll be responsible for selling tickets, memberships, and a range of retail products. We're looking for someone who enjoys working in a family-friendly museum environment and takes pride in creating memorable experiences for guests of all ages.
Key Responsibilities
- Sell tickets for exhibitions, events, and activities at the admissions desk.
- Promote, sell, and renew memberships and benefactor packages following set procedures.
- Encourage Gift Aid and donations by clearly communicating the benefits and meeting agreed targets.
- Use a 'sales through service' approach to meet income and KPI targets across retail and ticketing.
- Stay informed about the Horniman's exhibitions, events, facilities, and services, and share this knowledge confidently with visitors.
About You
You're a confident and friendly communicator with experience in customer-facing roles, and you genuinely enjoy engaging with people—especially families and children. You understand the importance of creating a warm, inclusive, and memorable experience for every visitor. You're proactive, adaptable, and happy to get stuck in wherever needed, whether it's helping a family plan their visit, upselling a membership, or keeping things running smoothly on a busy day. You're also commercially minded, with a natural ability to spot opportunities to enhance the visitor experience through our retail and admissions offer.
Key Qualities, Skills, and Experience
- Proven experience in a customer service, visitor attraction, or retail environment, with a strong focus on delivering excellent visitor experiences.
- Confident and friendly communicator, able to engage effectively with a wide range of visitors, especially families and children.
- Strong team player who builds positive working relationships and contributes to a supportive team environment.
- Commercially aware, with the ability to upsell products and memberships to meet income and engagement targets.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment with accuracy and attention to detail.
- Proactive and adaptable, able to use initiative and make decisions independently when needed.
- Basic IT and EPOS skills, with the ability to manage sales, stock data, and access internal systems.
- Willingness to work flexibly, including weekends and holidays, to support the Horniman's public programme.
- A genuine interest in the Horniman's collections, exhibitions, and mission, with a commitment to equality, diversity, and personal development.
- Well-presented and professional, representing the Horniman to a high standard at all times.
The closing date for completed applications is 10am on 30 September 2025. Interviews will be held on 15 October 2025.
The Horniman is an equal opportunities employer and we value and celebrate diversity. We want to better represent the communities in which we work but recognise that there is still much work to do in this area. We welcome and encourage all applicants and particularly encourage you to apply if you are from a community that is often disadvantaged by society or of minority background.
Locations
Retail & Admissions Assistant employer: Horniman Museum and Gardens
Contact Detail:
Horniman Museum and Gardens Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Retail & Admissions Assistant
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the Horniman Museum inside out! Familiarise yourself with their exhibitions, events, and services. This way, when you chat with visitors, you can share your enthusiasm and knowledge, making their experience even more memorable.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your customer service skills! Role-play with friends or family to get comfortable engaging with different types of visitors, especially families and children. The more confident you are, the better you'll connect with guests at the admissions desk and retail shop.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your sales skills! Think about ways to upsell memberships and donations while maintaining a friendly vibe. Remember, it’s all about creating a warm atmosphere that encourages visitors to support the museum.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us online. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Retail & Admissions Assistant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the Horniman Museum shine through! Share why you love working in a customer-focused environment and how you can contribute to creating memorable experiences for our visitors.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in customer service or retail. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to engage with families and children, as this is key for us at the Horniman.
Be Personable: We want to see your friendly personality come through in your application. Use a conversational tone and don’t be afraid to show your unique voice—after all, we’re looking for someone who can connect with our visitors!
Check Your Details: Before hitting send, double-check your application for any typos or errors. Attention to detail is crucial in our fast-paced environment, so make sure your application reflects that. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
How to prepare for a job interview at Horniman Museum and Gardens
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you’re familiar with the Horniman Museum and its collections. Brush up on their exhibitions, events, and services so you can confidently discuss them. This shows your genuine interest and helps you connect with the interviewers.
✨Showcase Your Customer Service Skills
Prepare examples from your past experiences where you’ve delivered excellent customer service. Think about times when you went above and beyond to create memorable experiences for visitors, especially families and children. This will highlight your suitability for the role.
✨Be Proactive and Adaptable
During the interview, demonstrate your proactive nature by discussing how you handle busy situations or unexpected challenges. Share specific instances where you took the initiative to improve a visitor's experience or solve a problem quickly.
✨Dress to Impress
Make sure to present yourself well for the interview. A professional appearance reflects your respect for the role and the organisation. Remember, you’ll be representing the Horniman, so aim to look polished and approachable.