At a Glance
- Tasks: Create memorable experiences for visitors while supporting café and retail operations.
- Company: Join the friendly team at Middlesbrough Museums, celebrating local heritage.
- Benefits: Flexible hours, supportive environment, and opportunities for personal development.
- Other info: Work 13 hours a week in a dynamic and varied role.
- Why this job: Be the welcoming face of the museum and engage with diverse audiences.
- Qualifications: Customer service experience and a passion for heritage are essential.
The predicted salary is between 11700 - 14300 £ per year.
Do you love working with people and creating welcoming, memorable experiences? Are you someone who enjoys variety, from front-of-house service to hands-on operational tasks? Middlesbrough Museums is growing, and we are looking for Visitor Experience Assistants to join our team, working across our iconic sites including Dorman Museum and Captain Cook Birthplace Museum. This is a varied, public-facing role at the heart of our visitor offer. You’ll be part of a friendly and supportive team, helping to create a safe, engaging, and family-friendly environment while supporting income generation through our café and retail offer.
The Role
- Frontline Visitor Experience: You’ll be the welcoming face of the museum – working on the welcome desk, handling bookings, selling tickets, and responding to visitor enquiries to ensure a positive first impression.
- Café & Retail Operations: You’ll support our catering and retail offer, preparing and serving food, processing sales through EPOS systems, monitoring stock, and helping maximise income.
- Safety & Standards: You’ll help maintain high standards of food hygiene, cleanliness, and health and safety, including completing daily checks and ensuring all public areas are safe and presentable.
- Operational Support: From setting up events and exhibitions to supporting light maintenance and cleaning, you’ll help ensure our buildings and grounds are welcoming and well maintained.
- Engaging Our Visitors: You’ll interact with visitors of all ages, acting as an ambassador for the museum by sharing knowledge, supporting learning activities, and helping bring exhibitions to life.
Who You Are
- Customer-focused: Experience in a front-facing customer service role with the ability to engage a wide range of audiences.
- Adaptable: Comfortable switching between tasks, from gallery invigilation to café service, while maintaining excellent standards.
- Practical & Hands-on: Happy to undertake manual tasks, including cleaning, set-up, and basic maintenance.
- Commercial Awareness: Experience handling cash or using EPOS systems to support sales and performance targets.
- Great Communicator: Friendly, confident, and able to deliver a welcoming and professional service at all times.
The Essentials: A good standard of education, flexibility to work on a rota including weekends, and a willingness to work towards a Level 2 Food Hygiene qualification.
Why Join Us? At Middlesbrough, our values - Passion, Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, and Focus are at the heart of everything we do. You’ll be joining a team that is proud of our town’s heritage and committed to its future. We offer a supportive environment with a focus on continuous personal development. Ready to help us deliver an ambitious future for Middlesbrough Museums? We’d love to hear from you.
Please note this vacancy is 13 hours per week. If this is you, this may be the opportunity you are looking for!
Visitor Experience Assistant employer: North East Combined Authority
Northern Education Trust is an exceptional employer dedicated to enhancing the life chances of children and young people. With a strong focus on employee development, we offer comprehensive training programmes and opportunities for career progression across our family of schools. Our supportive work culture, combined with benefits like free flu vaccinations and onsite parking, makes Hetton Academy a rewarding place to work for those passionate about student wellbeing.
Contact Details:
North East Combined Authority Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Visitor Experience Assistant
✨Get Involved in Local Events
Check out foodie festivals, farmers' markets, and local fairs in your area. These are perfect opportunities to meet restaurant owners and managers face-to-face, and they often look for part-time help during busy seasons.
✨Join Hospitality Groups
Connect with local hospitality groups on social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram. These communities frequently post about part-time job openings that aren’t advertised elsewhere, plus it’s a great way to engage with the food scene in your area!
✨Show Up in Person
For part-time roles in the hospitality sector, don't underestimate the power of a walk-in. Grab your best smile and pop into local cafés or restaurants with your CV in hand. It shows initiative and can really make you stand out!
✨Apply Through Our Website!
Don’t forget to check out the openings at North East Combined Authority and apply directly through our website! We love seeing friendly faces and you’ll be surprised how many part-time roles pop up that may not be listed on job boards.
We think you need these skills to ace Visitor Experience Assistant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Service Skills:In the hospitality and food service industry, showcasing your customer service experience is key. Be sure to highlight relevant roles in your CV or cover letter where you’ve directly engaged with customers—this could be from previous waitressing, barista jobs, or any roles that involved teamwork and communication. You want to convince us at North East Combined Authority that you can keep it cool under pressure!
Certifications Matter:If you’ve got any hospitality-related certifications—like food safety or first aid—definitely mention those! Including these credentials can set you apart from other applicants. It shows us that you're serious about the health and safety standards we maintain here at North East Combined Authority.
Flexibility is Your Friend:Since this is a part-time role, we’re looking for someone who can work various shifts. In your application, it’s useful to outline your availability clearly. Make it easy for us to see when you can jump in and help out—this shows that you’re committed and ready to adapt!
Let Your Personality Shine:In hospitality, personality plays a vital role. Use your cover letter to share why you’re passionate about food service and what brings you joy in helping customers. A personal touch can make your application memorable and help us at North East Combined Authority get a sense of who you are beyond your experience!
How to prepare for a job interview at North East Combined Authority
✨Show Off Your People Skills
In hospitality, your ability to work with customers and team members is crucial. Be prepared to share stories that highlight your experience in handling customer service situations, especially any tricky ones. We want to hear how you turned a potentially negative experience into a positive one!
✨Know the Menu Inside Out
You might get quizzed on the menu items or asked about your favourite dishes. Brush up on any special offerings at North East Combined Authority and demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for their food. This shows you’re not just looking for any job, but you’re genuinely excited about working with their team.
✨Flexibility is Key
As you're going for a part-time role, emphasise your availability and willingness to work various shifts. Mention any instances where you've gone above and beyond for scheduling or helped out during busy times. This flexibility can make you stand out from the crowd!
✨Role-Play Scenarios
Be ready for role-play scenarios during your interview! Employers love to see how you handle on-the-spot situations, like dealing with a dissatisfied customer or managing a specific request from a patron. Practising these scenarios with friends can help boost your confidence.