Custodian - 37 hours

Application Deadline: 1 March 2026

Department: Pride in Place

Location: Torbay Council

Compensation: £26,403 – £28,142 / year

Job Description

We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic and approachable to work within our team at Torre Abbey. If you love historic buildings and collections and want to work in the heritage industry this could be the role for you.

Torre Abbey is Torbay’s most historic building complex dating from 1196. An ancient scheduled monument set within 17.8 acres of gardens and parkland. It’s an accredited museum owned by Torbay Council, home to a regionally important collection it’s been a centre of religious and artistic expression and hospitality for 800 years.

We are passionate about creating a universally welcoming environment, we work with a range of partners to develop a more accessible offer for our local community.

With your love of historic buildings and collections, you’ll support the Senior Operations Co-ordinator in all aspects of working in a scheduled ancient monument, museum and art gallery. You’ll care for the building and collection as well as supporting the learning, interpretation and engagement offers, as well as the commercial aspects which support funding for our conservation work. All of this means maintaining a thorough knowledge of Torre Abbey so you’re always on hand to help.

Please read the role profile attached for more information.

Responsibilities

• Support the Senior Operations Coordinator with the day-to-day operation of the House in relation to security, visitor services and health and safety.
• Working within a Grade I listed building and caring for an accredited collection.
• Have an acute attention to detail, with the ability to prioritise own workload and meet conflicting deadline.
• Have the confidence required to work at height.
• Have the proven ability to undertake basic maintenance tasks as required.
• Be calm and friendly with a positive attitude when interacting with both internal and external contacts.
• Have a proven ability to demonstrate an effective customer service ethos.
• Work flexibly and work unsociable hours as well as part of a team and under own initiative.
• Have effective numeracy, written and verbal communication skills.

If you are viewing this advert on a job board, you can access the full job description by placing the URL into your browser: https://www.torbay.gov.uk/jobs/job-descriptions/custodian-1/

For an informal chat please contact Elaine Ward on 01803208510 or elaine.ward@torbay.gov.uk.

Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing 9th March 2026.

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Our adverts do sometimes close early – even where there’s a published deadline – so if you’re keen, please apply as soon as possible.

Skills

Essential:

• Attention to detail and able to work on own initiative with the ability to prioritise workload.
• Hold skills in collection care and preventative conservation in line with best practice.
• Ability to undertake basic maintenance tasks within an historic house setting.
• Proven people skills, enabling the fostering of good relationships particularly with customers, contracted services providers and external agencies. With the ability to demonstrate the expected strong customer service ethos.

This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Knowledge

Essential:

• Hold a thorough understanding of historic house management, including the day to day care of historic buildings and collections to museum accreditation standards.
• Practical knowledge of housekeeping standards.
• An extensive understanding on how to successfully set up and break down events. With the knowledge of how to follow an Event Management Plan and supervise an ongoing event.

Experience & Qualifications

Essential:

• Experience of setting up exhibitions and displays.
• Educated to at least GCSE level grade 4 (C) or equivalent in Maths and English.