Centre Assistant - variable hours - (Fixed Term)

Job Description

Are you able to deliver fantastic customer service, and would you like to work for an organisation that is making a big difference to our natural world? We are looking for an enthusiastic and hard-working people person, to help work in our shop and visitor centre at Loch Garten.

Loch Garten has a long-established reputation as being the ancestral home of ospreys in the UK and the Nature Centre opens every season to allow thousands of visitors to see these magnificent and enthralling birds, as they battle all that nature can throw at them to raise a family. As well as ospreys, visitors are treated to close-up views of red squirrels and many small birds, including crested tits and great spotted woodpeckers. The centre is within Abernethy National Nature Reserve, the RSPB’s second largest reserve, which contains the largest remnant of ancient Caledonian pine-forest in the UK and is set amidst the magnificent landscape of the Cairngorms National Park.

About the Role

Our work in the visitor centre is planned via the use of rotas and would include weekend working. Full induction and training would be provided, with opportunities to learn about the running of a busy visitor centre and nature reserve operation.

Our shop and Nature Centre operations are a crucial part of what we do here, encouraging visitors to explore the reserve, and giving them a great visitor experience.

You will be able to communicate well with our visitors and offer excellent levels of customer care. Duties will include working on our meet and greet operation, helping with the shop, undertaking stock takes, welcoming visitors to the reserve, giving out information, and encouraging visitors to support our work.

You will also support our Retail Manager, helping to serve customers, and undertaking other duties typical of a shop operation.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• GCSE Maths and English or equivalent.
• Basic food hygiene knowledge
• Computer literate.
• Enthusiastic approach to work.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to plan and prioritise workloads.
• Multitasking skills
• Problem-solving skills and ability to work on own initiative.
• Ability to manage and respond quickly and positively to customer needs and feedback.
• Ability to work as part of a team.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience of working at a catering environment/visitor attraction.
• Knowledge of health and safety in the workplace.
• Knowledge of food and food service skills.
• Till operation and payment handling.

This is a Fixed- term contract (March to Sept 23), Part-time role for 13 hours per week.

The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 14th of February. For further information please contact fergus.cumberland@rspb.org.uk.

As part of this application process, you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence of how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

Please note that we are also recruiting for Wildlife Fundraisers to work at Loch Garten - Please see below link for more info -

https://app.vacancy-filler.co.uk/salescrm/Careers/CareersPage.aspx?e=LMo8nnTwYNZV0s_FInX6_IRZwcAIYpkNzXgisr4w3_wJoekAm88zDqisG18lRsA7feJxzbOmbGo&iframe=True

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.