Job Vacancies with York Museums Trust

Job Vacancies

Retail Services Manager

Contract: Full time, Permanent
Salary Range: £28,000 per annum (YMT Grade 4)
Hours: 37 hours per week, worked over 5 days

Your new organisation

York Museums Trust is an independent charitable organisation created to manage York Art Gallery, York Castle Museum, Yorkshire Museum & Gardens, and York St Mary’s. Our vision is to work together with audiences and communities to inspire, to share and to care for cultural heritage.

Your new role

We are seeking a Retail Services Manager to manage and develop our Retail services Team. This role will plan and lead the strategic direction and operational management of the retail offer. This will include ensuring marketing and promotion is carried out and future development online and in physical spaces to deliver income and profit.

You will be responsible for 5 outlets with different retail offers, placing orders and overseeing the purchasing of goods for sale as well as Oversee purchasing and management of several thousand stock lines.

You will be managing the work of the Retail Buyer and Product Developer to ensure that the stock reflects the current audience profile, attracts new customers and reflects the exhibitions and trends. As well as managing relationships with suppliers and sourcing new suppliers when appropriate.

What you’ll need to succeed

You will have a background in managing multi-site teams, stock management and shrinkage control, achieving sales and profit targets as well as the ability to recognise and respond to retail and social trends. You may also have experience in bespoke product development and buying for the heritage market.

You will have excellent knowledge of merchandising principles, commerciality in a heritage retail environment, an understanding of and ability to apply sales techniques as well as substantial knowledge of current retail practice and relevant heritage retail suppliers with a good understanding of history and art.

You will have proven negotiation skills, merchandising and display skills with an ability to motivate the team, forge positive relationships both internally and externally as well as having sound judgement and strong decision-making skills.

As an organisation York Museums Trust is committed to encouraging and increasing diversity amongst our workforces. YMT aims to attract and retain talented people from all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian, ethnic minority, and/or disabled applicants as these groups are currently underrepresented in the cultural sector. We also welcome applications from all socio-economic backgrounds.

How to apply:

Please download the following documents:

Please send your CV, the Equal Opportunities forms and a covering letter which answers the following questions (in no more than 500 words each) to recruitment@ymt.org.uk.

Please provide detail of where you were responsible for deciding on introducing a new range of items. What led you to decide on this particular group of items?
Please describe your management experience – size of team and if they were on the same site or across a number of different sites. What were the methods of communication you used?
Please detail your experience of working with other teams – I.e, marketing or collections.

CVs, covering letters and Equal Opportunities Forms should be returned to us via email at: recruitment@ymt.org.uk.

Applications can only be accepted from candidates who have permission to work in the UK.

If, after applying, you have not heard from us by two weeks after the closing date, please assume you have not been successful on this occasion, as we are unable to respond to every applicant.

Dates to bear in mind…

Closing date for applications is 9am on Monday 6 June 2022

Interviews will take place on the 15th June 2022

Assistant Visitor Experience Manager

Salary:      YMT Grade 3 £21,089 – £25,387
Contract:   Permanent 37 hours per week 

Your new organisation

Your new role

The postholder will assist in the development and management of a quality visitor experience, ensuring that York Museums Trust’s sites are successful and welcoming visitor destinations for all visitors. 

Working with the Visitor Experience (VE) Manager and other Assistant Managers, you will manage the day to day  activities of the VE Teams and YMT sites, supervising  buildings, their security, maintenance and on site supervision of contractors .

We are looking for someone who has relevant experience of supervising staff, a friendly and approachable demeanour and with excellent interpersonal, communication, influencing, and problem solving skills to deliver excellent visitor experience. In addition, you will have experience of the security and health and safety considerations for buildings open to the public.

As an organisation York Museums Trust is committed to encouraging and increasing diversity amongst our workforce. We welcome applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

How to apply:

Please download the following documents:

Please send your CV, the Equal Opportunities forms and a covering letter which answers the following questions (in no more than 500 words each) to recruitment@ymt.org.uk.

During the past two years we have seen huge changes across the Trust. What actions do you think managers can take to ensure changes are smooth and successful? Please describe a change situation you have contributed to.
What does the phrase “visitor first” mean to you – how might you bring about a “visitor first” approach when managing teams?
Referring to Knowledge, Experience, Skills and Behaviours section of the Job Description, which elements would you say are your strengths?
Please briefly tell us any other relevant information about your work or volunteering experience that makes you particularly suitable for this role (based on the Job Description).

CVs, covering letters and Equal Opportunities Forms should be returned to us via email at: recruitment@ymt.org.uk.

Applications can only be accepted from candidates who have permission to work in the UK.

If, after applying, you have not heard from us by two weeks after the closing date, please assume you have not been successful on this occasion, as we are unable to respond to every applicant.

Dates to bear in mind:

The closing date for applications is: 9am 7th June 2022.

Interviews will take place online on: Week commencing 13th June 2022.

Head of Content and Public Engagement

Contract: Full time, Permanent
Salary Range: £50,558 to £57,170 per annum (YMT Grade 8)
Hours: 37 hours per week, worked over 5 days

Your new organisation
York Museums Trust is an independent charitable organisation created to manage York Art Gallery, York Castle Museum, Yorkshire Museum & Gardens, and York St Mary’s. Our vision is to work together with audiences and communities to inspire, to share and to care for cultural heritage.

Your new role
We are seeking a Head of Content and Public Engagement to join our Senior Leadership Team and lead the development of York Museum Trust’s Public Engagement activity, Collections care, Communications and Marketing.

This is a key role for YMT, responsible for bringing together opportunities for audiences, communities, volunteers, schools, academics, and stakeholders to care for and share our amazing collections and cultural heritage through inspiring and relevant public engagement activity. YMT puts audiences, inclusion and inspiration at the heart of our public programme while also supporting income generation. This post will ensure that effective communications, marketing and social media activity drives engagement and ensures we achieve our visitor number targets, while also maintaining the reputation of the organisation.

As we rebuild in the wake of the pandemic this post will ensure that balance is achieved between wide and deep engagement, supporting the delivery of commercial objectives and deploying resources as effectively as possible.

York Museums Trust cares for more than one million objects, all of which are Designated as of national significance and with particular relevance to York and Yorkshire. The collections include Archaeology, Fine and Decorative Art, Social History including a significant Costume & Textiles collection and a Military History collection, Natural Sciences and Numismatics. This role is responsible for ensuring our collections are cared for, developed, researched and used to maximise public benefit.

YMT have ambitious plans to create a centralised collections store to hold the majority of our 1 million collection objects. This role will act as Project Director and so experience of major projects and / or collections store development projects would be an advantage.

What you’ll need to succeed
You may have a background in museums, heritage or the wider cultural industries and will bring substantial experience leading multidisciplinary teams and working in a multi-site environment at a senior level.

A proactive self-starter with a passion for high quality audience engagement practice and an interest in the power of objects to reveal more about the world around us, you will be a creative problem solver, able to oversee delivery of a complex programme of activity across YMT’s sites. You will be experienced in leading strategic partnerships and using data to inform decision making and future planning. You will be passionate about inclusion and representation and working with audiences and communities to ensure more diverse perspectives are represented in our programme.

You will have a robust understanding of collections care and development practice across a wide range of disciplines and experience of developing collections to ensure diversity and inclusion are reflected in collecting practices.

You will have experience of leading the strategic development of Communications, Marketing, social media and branding.

As an organisation York Museums Trust is committed to encouraging and increasing diversity amongst our workforce. YMT aims to attract and retain talented people from all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian, ethnic minority, and/or disabled applicants as these groups are currently underrepresented in the cultural sector. We also welcome applications from all socio-economic backgrounds.

What you’ll get in return
We offer a competitive salary, a defined benefit pension scheme, generous leave allowance and fully flexible working hours. The role will be based at York Castle Museum with flexibility to balance time in the office with working from home.

Interested?
How to apply:
Please download the following documents:

Please send your CV, the completed Equal Opportunities forms and a covering letter explaining why you want to work for York Museums Trust and how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role which should be no more than two sides of A4 to recruitment@ymt.org.uk.

Applications can only be accepted from candidates who have permission to work in the UK.  If, after applying, you have not heard from us by two weeks after the closing date, please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.

Dates to bear in mind…
Closing date for applications is 9am on Monday 6 June 2022
First stage interviews will take place on Monday 13 or Tuesday 14 June 2022

Visitor Experience Retail Assistant

Contract: Part time, Fixed Term from the 4^th July 2022 to 4^th September 2022.
Hours: 22 hours worked over 4 days including weekends.
Salary: Starting salary £11,356.76 (£19,100 fte)

Your new Organisation

Your new role

We’re currently looking to recruit an experienced individual to join the team offering a first class retail service to customers at the Sweet Shop on Kirkgate in the Castle Museum.

You will provide a first class retail service to our visitors, in person, by telephone and when processing internet sales. It will be your responsibility to ensure that retail areas are clean, tidy and well stocked, that cash is handled and sales processed accurately and efficiently and that all our customers, from many countries and backgrounds, have a great retail experience.

What you’ll need to succeed

You must have previous experience within a customer service environment, cash handling and numerical skills, and be familiar with using tills and handling and moving bulky stock items. You should also be passionate about sales and have sound merchandising skills developed within a retail environment.

Flexibility is essential for both these roles as you may be required to work bank holidays, weekends and some evenings.

You may be required to wear Victorian costume which will be provided.

What you’ll get in return

As an organisation York Museums Trust is committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity amongst our workforce. We welcome applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

Interested?

How to apply:

Please download the following documents:

Please send your CV, the completed Equal Opportunities forms and a covering letter answering the following points.

What does the phrase “visitor first” mean to you? What are your experiences of both delivering and receiving an excellent visitor (or customer) first approach?
What experience do have regarding the use of tills, card machines and handling cash?
The role will involve maximising revenue opportunities at the till, providing visitors with options to buy accompanying items or highlighting to them other options within the range. What do you believe are the key skills you possess in order to sell successfully?
Referring to the Knowledge, Experience, Skills and Behaviours section of the Job Description, which elements would you say are your strengths?

to recruitment@ymt.org.uk.

Applications can only be accepted from candidates who have permission to work in the UK.

If, after applying, you have not heard from us by two weeks after the closing date, please assume you have not been successful on this occasion, as we are unable to respond to every applicant.

The closing date for receipt of applications for is 9am 23^rd May 2022.
Interviews will take place in York on the 1^st June 2022.

Visitor Experience Team Members

Starting Salary: £19,100 fte per annum pro rata depending on hours (YMT Grade 1)
Hours: Various shift patterns
We have a number of exciting opportunities to work at either the Yorkshire Museum, York Castle Museum or York Art Gallery as a Visitor Experience Team Member. We are seeking warm and friendly individuals to join our Visitor Experience team who create a welcoming and engaging experience for all our visitors as we reopen our sites.

As a Visitor Experience Team Member, you will welcome visitors to our sites and actively promote the visitor offer. You will deliver excellent customer service and ensure that our visitors have an excellent experience. You will be involved in different aspects of the visitor experience; including interacting with visitors on galleries, delivering entertaining talks and tours, ticket sales and retail as well as providing information, supporting events and ensuring the safety of our visitors and security of our buildings and collections.

We are looking for people with customer service experience, preferably in a similar environment, who have a desire to exceed the expectations of the visitor and provide a memorable and personal experience for them. You will be able to empathise with others and show consideration and understanding towards a diverse visitor demographic.

How to apply:

Please download the following documents:

Please send your CV, the completed Equal Opportunities form, Rota Preference sheet and a covering letter which answers the following questions (in no more than 500 words each)

What does the phrase “visitor first” mean to you? What are your experiences of both delivering and receiving an excellent visitor (or customer) first approach?
We aim to provide a professional, premium service with a personal touch that enriches the experience of our visitors. How would you contribute positively to this?
The role will involve maximising revenue opportunities on the admissions desk, whether ticket sales, retail products or Gift Aid. What do you believe are the key skills you possess in order to sell successfully?
Referring to the Knowledge, Experience, Skills and Behaviours section of the Job Description, which elements would you say are your strengths?
Please briefly tell us any other relevant information about your work or volunteering experience that makes you particularly suitable for this role (based on the information in the Job Description).

to recruitment@ymt.org.uk.

Applications can only be accepted from candidates who have permission to work in the UK. 

We will be shortlisting and interviewing to fill positions as applications are received and the vacancy will close when all the positions are filled so please do not delay in applying. Each role will start as soon as possible.

If you have not heard from us by three weeks after you applied, please assume you have not been successful on this occasion, as we are unable to respond to every applicant.

Wedding & Events Host

Contract: A number of part time, permanent roles of 16 hours per week
Salary: £8259.46 per annum (£19,100 per annum fte)

Do you have excellent customer service skills?

We are looking for an individual to join our Wedding and Events Team assisting with the hosting and delivery of weddings, conferences and other events for York Venues.

You will have experience of working within a customer facing role, be a good communicator with a friendly and approachable attitude and be well organised. Flexibility is key in this role, as the role will be predominantly evening and weekend work.

This role is to cover our busy season working 16 hours a week with the potential opportunity for extra work within this period.

If you think you have got what it takes to consistently deliver excellent customer service, we encourage you to apply.

How to apply:

Please download the following documents:

Please send your CV, the Equal Opportunities forms and a covering letter which answers the following questions (in no more than 500 words each)

Please provide examples of exceptional customer service you have provided and explain why you think it is important in the role of Wedding and Events Host.
Please explain what you believe to be the most important attributes for the role of Weddings and Events Host and give examples of how you demonstrate these.
Please tell us about your experience of working evenings, weekends and unsociable hours.
Please tell us anything else about your skills and experience that might be relevant for this role.

to recruitment@ymt.org.uk.   

Applications can only be accepted from candidates who have permission to work in the UK.  If, after applying, you have not heard from us by three weeks after submitting your application, please assume you have not been successful on this occasion. 

Job Vacancies

Retail Services Manager

Assistant Visitor Experience Manager

Head of Content and Public Engagement

Visitor Experience Retail Assistant

Visitor Experience Team Members

Wedding & Events Host

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