Visitor Services Assistant at The Unicorn Preservation Society

The Unicorn Preservation Society has secured funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other co-funders to progress plans for the next phase of Project Safe Haven (PSH), an ambitious project that will transform the visitor experience to HMS Unicorn, preserve the ship for the future, and enable us to grow our award-winning outreach, volunteering and engagement work. This role is to support the development phase of this project. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals with excellent customer service to contribute to Unicorn’s 5-star welcome and customer service.

Launched in 1824, HMS Unicorn in the third oldest ship in the world still afloat and one of the six oldest ships in the world! Now a historic ship and Accredited Museum, HMS Unicorn is situated in City Quay, Dundee. Visitors can explore four decks full of history and discover the unique experience of life on board a 19th century frigate.

Our mission is to deliver a world class museum experience, work continuously to safeguard the future of HMS Unicorn, and care for our collections while making them accessible to all.

Our vision is to inspire those who visit and work with us, offering lifelong learning and engagement opportunities for our local communities and beyond.

The key tasks will include:

• Act as the principle point of welcome for all visitors to HMS Unicorn, making them feel welcome and handling all enquiries promptly and professionally
• Staffing the museum’s shop, ensuring it is well stocked, presentable and clean
• Operating the Front Desk (e.g. monitoring alarm systems, answering the phone, issuing keys, signing-in contractors etc.);
• Undertake daily reconciliation and preparation of cash
• Carry out guided tours of the ship for groups of visitors
• Ensuring public areas are kept clean and tidy
• Discreetly and sensitively safeguard the security of visitors, staff, volunteers and museum assets, and report hazards, near misses and incidents;
• Assist with the evacuation of visitors and museum colleagues in the event of an emergency in accordance with evacuation protocols;
• Support the delivery of museum events and assist in the delivery of other events as required
• Work under the instruction of the Museum Director, Operations Officer, Volunteering, Engagement and Learning Officer as required
• Adhere to organisational policies, including Health and Safety legislation, and procedures to protect people and the Museum’s reputation
• Uphold the Museums Associations code of ethics and HMS Unicorn’s company values

Essential

• Experience of Customer Service or Hospitality Role
• Experience in dealing with the public
• Demonstrable cash handling skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Good inter-personal skills and the ability to engage with all types of people
• Good IT skills
• Time management skills and the ability to work on own initiative

Desirable

• Experience of dealing with customer feedback
• Experience of working with children and young people HMS Unicorn is currently not fully physically accessible for all users, and there are therefore physical requirements that come with this role on board a wooden, historic ship

Access

HMS Unicorn is accessed via an entry gangway which can rise up to a 50 degree angle at high tide and dip to a 50cm drop at low tide. The different decks on board HMS Unicorn which are only accessible via ladderways. For a full description of access aboard HMS Unicorn, please refer to our access guide.

Application is by Covering Letter (no more than one side of A4) and CV (no more than 2 sides of A4) addressing how you fit the above requirements to David Livingstone, david@hmsunicorn.org.uk, or by post to David Livingstone, HMS Unicorn, South Victoria Dock Road, Dundee, DD1 3BP to be received no later than 5pm Friday 13th of September 2024.