Community and Visitor Experience Officer – Job Opportunity
We’re seeking a passionate, well-organized and motivated individual. Someone to help deliver our exciting programme of events and projects throughout the 2025 season. In this role, you’ll create memorable educational experiences for visitors to Swindon’s historic Railway Village while using our resources to generate meaningful social value for the communities we serve.
What matters most is that you are passionate about our mission. We are keen to hear from anyone who feels they have relevant skills and experience, and we want to hear from you even if you do not meet all of the criteria below.
Job Title: Community and Visitor Experience Officer
Line Manager: Chair of Trustees
Contract: 6 months fixed term (April-October)
Hours: 20 hours per week (will consider +/- 5 hours per week based on experience)
Starting Salary: £13.21 – £15.40 per hour depending on experience.
Line Manager to: Selected Volunteers
Work Location: Emlyn Square, Swindon Railway Village, SN1 5BG (Hybrid)
Deadline: Wednesday 5th March 2025 23:59 (GMT)
Please note: While this is a hybrid role, the large majority of time your base will be in the community, delivering between two-five activities and projects weekly. Administration tasks you can complete remotely.
For an informal chat about the role, or to answer any questions, please contact Bob using the details below.
To Apply, please send your CV and cover letter to Bob Wright, Chair: bob.wright.gov@ntlworld.com
Please see full role description below.
Background
Swindon Heritage Preservation is Swindon’s only building Preservation Trust – combining community usage with building restoration, conservation and history. We seek to maximise our social impact through the use of our buildings. Thus, anyone can rent our facilities, visit our Railway Village museum and get involved in events and projects taking place all year round.
We operate in Emlyn Square – the heart of Swindon’s thriving historic Railway Village. Here we look after a number of heritage buildings:
- The Central Community Centre (Old GWR Medical Fund Hospital)
- Bakers Cafe (former pub)
- Cricketers Arms (former pub) and …
- … the Railway Village Museum (former railway worker’s cottage).
Community support is vital
Without community support our four heritage buildings may have been subject to closure or deterioration. Instead, they’re enjoyed as social, touristic, educational and cultural resources. We’ve kept them open, in use and thriving once again in the heart of Swindon.
As we celebrate our 30th anniversary in 2025, it’s an exciting time to join the team. We’re building on our current audiences and expanding our community engagement across Swindon and beyond.
Further, we’ve begun a rebranding journey as we transition from the Mechanics’ Institution Trust to Swindon Heritage Preservation where we’ll continue to preserve what matters to our community.
Without community support our four heritage buildings may have been subject to closure or deterioration. Instead, they’re enjoyed as social, touristic, educational and cultural resources. We’ve kept them open, in use and thriving once again in the heart of Swindon.
As we celebrate our 30th anniversary in 2025, it’s an exciting time to join the team. We’re building on our current audiences and expanding our community engagement across Swindon and beyond.
Further, we’ve begun a rebranding journey as we transition from the Mechanics’ Institution Trust to Swindon Heritage Preservation where we’ll continue to preserve what matters to our community.
What you’ll do
The future of our historic buildings relies on community support through funding, events, engaging interpretation, visitor services, and preventive conservation. Sustaining this heritage requires meaningful social interaction and immersive heritage experiences.
In this role, you’ll plan and deliver events and activities while ensuring the safety and well-being of both volunteers and visitors.
Volunteer co-ordination
- Work with our digital engagement officer and wider team to recruit, inform, train and retain volunteers in selected areas
- Work with our teams to review and maintain relevant volunteer and visitor policies and processes
- Create regular volunteer rotas to keep our teams informed and ensure the efficient spread of operational capacity
- Maintain records of completed volunteer hours and other voluntary contributions
- Be the main point of contact for our volunteer team
- Ensure the health and safety and wellbeing of all volunteers and visitors across any projects and activities you lead
- Be available for drop-in sessions and 1-1 meetings with volunteers for induction and review purposes
- Review and maintain relevant volunteer induction and training materials.
Project delivery
- Collaborate both internally and with external partners to plan project activities and events in advance
- Complete all necessary risk assessments, licenses and other relevant considerations in accordance with internal policies, local legislation and authority requirements
- Maintain adequate records of project evidence and engagement data including feedback, photographs and visitor numbers
- Complete relevant grant monitoring and evaluation forms where applicable
- Produce regular project reports for the board of trustees
- Prioritise tasks to ensure projects are delivered on time and to budget
- Manage and maintain relevant project and event budgets
- Take ownership of internal event trackers, checklists and calendars.
Railway Village Museum
- Work with our conservation management lead and buildings manager to ensure the completion of museum related planned maintenance along with relevant checklists and duties during events
- Work with our conservation management lead and archive team to maintain our social history collection items
- Work with our museum volunteer team and archive team to find creative solutions to share this collection and develop our interpretation strategies
- Review and maintain relevant visitor guides
- Maintain records of feedback, engagement data and visitor numbers
- Work with our volunteer teams to plan and deliver engaging and educational events
- Work with our volunteer teams to host bespoke visits to our museum.
Community development
- Carry out relevant surveys and community development consultations with local residents and stakeholders to identify needs
- Work with our local community to develop a programme of activities that support their needs
- Work with partner organisations such as Swindon Borough Council to deliver a regular ‘welcome space’ coffee morning aimed at supporting and engaging local Swindon residents
- Support our hirers and community partners to thrive in our historic buildings.
Marketing, digital engagement and social media
- Attend monthly digital team meetings to contribute to our online strategy and developments
- Plan in advance and work with our digital team to inform our audiences of upcoming events and activities
- Maintain adequate records and photographs to help our digital team to promote our work
- Supply all relevant details in advance to ensure optimum publicity and marketing.
Policies
- Ensure the implementation of SHP policies across all outputs
- Review relevant policies regularly to ensure compliance.
What we’re looking for
What matters most is that you’re passionate about our mission. We’re keen to hear from anyone who feels they have relevant skills and experience. We want to hear from you even if you don’t meet all the criteria below.
To thrive in this role, you’ll have:
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a genuine interest in helping others
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Be a proactive multitasker with strong organisational abilities
- Be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office / Google Suite and …
- … have excellent customer service skills.
Behaviours
- Friendly, warm, and approachable
- Confident and solutions-focused
- Takes initiative while also being a strong team player
- Committed to high standards and continuous learning
- Works with a positive attitude and resilience.
Special circumstances
- Willingness to sometimes work early mornings, evenings and weekends
- You may have to do some travelling
- You may be required to complete shopping on behalf of the charity for the benefit of projects and events.
Please note: If you have access to a vehicle, you’ll need ‘business use’ on your insurance if you intend to use your own vehicle for work purposes. You’ll receive compensation for any business miles travelled in accordance with HMRC approved mileage rates.
Eligibility criteria
- Eligibility to work in the UK
- Willingness to undergo relevant DBS and vetting checks – you’ll be handling charity funds and personal data
- Willingness to supply two successful references
- Access to a suitable WIFI network for remote working
Desirable skills and experience
- Museum, collections or interpretation experience
- Experience working in an educational or visitor experience setting
- Knowledge of basic gardening practices
- Experience completing risk assessments
- Experience planning and delivering events and projects
- Leadership and line management experience
- Experience with handling data analysis and reporting
How to apply
Please submit your CV and cover letter to Bob Wright, Acting Chair, before the above deadline.
bob.wright.gov@ntlworld.com
For an informal chat about the role, or to answer any questions, please contact Bob.
