The isle is famous for its fascinating history and spectacular beaches.
An amazing opportunity to work on one of Scotland’s most beautiful small islands has come up with a job that is “both fun and unique”. The island is considered to be the birthplace of Celtic Christianity in Scotland, while it is also known for its stunning white sandy beaches.
Iona Abbey on the tiny Isle of Iona is currently seeking a Visitor Experience Assistant from April to end September each year, with the role involving 35 hours of work per week at a starting salary of £27,740 pro-rata. The abbey was established in the year 563 and is one of the oldest Christian religious centres in Western Europe.
As reported by the Daily Record, Iona has previously been described as looking “just like the Caribbean” by a popular content creator. Chris Lawlor praised the small island for its “turquoise waters” and local eatery Ailidh’s that specialises in local seafood and Neapolitan pizzas.
Among the benefits of the Visitor Experience Assistant role are enrolment onto a Civil Service Pension scheme with 28 per cent employer contribution, 25 days annual leave—increasing to 30 days after three years— and 11.5 public holidays. Other perks include reimbursement for relevant professional subscriptions and support for further education and personal development.
Additionally, the successful applicant will benefit from study leave for work related courses and flexible working hours where appropriate. They will also get free entry to all of Historic Environment Scotland’s properties with up to three guests, as well as English and Welsh heritage properties.
Key responsibilities of the Visitor Experience Assistant include welcoming tourists and engaging proactively with customer service, processing and promoting retail and admissions transactions through the till system, and ensuring a high standard of presentation throughout the site.
The successful applicant will be expected to work as part of a team to achieve quality assurance indicators and actively support Historic Environment Scotland seminars, events, functions, and promotions. They will also deliver guided tours and talks as part of the core visitor experience.
Additionally, the Visitor Experience Assistant will proactively communicate with colleagues across the site to ensure high performance, standards, and consistency and support the Monument Manager on partnership and community engagement initiatives and projects. They will work together with the others in the monument team to achieve overall commercial performance targets.
Finally, the job will involve promoting commercial opportunities such as upcoming events and retail products where appropriate, assisting the Monument Manager to ensure accurate stock management and ensure the health and safety of staff, visitors, and contractors.
Those applying for the position must have experience delivering high standards of customer service in a fast-paced environment, strong team-working skills, and cash handling experience or willingness to undertake training. A genuine interest for working in the heritage tourism industry is also crucial.
Other essential attributes include IT skills and the ability to use basic online functions. Meanwhile, desirable requirements include knowledge of Iona Abbey and the surrounding area, previous experience communicating to large groups of people, and an existing first aid qualification.
When applying for the job, candidates should complete a cover letter that addresses why they are interested in the post with Historic Environment Scotland and how they can meet each of the essential and desirable criteria. The closing date for applications is Wednesday, June 24.
The job listing states: “Your role of Visitor Experience Assistant will be a part year permanent position from April to end September each year. Are you looking for a flexible seasonal job that is both fun and unique? You will get an insight into Scotland’s rich history and gain valuable experience in the tourism industry and help bring Scotland’s dramatic history to life for our visitors from across the world.
“Explore the fascinating stories from Scotland’s past and share your passion with international and local visitors who come to Iona during the season. Our Visitor Experience Assistant role delivers the highest standards of visitor experience at Iona Abbey and Nunnery working across all areas, including in the shop, admissions area and outside, with delivery of guided tours a core part of the role.”
More information about the job listing can be found on the Historic Environment Scotland website.
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