Visitor Experience Assistant - Learning and Families

Job Title: Visitor Experience Team Member (Learning and Families)
Location: National Emergency Services Museum, Sheffield
Reports to: Head of Operations
Contract: Part Time, Permanent (including weekdays and weekends)
Salary: £12.50 per hour

 

About Us

 

The National Emergency Services Museum (NESM) is a self-funded, registered charity and a well-loved visitor attraction located in the historic Victorian combined Police, Fire, and Ambulance Station on West Bar, Sheffield. Our museum offers an immersive experience of the history of emergency services, providing engaging exhibitions, educational programmes, and community outreach. We pride ourselves on bringing history to life for visitors of all ages.

 

The Role

 

As a Visitor Experience Team Member, you will be at the heart of our museum, ensuring that every visitor has an engaging, educational, and memorable experience. This role is diverse and dynamic, involving direct visitor interaction, facilitating learning activities, and supporting museum operations. You will work both as part of a team and independently across various museum functions, including visitor services, education, events, and community outreach.

 

Key Responsibilities

 

Visitor Engagement

• Welcome visitors at the entrance desk, process admissions, and provide general museum information.

• Work in the museum café and gift shop, assisting visitors and handling transactions.

• Answer visitor enquiries in person, via telephone, and through emails.

• Support community engagement activities and networking in our museum café spaces.

 

Education & Outreach

• Facilitate workshops and activities for school groups as part of our formal and informal learning programmes.

• Deliver interactive history workshops by stepping into character as a historical costumed interpreter.

• Teach mainly Foundation and Key Stage One children, while adapting to support all Key Stages, further education, university, and adult learners.

• Create and lead educational sessions for school holidays, special events, and outreach programmes.

• Assist with out-of-hours youth group activities.

• Work closely with the museum’s entire team, including the Curator, to further develop the museum’s formal and informal learning programmes, revamping existing workshops and creating new ones.

• Engage with community groups, families, and other groups to strengthen the museum’s educational and outreach offerings.

• Be part of the museum’s well-loved monthly Sensory Play and Under 5’s sessions.

 

Events & Community Engagement

• Play an active role in the museum’s special events, including Steampunk Weekend, Wartime Christmas, and school holiday activities.

• As part of the wider team, represent NESM at off-site events such as ‘999 Family Fun Day’ in Sheffield City Centre and ‘Wartime Village’ at the Sheffield Fair.

• Assist with planning and delivering public engagement programmes.

 

Operational Duties

• Handle group bookings using our booking systems.

• Support museum activities by assisting with planning and event execution.

• Contribute to the museum's day-to-day operations, ensuring a welcoming and efficient visitor experience.

 

About You

 

We seek a passionate, friendly, and dynamic individual who enjoys working with the public and bringing history to life. The ideal candidate will have:

• Experience in customer service, education, museums, or heritage settings (desirable but not essential).

• A confident, engaging personality with the ability to interact with visitors of all ages.

• Strong communication and public speaking skills, with the ability to deliver educational activities in an engaging way.

• A passion for history, education, and storytelling.

• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Flexibility to work weekdays, weekends, and occasional evenings.

• A willingness to dress in historical costume and perform as a costumed interpreter.

 

What We Offer

• The opportunity to work in a unique historic setting and play a key role in a small but mighty team.

• Hands-on experience in museum operations, education, and events.

• Training and development opportunities to enhance your skills.

• A chance to make a real impact in an independent, self-funded museum.​

 

Application Deadline: Midnight on March 23rd 2025

 

Join us in bringing history to life and making a difference in our community!