Position Details

Lapworth Museum

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Grade 3

Hourly rate: £13.02 per hour plus holiday entitlement 

Casual contract from Monday 20th May 2024

Please note working patterns are due to be discussed upon interview.  

Closing date: Wednesday 2nd May 23.59.  

This vacancy is only open for University of Birmingham students. 

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university.  We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate.  We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site.  On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.

Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham 

Job Summary

• To welcome visitors and provide them with information about the Lapworth Museum and other cultural attractions on campus as necessary. 
• To collect visitor data and feedback
• To actively promote and sell the museum’s gift sales on a daily basis
• The nature of this job requires regular weekend working on a rota basis within the Visitor Services Team. Typical opening times would be 10am to 5pm during weekdays and 12p.m. to 5p.m. on weekends.

Main Duties

 1.   Customer Care 

• Be familiar with and implement agreed levels of customer care always providing excellent customer service.
• Always have a high level of customer care.
• Greet customers arriving for group tours including weekdays and weekends
• Check and tidy visitor areas, equipment, and facilities throughout the day to a high standard of cleanliness.
• Impromptu responding to specific incidents or requirements

2.   Monitoring/Reception of Visitors 

• Provide admission facilities to visitors.
• Actively promote visitor data collection.
• Record visitor numbers from electronic counting system
• Monitor visitorflow in order to efficiently minimise queues and prevent overcrowding.
• To operate electronic card transaction machines with the appropriate levels of skill and accuracy. 

3.   Visitor Welcome/Information Provision 

• To maintain an attractive and informative recruitment/information point by ensuring adequate supply and displayof printed publicity. Promote and sell the museum’s gifts.
• Sell refreshments
• Observe at all times the highest standards of customer care and always project a friendly, helpful and approachableimage to all visitors and users.
• Ensure that the various constraints on visitors, which are essential to the safekeeping of the property and its exhibits, are applied in a sympathetic manner.
• Acquire a sound knowledge of the museum and its exhibits so as to ensure all visitors receive appropriate welcome and are provided with accurate information.
• Ensure all areas are tidy prior to opening and throughout the day.
• Direct specific enquiries to other museum staff as necessary
• Promote Museum events and activities, plus take and record bookings
• Complete all necessary records and documentation legiblyand correctly, and carry out prompt dispatch of relevant forms and documents where necessary. 

4.   Administration

• Liaise and work in close co-operation with College staff, particularly members of the Lapworth Museum Team.
• Observe all Health & Safety regulations as set out by the University in accordance with its statutory obligations.  

5.   Retail 

• To effectively assist the museum’s retail operation on a daily basis and to developthe business to maximize income and profitability within agreed guidelines, policies and procedures.  Ensure that the shop forms an integral part of the visitor experience. 
• Ensure every opportunity is taken to increase sales through upselling and to convert visitors to customers, whilst ensuring high levels of service are provided to exceed customer expectations 
• Ensure that the shop is presented to best effect and that maximum use is made of the available space, utilising merchandising guidelines, and by making most effective use of EPOS and stock data and point of sale materials.  Ensure that all fixtures, fittings and premises are maintained to a high standard of cleanliness and appearance. 
• Carry out all appropriate procedures relating to stock control, including stock checks. In addition, maintain tight stock control by ensuring all products are ticketed and processed correctly. 
• Ensure the security of the premises, stock and equipment and documentation at all times, by following laid down procedures.  Carry out daily card transaction report.  

6.   Personal Development 

• Attend training courses, workshops and Lapworth team meetings as necessary, and undertake one-to-one training as and when required in order to maintainagreed standards of visitor welcome/services

Person Specification

 Knowledge:

Essential

• Computer skills in MS Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Good standard of education – numerate/literate. GCSE mathematics and English Grade C or above.
• Museum, retail or venue environment knowledge. 

Desirable 

• Customer Care 
• Basic Epos knowledge 
• Selling Skills

Skills: 

Essential 

• Team/People skills 
• Customer focus 
• Strong inter-personal skills – effective communicator

  Desirable 

• Basic financial acumen 
• Selling and merchandising skills 
• Ability to work under own initiative

Experience: 

Essential

• Strong experience in retail or similar customer service environment 

Desirable 

• Experience of merchandising & display
• Card transaction experience (training will be provided)

Grade 2 - 5

View our staff values and behaviours here 

 Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

The University of Birmingham restricts all students to working up to 15 hours per week during term time. If your application is successful and your course does not follow the usual academic term timetable (e.g.  PGT, PGR or PhD student), you and your supervisor must formally agree vacation periods if this role exceeds 15 hours per week. In addition to this, please be aware if you are an International student you will be required to apply to the Registry for the appropriate Authorised Absence. 

You are only eligible to apply to this role if you are a current University of Birmingham student. If you are not a University of Birmingham student your application will not be considered.

To work you will need to carry out a right to work check. These checks will need to be completed prior to work commencing.