Visitor Experience Manager

The Role:

We are seeking an experienced Visitor Experience Manager (VEM) to play a vital role in leading and shaping the visitor journey at Waddesdon Manor, working Wednesday-Sunday. The successful candidate will be an integral part of the Visitor Experience Management Team at Waddesdon Manor ensuring that every visitor enjoys an outstanding experience that is welcoming, inclusive, and memorable.

You will be responsible for developing a culture of exceptional service, every time, for everyone, leading by example and inspiring the wider visitor experience team to deliver outstanding customer service. With extensive management experience in a visitor-facing heritage environment, you will act as an ambassador for our visitors across the property, ensuring their needs and expectations are embedded at the heart of all operations.

What you will do:

As Visitor Experience Manager (VEM), you will oversee house-based visitor operations and lead a seamless visitor engagement program - including tours, walks, and talks - ensuring that all audiences enjoy an exceptional and inspiring experience. By maintaining consistently high standards of welcome, interpretation and storytelling, you will enhance visitor satisfaction and foster memorable experiences.

You will play a key role in the growth and evolution of the Visitor Experience department, driving excellence in operations, recruitment, training, customer service, and engagement initiatives. With a strong understanding of heritage best practices, you will contribute to shaping the Visitor Experience strategy, ensuring long-term success and the achievement of key performance indicators (KPIs).

Key responsibilities include but not limited to:

Operational Management

• Oversee the visitor experience within the house, supporting the Assistant Visitor Experience Manager (AVEM) to ensure a consistently high-quality experience for all guests.
• Ensure impeccable presentation standards aligned with brand guidelines.
• Full compliance of operational policies and procedures.
• Ensure staff and volunteers are engaged with their roles and environment.
• Effective staff planning that aligns with budget and operational needs.
• Strategically plan for the future of the house-based visitor operation by benchmarking against industry leaders, implementing best practices, and managing change, where needed.
• Support the AVEM in the operational delivery of house openings and tours.
• Act as an escalation point for visitor feedback or complaints, ensuring prompt and confident resolution.

Tours & Walks Operation

• Oversee the daily delivery of the public tours and walks program, ensuring high-quality, well-resourced experiences.
• Serve as a central point of coordination between teams and departments to efficiently manage spaces and resources.
• With the AVEM provide motivational and supportive leadership to all guides and volunteers, ensuring visitor expectations remain central to operations
• Collaborate with relevant departments to create scripts and guidance for walks and tour programme delivery
• Train as a guide to cover staff/volunteer shortfalls and maintain consistency in the visitor offer
• Support out-of-hours exclusive access tours, sharing responsibilities with the VE management team
• Develop industry-leading, accessible, and revenue-generating tour visitor engagement programme
• Develop a guide recruitment and training programme.
• Work with the Head of Visitor Experience (HVE), Group Bookings Coordinator, and Marketing team to tailor tours and walks to visitor and group preferences.

People Management

• Line manage the AVEM, providing operational guidance and supporting their professional development.
• Offer strong, motivational leadership to guides and volunteers, serving as an approachable point of contact.
• Recruit, develop, and coach a high-performing, enthusiastic team, setting clear objectives and providing regular feedback.
• Inspire teams to engage with and safely manage the historic environment, fostering a passion for the house, its history, and collections.
• Collaborate with the VE & Volunteering teams to expand and enhance the year-round Visitor Experience volunteering program.
• Lead annual visitor care training for staff and volunteers.
• Provide ongoing role-specific training to ensure high standards of delivery.

Other Duties & Responsibilities

• Work with the Head of Visitor Experience to manage staffing and operational budgets, contributing to financial planning.
• Champion accessibility, ensuring all visitor offers meet best practice accessibility guidelines and supporting the AVEM in developing access initiatives.
• Deputise for the HVE and provide operational duty management in the AVEM s absence.
• Serve as a second duty manager for large events, overseeing a designated site area and making operational decisions.
• Act as a trained First Aider and Fire Marshall (training provided).
• Train as a White Hat for Waddesdon s Disaster Response Team and take a leadership role in major incidents if required
• Support frontline operations during peak times, major events, or staff shortages as required
• Stay informed on industry trends and best practices in the heritage/museum sector

You will be a great fit if:

You are skilled managing front-line teams and overseeing visitor operations, consistently delivering high standards of service and engagement. You have a passion for heritage and culture and can develop and deliver tours, walks and visitor programs that are accessible, inspiring and memorable. You are skilled at recruiting, training and motivating staff and volunteers, fostering a high-performing team while maintaining operational excellence. You have the ability to respond confidently to visitor feedback and will contribute to the long-term success and growth of the Visitor Experience department.

This role offers a unique opportunity to work within the charity and heritage sector, with all profits going to the upkeep and preservation of the House and Grounds.

Your areas of knowledge and expertise that matter for this role:

• Operational Leadership: minimum of 3 years experience in operational and line management within a fast-paced, visitor-focused environment, ideally in the heritage or museum sector.
• Passion for Heritage & the Arts: A genuine interest in heritage, arts management, and the natural world.
• Team Management & Development: Skilled in coaching, team development, and effective communication. Excellent interpersonal skills, adept at building relationships and managing complex stakeholder interests.
• Volunteer Management: Experience in leading and engaging volunteers, with an understanding of how to effectively motivate, recognize, and reward their contributions.
• Visitor Experience & Engagement: Proven passion and experience in delivering exceptional visitor experiences and engagement programmes.
• Strategic Contribution: Strong time management, project management, organisational and problem-solving skills. Familiar with best practices and trends in museums, heritage and visitor attractions, with experience driving operational improvements.
• Collection Care & Conservation: Understanding of historic collection care, conservation, health and safety, and security legislation.
• Communication & Public Engagement: Strong written and interpersonal skills, with experience in public speaking, guiding, or presenting. Ability to remain calm and confident under pressure.
• Financial & Technical Proficiency: Some experience in budget management and commercial awareness. Strong IT skills, particularly in Microsoft Office, with familiarity in POS and ticketing platforms.

Additional requirements:

The safety and wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults are of the utmost importance for any role at the Rothschild Foundation, Waddesdon Manor. Consequentlythis position will require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to uphold the safety and security of all our guests, staff and volunteers.

Rewards for working with us:

• Waddesdon Discounts 50% discount in the food-to-go outlets at the Manor. 20% in the Manor gift shop and restaurant, Stables Café, Five Arrows Hotel, and The Bow Pub. 20% discount on special event tickets made available to staff.
• Staff Card - A National Trust staff card entitles two adults and children under 18 years of age free admission to all National Trust properties and 20% discount in NT retail and catering outlets.
• Annual Leave - On starting with us, you will receive 25 days annual leave per year plus 8 public holidays pro-rata. Stay with us for 3 years and this rises to 28 days, 30 days after five years and 32 days after 10 years.
• Sick pay - If you become ill, one week of sick pay during your first 3 months. This rises to a maximum of 3 months full pay within a rolling 12-month period. After four years you also receive a further 3 months at half pay in the rolling 12-month period.
• Pension - We will top up your pension by matching any contribution you make, up to 10% of your basic salary.
• Income Protection on completing one year of continuous service, income protection may be available at 50% of basic salary for a maximum of 5 years.
• Life Assurance . click apply for full job details