Visitor Engagement Team Assistant Full Time

Contract Type: 2 x Part-Time, Permanent

Closing Date: 12 May 2026

Closing time: 11.59pm

Interview Method: Face to Face

Legal Right to Work: Applicants must have existing right to work in the UK, as visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

This role is subject to –

2 References – where possible we require 3 years’ history.

Proof of Manchester Residency – Roles at Grade 1 to 3, traineeships, or apprenticeships will initially only be advertised to Manchester residents and internal candidates. An applicant is classed as a resident of Manchester if they live within the boundaries of the City of Manchester; i.e. Any Council Tax liability for their home would be with Manchester City Council. To check if you fall under the Manchester City Council boundary please visit – https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

The Visitor Engagement Team is the connection between our visitors, our spaces, and our collection.

It is friendly, approachable, and knowledgeable, and helps people have the best possible experience during their visit. This involves welcoming visitors from a wide range of abilities and backgrounds, and providing them with the information they need to make the most of their visit. The Visitor Engagement Team is connected to the latest cultural news and event information, as well as what’s going on in Manchester’s broader cultural scene. The Team provides day-to-day access, care, and safety for all our visitors as well as collaborates closely with the Building Services Team to ensure that everything looks smart, tidy and is safe for the public and staff to enjoy. This involves assisting First Aid and Fire Evacuation procedures, as well as full compliance with Health and Safety requirements.

The Visitor Team also delivers tours and engagement activities and collects important visitor data through surveys in the gallery. In addition, the Team actively engages with other gallery teams and partners to offer a variety of events, programmes, and activities across the gallery. The Visitor Team brings an enthusiasm to all forms of art and creativity, and does so by proactively engaging with our visitors. Each Visitor Team member must enjoy working as part of a highly skilled team and feel confident to actively encourage donations and feedback from our visitors as well as deal with difficult situations.

If you’re successful, you’ll join a team of Visitor Engagement professionals who play a key role in creating welcoming, safe, and inspiring experiences for everyone who walks through our doors.

For an informal discussion or if you have any question, please contact the hiring manager, Jarrod Homer (jarrod.homer@manchester.gov.uk)

We’re looking for someone who is confident, approachable, and passionate about creating great experiences for all our visitors. You’ll be a excellent communicator, comfortable working in a busy public environment, and able to handle a wide range of situations with professionalism and care. A genuine interest in arts and culture is important, as is the ability to work well as part of a team, stay calm under pressure, and bring energy and enthusiasm to the role.

Essential requirements for the role:     

• Friendly, confident, and approachable with a strong commitment to excellent visitor service.
• Effective communicator, able to engage with a wide range of people and respond to enquiries clearly and professionally.
• Experience of working in a busy public environment.
• Calm and confident in handling difficult situations and following procedures.
• Willingness to learn and stay informed about exhibitions, collections, and public programmes.
• Able to work well as part of a team and contribute positively to meetings and shared goals.
• Competent in using digital tools (e.g. iPads, email, intranet) to access and share information.

Desirable requirements that would be useful in this role:  

• Experience in a visitor-facing or customer service role, ideally in a cultural or public setting.
• Interest in or knowledge of art, culture, or museums.
• Experience delivering tours or engagement activities.
• Ability to contribute to social media or digital content creation.
• Awareness of health and safety procedures and manual handling best practices.

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.

Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester Is Our Vision For a Fairer, Greener, And Healthier City – a Vision Shaped By The People Of Manchester. It Guides Everything We Do At The Council And Is Brought To Life Through The Our Manchester Behaviours

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits We Offer

• Generous holiday allowance – Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
• A buzzing pension – You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave – Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks – Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow – We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
• A Good Employment Charter member – We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave – Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Support During the Process

• Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the “Accessibility tools” button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

Requirements

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans
• Current or former care leavers
• Have a disability or long-term condition

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, Offering

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email jobs@manchester.gov.uk.

What We Will Need From You If You’re Successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship. 

Pre-Employment Checks

Required

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for. As a guide, these checks may include:

• Proof of Right to Work: You’ll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK. Please note, visa sponsorship is not guaranteed for this role.
• References: We’ll require references from your current and previous employer(s).
• Proof of Qualifications: Evidence of qualifications relevant to the role will be required.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check: A criminal record check may be necessary, depending on the role.
• Proof of Manchester Residency: For some roles, you may need to demonstrate that you reside within the boundaries of Manchester City Council.
• Police Vetting: Some roles may require police vetting to ensure suitability for accessing sensitive law enforcement systems or information.
• Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Clearance: BPSS clearance is primarily used for roles that involve access to government data, systems, or assets. It ensures that individuals meet basic security requirements and can be trusted with sensitive information
• Driving Licence: If the role requires driving, we’ll need evidence of your valid driving licence.

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve.

Other Relevant Information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.

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