Visitor Experience Officer

Job Purpose

We are looking for a versatile and enthusiastic public-facing team member to support the development, launch and operation of ANT’s new commercial ventures - including plans to launch ecotourism, commercial rental offerings at Lower Chew Forest and carry out scoping of green burials - to start generating commercial income which can go back into supporting the charity’s ongoing work. 

This is a dynamic role that will involve supporting the successful launch and operation of new ventures through focusing on optimising and improving the experience of paying visitors to the site, taking into account all aspects of their journey with us - from hearing about us and booking to their actual visit, and onto aftercare and follow-ups to encourage repeat visits. As part of this, the role will also support the development of new branding and marketing materials and ‘added value’ extras that can enhance the visitor experience and generate additional revenue.

You will be joining a small but mighty team working hard to make exciting new ideas a reality and a success.

Main responsibilities

• Leading on ensuring excellent visitor experience, including facilitating bookings; fielding customer service needs, enquiries & issues (digital, on the phone and in person); identifying and solving or escalating issues; and tailoring our digital marketing and on-site offerings to ensure guest satisfaction

• Supporting with the development of new branding and marketing materials for commercial ventures as required, focusing initially on our new ecotourism offering at Lower Chew Forest

• Supporting the operational setup and smooth running of ecotourism at Lower Chew Forest, for example through researching possible operational approaches, systems and tools, making recommendations and supporting their implementation and smooth running

• Researching, proposing and implementing ancillary offerings for guests (such as experiences, events and memorial items) which both add value to their experience and generate additional revenue for the charity, and forming the partnerships to deliver them - including working alongside our fundraising team

• Collecting, collating and analysing visitor data - such as reviews, feedback, spend and engagement with our various offerings - and reporting on these with recommendations to management and trustees 

• Supporting a small but busy and growing Business Development team flexibly as needs change - for example by supporting the development of new ventures such as biochar production, or the scoping of emerging commercial opportunities across the Lower Chew Valley and beyond 

• Work with the wider Avon Needs Trees team to help build a resilient, multi-site charity with a flourishing commercial arm, undertaking other work necessary to pursue our aims

• As with all Avon Needs Trees roles, contributing to grant writing and fundraising activities

• Other duties and opportunities as required
   

Working relationships and expectations

• You will be part of the Commercial Team reporting to the Head of Business Development

• Hybrid working between home, our office (currently on Lower Castle Street, Bristol) and our sites in the Lower Chew Valley (near Hustrete), with the expectation of being present in our office or on site more than half the days on the typical week

• Occasional evening and weekend working will be required but this is not a substantial feature of your role

• Our staff maintain an appropriate level of confidentiality, professionalism and discretion at all times

• Our staff comply with organisational policies, procedures, and guidance, and external regulations and laws.
   

Person Specification

Essential

• Passion and commitment to addressing the climate and nature emergencies in general (and woodland creation in particular)
• Ambitious and positive about exploring new ventures, generating new ideas and developing new commercial offerings that offer both an excellent customer experience and provide income to support the charity’s wider work
• Strong communication skills with a warm public-facing approach, and experience working directly with the public in a customer service setting
• Excellent people and conflict management skills
• Good project management skills and experience working with external partners, contractors, agencies and/or operational staff -  in a public-facing tourism or other setting
• Ability to thrive in a multidisciplinary role with a range of responsibilities as part of a small, dynamic team

Desirable

• Experience in the development, setup or operational management of commercial activities - in particular in the tourism or ecotourism sectors
• Experience creating, deploying and managing digital marketing - in particular within the tourism or ecotourism sectors
• Experience of operational management, including HR, health & safety, and safeguarding - ideally in a public/outdoor environment
• Strong working knowledge and experience of data management and analysis, IT administration and cyber security 

Our commitment to equality and equity 

Your application will have all personal details redacted before being assessed by our short-listing panel. 

As a Disability Confident employer, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the  essential criteria for the role. 

To address any diversity gaps in our team we will also offer an interview to candidates who meet  the essential criteria and are from under-represented groups. At this time this applies to those from  Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups. 

Avon Needs Trees is a Living Wage and Disability Confident accredited employer, and a supporter  of the West of England Good Employment Charter. We especially welcome applications from under-represented group