Nuffield trust jobs
About the role
Are you someone who enjoys working with others and making a difference by supporting a dynamic team? If you're looking for a role where no two days are the same, with exposure to a range of different work and people, this opportunity at the Nuffield Trust could be perfect for you.
You may have prior experience in an administrative assistant role, perhaps in a policy communications, operations or stakeholder engagement team. More importantly, you will have logistical management skills; exceptional attention to detail; problem-solving abilities; and strong interpersonal skills. You'll need to smoothly manage competing priorities with flexibility, diligence, and a friendly demeanour.
This role presents an exciting chance for someone with these relevant skills to immerse themselves in the realm of public policy and research. If you're eager to develop your skills and grow in a supportive and dynamic environment, we encourage you to apply.
You’ll spend your time:
- Supporting the Communications & External Affairs Team by organising meetings, assisting with event planning, updating stakeholder databases and coordinating social media content with the Media & Public Affairs Manager
- Providing administrative assistance to the Director of Communications & External Affairs, including diary management and travel arrangements.
- Supporting the Operations Team with a range of administrative tasks including processing invoices, supporting recruitment and onboarding, maintaining IT archives and contributing to larger team projects as needed.
- Coordinating the Trust’s internal operating committees including risk steering, IT and data strategy groups.
We’d really like to meet you if you:
- Enjoy variety in your work and are adept at multitasking
- Work calmly under pressure and to tight deadlines.
- Demonstrate first-rate organisational skills and the ability to plan ahead and prioritise multiple tasks effectively in order to meet deadlines.
- Have strong IT skills, particularly Microsoft Office.
About us
The Nuffield Trust is an independent health think tank. We aim to improve the quality of health care and health policy in the UK by providing evidence-based research and policy analysis and informing and generating debate.
Benefits
The Trust offers a competitive benefits package including a defined contribution pension scheme (with 14% employer contribution), death in service insurance, and an Employee Assistance Programme. Eligible employees also have access to a number of other benefits including interest-free travel loans, a cycle to work scheme, and enhanced carers, maternity, paternity and parental leave and pay. We operate a hybrid working policy and flexible start/finish times around core hours of 10am to 3pm. Due to the nature of this role, we expect 50–60% attendance in the office (typically Tuesday-Thursday) to assist with relevant on-site activities.
Annual leave is 28 days per year. This rises to 30 days per year on completion of 5 years’ service with the Trust. All Annual leave is calculated pro rata for part time positions.
The Trust also encourages personal development and training programmes for all employees.
How to apply
To learn more about the role, please download a copy of the Candidate Brief.
To apply, please go to The Nuffield Trust Recruitment site and complete the online application process before midnight on Friday 12 September.
Please include a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role, highlighting in particular your experience of managing a large and varied workload from a range of colleagues and stakeholders.
When preparing your application, please bear the following in mind with respect to the use of AI. The Nuffield Trust values authenticity and wants to understand your unique experiences, perspective, and personality. We acknowledge that AI can be used to refine responses, but this should not replace your own thinking. It is your unique style and experiences that will make your application stand out.
Equal opportunities
The Nuffield Trust is committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We wish to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and appointed solely on their suitability for the post irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
The diversity monitoring questions in the application form are optional and will not be shared with the selection panel. The selection panel will only have access to your CV and your responses to the application questions.
Offers of employment will be conditional upon the receipt of two satisfactory references. Applicants must also have the right to work in the UK. For further information please visit the UKVI website.
Reasonable travel expenses to attend an interview can be claimed.
Strictly no agencies.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
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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. Consequently this 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 – a lump sum of 4 times basically annual salary is payable upon death in service.
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Support – access to a wellbeing platform and fully funded 1:1 counselling service.
- Enhanced Maternity Pay – after 12 months of continuous service, you can choose 13 weeks of maternity leave at full pay followed by 26 weeks statutory pay.
- Enhanced Paternity Pay – after 12 months of continuous service, you may take 3 months of paternity leave at full pay.
- And plenty more!
Registered Charity
101 - 500
Our areas of interest are Arts and Culture and Regenerative Food and Farming, where we make a number of multi-year investments each year.
