Retail Assistant

About the role

We’re excited to be recruiting a small number of Retail Assistants to join our friendly and dedicated team at the National Galleries of Scotland. You must already have proven experience in retail or customer service. We’re looking for people who bring a genuine enthusiasm for working with the public along with a positive, can-do attitude. If that sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.

As a Retail Assistant, you’ll play a vital part in creating a warm, welcoming environment for our visitors. You'll enjoy meeting new people and take pride in delivering excellent customer service every time. Whether it's helping someone find the perfect gift or simply offering a friendly smile, your passion and energy will help make each visit memorable.

We’re offering fixed-term contracts running from 14 July 2025 to 09 November 2025, with a variety of shift patterns as below. Please note that weekend availability is essential, and occasional early evening work may be required.

12 hours (3 days) per week - 12 noon until 4.00 p.m.
16 hours (4 days) per week - 12 noon until 4.00 p.m.
21 hours (3 days) per week - 09.30 a.m. until 5.30 p.m.
28 hours (4 days) per week - 09.30 a.m. until 5.30 p.m.

Interviews will be held on Tuesday 17, Wednesday 18, Monday 23, and Tuesday 24 June 2025.

The difference you’ll make

In all that you do, you'll support the Retail Team by providing excellent direct customer services. Reporting to the Shop Manager your responsibilities will include:

- Working flexibly undertaking a range of tasks including providing customer information, counter sales, cash taking and till operations, ensuring high standards of customer service in keeping with our standards, aims, and objectives.
- Developing and maintaining a thorough knowledge of all products to be able to identify features and benefits and introduce appropriate linked sales.
- Contributing to the achievement of sales targets by proactively promoting our shop products and/or tickets.
- Ensuring the security of our cash, stock, equipment, and property within the shop/ticketing area.
- Maintaining the standards of merchandising, display and housekeeping required.
- Carrying out ticketing and/or shop administration procedures and activities including maintaining records of stock transfers and adjustments, banking procedures, purchase order procedures, stock records and cashing up tills.
- Receiving, checking, and pricing deliveries, ensuring that stock is well maintained and securely stored.
- Assisting the Shop Manager and/or Supervisor to improve customer service, selling and retailing standards and shop performance generally through providing customer feedback and contributing ideas to improve the performance and smooth running of the shop.
- Checking tickets upon entry to the exhibition to ensure the ticket is valid and assisting visitors as necessary.

Who we are looking for

To succeed in this role, you’ll need the following range of knowledge, skills, and experience:

- Proven experience of working within a retail or customer services environment.
- Knowledge of visual merchandising.
- Previous cash handling experience.
- Ability to deal positively and effectively with customer enquiries.
- Good interpersonal / communication skills and a helpful manner.
- Experience of using administrative procedures relevant to a shop environment.
- Good numeracy skills with high standards of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Ability to plan and prioritise tasks.

It would also be great if you have:

- Knowledge and appreciation of art
- Flexible approach to the job
- Gaelic /Foreign language or BSL skills

Please apply directly via our careers portal. Applications via email will not be accepted.

The closing date for applications is at 12 noon on Friday, 30 May 2025.

Museum Website: https://www.nationalgalleries.org/careers