Centre Assistant (X3) – (Fixed Term)

You will help us provide a brilliant experience for the 20,000+ visitors who come to enjoy the extraordinary spectacle of a quarter of a million endangered seabirds gathering to breed on the cliffs and sea stacks at the West Light.

This is a role for people who genuinely share our passion for saving nature. Crucially, we inspire our visitors to support the environment and wildlife and the many vital projects of the RSPB which protect our wild places and biodiversity. We do this by sharing our knowledge and enthusiasm and actively engaging every single visitor.

You will need to be a ‘people person’ and work closely with a team of staff and volunteers to deliver the warmest welcome and an exceptional visitor experience. In addition to helping people understand and enjoy the birds, you will introduce people to the opportunity to explore Ireland’s only upside-down lighthouse, a functioning lighthouse with a fascinating history and powerful ties to the people of Rathlin Island. We are also ambassadors for the island and the local area. We can guide visitors to other nearby attractions, particularly to opportunities to engage with our natural spaces and wildlife.

Candidates should have the confidence to address and marshal large groups of people. You will also need to be a multi-tasker who can process ticket sales efficiently, promote membership of RSPB and simultaneously maximise uptake of our refreshment and retail offerings.

We pride ourselves on immaculate presentation of our premises, so cleaning and maintenance are important tasks throughout the day. We are keen to uphold our reputation of giving the warmest friendliest welcome ‘in the West’!

Centre Assistants will live on Rathlin during the season with the opportunity to rent staff accommodation on the island. Rathlin is a place of astonishing natural beauty where daily immersion in an unspoiled natural environment is a very rich experience. You will also have the chance to engage with the vibrant social and cultural life of the island living in a welcoming island community experiencing small island life.

This is a seven-day-a-week operation. We work on rota which will include regular weekend work and occasional evening shifts for special events.

If this appeals to you, please apply. It is not just a seasonal job; it will be an unforgettable life adventure.

Essential Skills, Knowledge And Experience

• GCSE Maths and English or equivalent.
• Basic food hygiene knowledge
• Computer literate.
• Enthusiastic approach to work.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Ability to plan and prioritise workloads.
• Multitasking skills
• Problem-solving skills and ability to work on own initiative.
• Ability to manage and respond quickly and positively to customer needs and feedback.
• Ability to work as part of a team.

Desirable Skills, Knowledge And Experience

• Experience of working at a catering environment/visitor attraction.
• Knowledge of health and safety in the workplace.
• Knowledge of food and foodservice skills.
• Till operation and payment handling.

These are Fixed-Term/ Full-Time roles for 37.5 hours per week.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position 17th and 18th February. For further information please contact [email protected]

As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship – the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.