Senior Visitor Experience Officer
| Posting date: | 02 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £28,133 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 15 February 2026 |
| Location: | Kingston Lacy Estate, Kingston Lacy, Wimborne, BH21 4EA |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | National Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | IRC167741 |
Summary
We’re looking for someone dynamic and creative with great people skills, who loves to inspire and delight by providing top-quality experiences for visitors, to join us as a Senior Visitor Experience Officer at Kingston Lacy, Dorset.
Please ensure you include a cover letter within your application outlining any relevant skills & experience. For an informal chat around the role, please reach out to Katherine.Watts@nationaltrust.org.uk.
What it's like to work here
The outstanding art collection is just one of the many attractions to this beautiful Italian-inspired mansion. The extensive garden and grounds along with the vibrant and changing programming of events and activities bring a diverse range of visitors all year round. As one of the National Trust’s ‘treasure houses’, and with a priority for transformational growth following a major infrastructure project to improve visitor facilities, the team are ready to welcome an increased number of visitors to enjoy the 8,500-acre estate and its rare collection of artefacts. The property has a rural location, so its likely you will require your own transport to get here.
For more information about our property please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kingston-lacy.
What you'll be doing
As part of the Visitor Experience team, you'll be focused on developing great visitor experiences as part of a team. This will range from creatively planning, designing and delivering events and activities for peak times such as Easter, summer and Christmas to supporting new cultural focused programming linked to the stories of Kingston Lacy. You will work to bring new event and engagement ideas to Kingston Lacy alongside constantly improving presentation standards and customer service across public facing events and activities.
You’ll work alongside colleagues and volunteers in all department to ensure the smooth development and delivery of events to make sure everyone who visits has everything they need to enjoy their day. These visitors will hopefully become repeat visitors and develop an emotional connection to Kingston Lacy and the National Trust.
You'll carry out duty management as needed, and will work weekends on a rota basis. Sometimes you may need to get stuck in and help wherever you’re needed, to keep the whole place running smoothly.
You’ll have plenty of opportunities to talk to visitors, introducing them to all that makes Kingston Lacy so special. You may also be managing and supervising others, including volunteers.
You can view the full role profile for this role in the document attached. You don't need to have all the knowledge, skills and experience listed in the role profile; this is just to provide a full picture of what’s possible in this role.
Who we're looking for
Applications from redeployees are assessed against the minimum criteria for the role. In your application, please provide details of how you meet the minimum criteria below:
o Knowledge and experience of creatively developing and delivering engaging and inclusive audience led programming/events in heritage or cultural settings.
o Creative thinking, adaptability and excellent time management.
o Budget monitoring and performance tracking including competence in evaluating visitor experience and using insight to inform improvements.
o Operational planning with strong leadership and team co-ordination skills.
o Working collaboratively across departments and with external partners.
Additional criteria for all other applicants.
o Understanding of commercial interests and income generation.
o Ability to respond to operational challenges with agility and professionalism.
o Deep understanding of health and safety, safeguarding, and compliance in public environments.
o Skilled at communicating and building good working relationships with people in your team and beyond.
o Aware of ways to interpret precious collections of art and objects to a wide variety of people.
o Well-organised, and able to work at pace and keep to time.
o Confident that you can deal with all kinds of people in all kinds of situations.
o Flexible, yet with a focus on always giving high standards of customer service.
o Used to working with and supervising volunteers.
The package
The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.
• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places
Please ensure you include a cover letter within your application outlining any relevant skills & experience. For an informal chat around the role, please reach out to Katherine.Watts@nationaltrust.org.uk.
What it's like to work here
The outstanding art collection is just one of the many attractions to this beautiful Italian-inspired mansion. The extensive garden and grounds along with the vibrant and changing programming of events and activities bring a diverse range of visitors all year round. As one of the National Trust’s ‘treasure houses’, and with a priority for transformational growth following a major infrastructure project to improve visitor facilities, the team are ready to welcome an increased number of visitors to enjoy the 8,500-acre estate and its rare collection of artefacts. The property has a rural location, so its likely you will require your own transport to get here.
For more information about our property please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kingston-lacy.
What you'll be doing
As part of the Visitor Experience team, you'll be focused on developing great visitor experiences as part of a team. This will range from creatively planning, designing and delivering events and activities for peak times such as Easter, summer and Christmas to supporting new cultural focused programming linked to the stories of Kingston Lacy. You will work to bring new event and engagement ideas to Kingston Lacy alongside constantly improving presentation standards and customer service across public facing events and activities.
You’ll work alongside colleagues and volunteers in all department to ensure the smooth development and delivery of events to make sure everyone who visits has everything they need to enjoy their day. These visitors will hopefully become repeat visitors and develop an emotional connection to Kingston Lacy and the National Trust.
You'll carry out duty management as needed, and will work weekends on a rota basis. Sometimes you may need to get stuck in and help wherever you’re needed, to keep the whole place running smoothly.
You’ll have plenty of opportunities to talk to visitors, introducing them to all that makes Kingston Lacy so special. You may also be managing and supervising others, including volunteers.
You can view the full role profile for this role in the document attached. You don't need to have all the knowledge, skills and experience listed in the role profile; this is just to provide a full picture of what’s possible in this role.
Who we're looking for
Applications from redeployees are assessed against the minimum criteria for the role. In your application, please provide details of how you meet the minimum criteria below:
o Knowledge and experience of creatively developing and delivering engaging and inclusive audience led programming/events in heritage or cultural settings.
o Creative thinking, adaptability and excellent time management.
o Budget monitoring and performance tracking including competence in evaluating visitor experience and using insight to inform improvements.
o Operational planning with strong leadership and team co-ordination skills.
o Working collaboratively across departments and with external partners.
Additional criteria for all other applicants.
o Understanding of commercial interests and income generation.
o Ability to respond to operational challenges with agility and professionalism.
o Deep understanding of health and safety, safeguarding, and compliance in public environments.
o Skilled at communicating and building good working relationships with people in your team and beyond.
o Aware of ways to interpret precious collections of art and objects to a wide variety of people.
o Well-organised, and able to work at pace and keep to time.
o Confident that you can deal with all kinds of people in all kinds of situations.
o Flexible, yet with a focus on always giving high standards of customer service.
o Used to working with and supervising volunteers.
The package
The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.
• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places