Visitor Experience Manager
Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee (TBTF) seek to appoint a full time Visitor Experience Manager to join the team at the Tamar Bridge. This is an exciting opportunity for a confident individual with good communication skills, to provide excellent learning and heritage opportunities in a dynamic, and unique environment. This role is a wonderful opportunity to nurture learning and aspirations, engage with the community and preserve a piece of history. Please read all the details before deciding whether the role is suitable for you and what we are looking for. This summary should be read in conjunction with the full job description and person specification.
Who we are
Tamar Crossings is responsible for the management, operation, maintenance and administration of the two crossings over the River Tamar – Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry. With approx. 44,000 vehicles travelling with us every day, we play an important part in the local infrastructure, creating a link between Plymouth, Devon and Southeast Cornwall.
The Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry are jointly owned by Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council. The operation, maintenance and improvement of the crossings are funded through tolls charged. The Tamar Bridge (built in 1961), is an iconic structure in the landscape, an essential part of the two counties’ infrastructure and has a strong emotional resonance for many of those who cross it.
The Royal Albert Bridge, designed by IK Brunel, is Grade 1 listed, unique and internationally recognised. Although the Royal Albert Bridge is owned and operated by Network Rail, the Visitor Centre is the main interpretive Centre for visitors to find out about it; there is no other designated exhibition space nationally. Both bridges are key community connectors, complex feats of engineering and are of local and regional significance.
The Visitor Learning Centre (VLC) sits next to the busy control room that is nestled in between the Tamar Bridge and Royal Albert Bridge. The Centre was initially established with grant funding from the National Lottery Heritage fund. However, as operating costs are funded from the Tamar Crossings general budgets, we now need to focus on income generation to sustain the centre for years to come whilst continuing to be the established community focused resource that everyone can access.
As well as attracting general public visitors, the centre is designed to promote Science, Technology Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) as part of a wider programme to encourage young people across the area to consider future careers in these fields. The partnerships developed have been extensive and as such we host an annual Women in STEAM event with the YMCA.
The number of schools visiting the centre is growing yearly, with many local schools visiting due to the local heritage delivered as a key subject in the curriculum.
Public talks and tours of the bridges are facilitated by the team and are very popular.
There is a robust five-year strategic plan written for the learning centre that we are excited to bring to fruition. The VEM will be critical in driving forward and resourcing this.
Find out more about what we have to offer!
What we expect
Tamar Crossings is a local government employer that offers careers with stimulating opportunities for development and progression. In return the successful candidate will be expected to display and deliver the highest standards of conduct and professionalism including personal appearance, fidelity, integrity and equality in every role.
The Tamar Bridge Act of 1998 specifically supports the promotion of the bridge and ferry to encourage visitors. The centre was fitted out in 2018 and opened to the public in 2019. It was created to celebrate the heritage of both the Tamar Bridge and Brunel’s Royal Albert Bridge, as a result of a successful bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund by the Tamar Crossings. The overarching aim of the project was to change public perceptions of the bridges, and to celebrate their engineering and heritage significance.
Visitors to the Centre enjoy the exhibitions, guided tours, events programme and schools workshops and it has received entirely positive feedback from teachers, visitors and groups.
Audiences include school children and teachers, local people of all ages, tourists, specialist interest groups, university students and lecturers, adult learners and youth groups. The successful candidate will be expected to continue and build on the excellent work undertaken so far.
The main duties and responsibilities of the VEM will include:
- Lead on developing and implementing the strategic direction of the Bridging the Tamar Visitor and Learning Centre (VLC)
- Lead on the volunteering policy and programme for the VLC to engage Bridge Ambassadors
- Develop formal and informal learning opportunities through educational workshops, family and outreach activities, and a public events programme.
- Establish the Bridging the Tamar VLC as a high quality heritage destination.
- Lead on Bridging the Tamar VLC communications to create a positive public image and increase public awareness.
- Act as the heritage lead for the organisation.
- Identify and develop income, funding and business opportunities for the VLC
- Take responsibility for the health and safety of staff, volunteers and visitors to the VLC.
The skills you will need
The person specification gives a high level of detail of which skills and what experience we are looking for in the successful candidate.
In the first instance, you must be able to demonstrate:
- Excellent literacy, presentation and communication skills for a wide range of audiences.
- Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills to promote the VLC at events, developing partnerships and business relationships with external organisations.
- Ability to develop and maintain a good working relationship amongst colleagues.
- Pro-active, adaptable and engaging with a wide range of audiences.
Experience of:
- Working in the museum or heritage sector.
- Delivering and developing learning packages across a broad range of subjects.
- Managing a budget and income generation.
- Managing a team
- Local networks to support the development of community engagement
What else you need to know
The Visitor Experience Manager generally works Monday to Friday (09:00 – 17:00), with the very occasional requirement to work outside of these hours to cover events. Although we are after someone who can do 37 hours a week, we are open to discussions about flexible working requests.
You will be required to climb steep and/or narrow stairways and work adjacent to live traffic zones (e.g. Toll Plaza), therefore a level of physical fitness is required.
Due to the safety critical nature of the roles, the VEM is subject to random and for cause drugs and alcohol testing.
The candidate will be required to pass an enhanced DBS check.
Pay & Benefits
Salary:
£40,476 – £44,711 per annum, inclusive of allowances, based on 37 hrs/week
Benefits:
- Regular pay award for all employees negotiated by the National Joint Council (NJC)
- Local Government Pension Scheme – employer and employee contributions – currently 20% employer contribution
- A minimum of 25 days annual leave (or hours equivalent), pro-rata to contract and shift allowances, plus public/bank holidays.
- Staff travel card for free crossings of the Tamar Bridge and the Torpoint Ferry
- 24/7 access to Employee Assistance Programme for you and your family
- Family friendly policies including shared parental leave, contractual maternity, paternity and adoption
- Learning and Development Opportunities
Interested?
Applications will only be accepted on the official application form available on the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry website. Letters, CV’s, or other alternative methods will not be accepted. Presentation of the application form is important and may be assessed as part of the short-listing process.
Closing date: 0900 on Monday 24th February 2025
Interviews: From W/C 3rd March 2024
To learn more about this exciting opportunity, or for an informal conversation, please contact Coral Jonas, Bridge Manager on 01752 361577.
If you have not heard anything by 10th March 2024, please assume you have been unsuccessful. We are sorry but due to the expected volume of applicants we are unable to inform people individually or give feedback to people who are not successful in reaching the interview stages.