Calling all history buffs and Harry Potter fans - The 130 incredible jobs up for grabs at Alnwick Castle

The hugely popular North East tourist attraction is now recruiting seasonal staff to join the team as it prepares to open in March this year, should Covid restrictions allow.

Each year seasonal staff work as a team to ensure visitors have a great experience and feel safe while doing so and this year the castle is hoping to hire 130 staff for the season.

The 2021 season will kick off in March and run until October, with roles up for grabs ranging from tour guides and performers to chefs and customer service assistants.

Susan Richardson, HR manager at Alnwick Castle said: “We are getting ready to open our seasonal recruitment for next year and look forward to hiring the seasonal team.

“If you want to come and work at Alnwick Castle during the 2021 season, we are looking for enthusiastic, positive minded, team players, who can go that extra mile to help ensure our visitors have a great day out.

"We also look forward to welcoming back our returning staff, as they play a key part in the success of the programme.”

Applications must be submitted by Sunday, January 31 and if you have not been contacted for an interview by Friday, February 19, you have not been successful.

Here are the 12 roles on offer:

State Room and tour guides

If you enjoy learning about history and engaging with people, a seasonal role as a tour guide is well suited to you.

Based in the State Rooms or delivering full guided tours in the castle grounds, you will be tasked with bringing its history and collections to life.

Guides will also help visitors stay safe in the State Rooms by monitoring capacity and ensuring social distancing is maintained.Enthusiasm for working with members of the public, the ability to retain knowledge, and the skills to communicate information in a clear, friendly and accessible way are essential.

Film tour guide

Alnwick Castle's filming location tours are one of the most popular activities.

If you enjoy watching, learning and talking about film and TV, and sharing your enthusiasm, then this job is ideal.

You will conduct multiple tours each day, so a strong and confident voice is required.

You will also ensure visitors stay safe while taking a tour and that social distancing is maintained.

The ability to retain knowledge about the castle's film history, particularly Harry Potter, and communicate it in a clear, friendly and accessible way, is essential.

House admission attendants

Alnwick Castle's house admission attendants ensure visitors enter and exit the State Rooms safely and that social distancing is maintained at all times.

This team will work at the entry point to the State Rooms, ensuring every visitor has a valid time slot ticket for entry.

You will direct and manage any queues outside the State Rooms entrance and deliver safety briefings.

At the exit, you will ensure visitors return to the castle grounds safely. This role is primarily outdoors.

You must be flexible, reliable, punctual and well-presented. A confident, cheerful, outgoing personality is essential.

Historical interpreters and performers

This role will see you bring history to life as part of a hard-working team.

You must be available between three to five days a week from March to October and be prepared to work weekends and some evenings.

Visitor services assistants and admissions till operators

If you are flexible, reliable, punctual and well-presented, this role may be for you.

Duties include serving customers using EPOS till systems, providing a warm, friendly welcome and delivering correct information on the castle's various opening times, prices, activities and facilities.

It will also involve ticket checking at castle entry points. The role is primarily outdoors.

Food and beverage assistants

You will be required to serve food and drinks to visitors, while adhering to all safety and distancing guidelines in place.

You will also be required to assist with functions offering banqueting service.

Seasonal chefs

Working under the guidance of a senior chef, you will deliver a wide range of food products for various catering outlets across the castle site.

A commitment to maintaining this high standard of service and production within the kitchen, and a positive attitude to work, is essential.

You must be eager to learn and develop your current skills.

Excellent communication and teamwork skills, and experience of working in a busy, high pressure kitchen environment, are also required.

Kitchen porters

You will be required to assist the chefs in keeping all food preparation areas exceptionally clean and organised and be responsible for the cleaning and storage of crockery, cutlery and cooking utensils.

You will also assist in delivering food to the various outlets around the castle site.

Retail assistants

Retail assistants will work at the castle's two on-site gift shops, selling a wide variety of items to visitors.

Duties include serving customers, stock control and merchandising, and assistance with deliveries.

Cleaning operatives

Duties will include cleaning across the castle site and in several offices, emptying bins, and ensuring the castle grounds are kept litter-free at all times.

You must be flexible and able to work split shifts - mornings, afternoons and the occasional evening. Weekend working is essential.

Administrative assistants

This role is primarily office-based and duties include answering all general visitor enquiries via email, telephone and online live chat.

Staff will also be required to use EPOS till systems, deliver practical information on the castle and communicate regularly with management about visitor feedback.

Front of house team - Fusiliers Museum of Northumberland

The Fusiliers Museum of Northumberland, located within the grounds of Alnwick Castle, is looking to recruit front of house staff to work between March and October 2021.

You will help visitors to understand and enjoy the fascinating history of the Regiment and its links with the Percy family.

You will manage visitor entry to the museum and serve customers in the gift shop. Training will be provided.

This role requires you to work one or two days per week on a rota basis.

Candidates should be flexible in their working patterns as they may be asked to provide cover at short notice when required.

Senior Building Surveyor - Northumberland Estates

As a qualified senior building surveyor you will be responsible for overseeing the project management of major building projects for the Northern Estates.

You must have a degree in Building Surveying (or other relevant property/construction degree), be chartered, and have at least five years' practical experience.

A knowledge of working with historic buildings is advantageous. The position is permanent and full-time.

To apply for any of the roles visit: https://www.alnwickcastle.com/jobs

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