Retail Assistant (Visitor Experience Assistant)

Helping people find jobs in the local area since 2008

Salary £12.77 per hour plus 12.07% Holiday Pay

Location Chichester

Contract Casual

Hours Part Time- As and when required, including weekends and bank holidays.

Visitor Experience Assistant (Casual) – West Dean, West Sussex

About West Dean

West Dean is a truly unique place where arts, heritage, and visitor experiences come together. Set within the stunning South Downs near Chichester, the 6,350‑acre estate is home to West Dean College, award‑winning gardens, historic buildings, and a vibrant creative community. Alongside its Sussex campus, West Dean also operates the prestigious KLC School of Design in London, offering a dynamic blend of countryside and city life.

The Role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and customer‑focused Visitor Experience Assistant to join our Gardens Gatehouse team on a casual basis. This is a varied and rewarding role where you will help deliver exceptional experiences to every visitor, ensuring they feel welcomed, informed, and inspired throughout their time at West Dean Gardens.

As a key member of the team, you will engage with visitors to share the story, heritage, and seasonal highlights of West Dean, helping to create memorable and meaningful visits. You will also support the smooth day‑to‑day running of the Gatehouse, contributing to retail operations, plant sales, and overall visitor engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide a warm and professional welcome to all visitors, offering information about the gardens, events, and activities.
• Support retail operations by processing transactions, maintaining stock levels, and ensuring displays are attractive, organized, and in line with seasonal themes.
• Assist with merchandising, stock control, and plant care, including watering and maintaining plants for sale.
• Deliver visitor experiences such as tours and tastings, support ticketing and booking systems, and confidently use digital tools for sales and memberships.
• Take ownership of the visitor journey within the Gatehouse, ensuring a clean, safe, and welcoming environment at all times.
• Handle cash reconciliation when required, support security and health and safety procedures, and build positive relationships with colleagues, visitors, and stakeholders.

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking someone with a passion for customer service and a genuine enthusiasm for engaging with people. You should have previous experience in a retail or customer‑facing environment and feel confident handling transactions and using point‑of‑sale systems.

You will bring strong communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively as part of a team. A proactive and adaptable approach is essential, along with the ability to manage changing priorities in a busy environment. An interest in gardens, plants, or visitor attractions would be beneficial but is not essential.

Salary and Benefits

Salary: £12.77 per hour plus 12.07% holiday pay

Hours: Casual, working as and when required

This role offers flexibility and the opportunity to work in a beautiful and inspiring environment, contributing to a positive and memorable visitor experience.

Location

West Dean, West Sussex (PO18 0QZ), set within the South Downs National Park.

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