Location Dublin Castle Rate of pay €***** (Entry Level) – Please refer to booklet for pay scale Job Type Fixed Term Contracts
Our key job is to manage and maintain the most important of Ireland's historic buildings and heritage.
We take meticulous care of the 780 heritage sites in our charge and at the 70 sites with visitor services, we work hard to present them to their best potential, making sure that we give visitors from Ireland and abroad the best experience we possibly can.
Would you like to work to promote and present our heritage sites to the public?
Visitor Services of the Office of Public Works currently seek enthusiastic people to join their dedicated Guide Team.
Our Guides represent the public face of the OPW, showcasing Ireland's most important heritage sites.
The Guide Service plays a vital role in conserving and presenting selected sites and ensuring the safety and enjoyment of the visitors.
Heritage Guides provide unique and memorable experiences for visitors from all over the world.
It is a rewarding and enjoyable job for those who enjoy sharing their expertise and enthusiasm with others.
Just a short walk from Trinity College, on the way to Christchurch, Dublin Castle is well situated for visiting on foot.
The history of this city-centre site stretches back to the Viking Age and the castle itself was built in the thirteenth century.
The building served as a military fortress, a prison, a treasury and courts of law.
For 700 years, from **** until independence, it was the seat of English (and then British) rule in Ireland.
Rebuilt as the castle we now know in the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Dublin Castle is now a government complex and an arena of state ceremony.
The state apartments, undercroft, chapel royal, heritage centre and restaurant are now open to visitors.
The role of the seasonal guide/information officer will include:
Protection of the site
Ensuring that any rules for visitor are observed
Being responsible for security and safety at the site
Supervising visitors so as to maintain order and prevent interference with the site.
Assist in the development and implementation of educational activities.
Assist in the development of exhibitions and running events, if required.
Visitor reception & related issues
Welcoming visitors to the site
Introducing visitors to the site and its facilities
Administering admission tickets and receipts
Selling literature, postcards and posters
Counting money and reconciling receipts
Counting stock
Keeping reception area and other site facilities clean and tidy
Operating audio visual or other appropriate equipment
Dealing with phone enquiries
Handling bookings for the site
Dealing with enquiries about the area and its visitor facilities.
Assisting in the operation of the online booking management system for both individual and business (Tour Operator) visitors – where applicable
Collation and production of statistics on visitor numbers
Promotion and interpretation of the Site
Familiarisation with all aspects of the importance and story of the site
Developing own tour commentary in conjunction with supervisor and other guides
Giving guided tours
Adapting a guided tour to suit a particular group
Dealing with detailed enquiries about particular features of the site
Outdoor duties to include but not limited to Park Stewarding
Invigilating duties.
All candidates must be capable of carrying out all duties associated with the post.
In addition, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.
Candidates must have:
Fluency in English
Heritage awareness and an appreciation and interest in history
An understanding of historical reasoning and research methodology
Ability to engage with a programme for diverse audiences, individuals and communities, on-site and on-line.
Candidates must be at least 18 years of age on 1st January ****.
Retirement is compulsory on reaching 70 years of age.
Candidates will be required to provide an original birth certificate or Passport for age verification purposes as part of the pre-employment process.
No appointment to the position will be made to those candidates who do not meet the age criteria
The ability to work as part of a team and interact with colleagues, managers and the public in a tactful, courteous and professional manner.
The ability to contribute to and maintain a good team spirit
The willingness to take direction
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including confidence and an ability to address groups
Sound judgement and decision making ability, especially in emergency situations
Concern for clarity and work quality
Experience of working with ICT systems and procedures
Thorough awareness of health and safety procedures.
Work must be performed in an efficient and safe manner, in accordance with the directions of the supervisor / manager, with regard to self, colleagues and the public through understanding, observance and application of Health and Safety requirements
Awareness of the need to protect the site
Commitment to Quality Customer Service
Interviews will most likely take place in person during the month of November.
Contracts will vary in length from 3 to 9 months.
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