Centre Assistant - RSPB Lochwinnoch

Are you able to deliver fantastic customer service, and would you like to work for an organisation that is making a big difference to our natural world? We are looking for an enthusiastic and hard-working people person, to help work in our shop and visitor welcome area at our Lochwinnoch Reserve Visitor Centre.

As one of the few wetlands left in southwest Scotland, Lochwinnoch is the perfect place to watch Whooper Swans, Wigeon, Goldeneye and a wide variety of other ducks during winter months. In spring you won't want to miss the elaborate displays of the Great Crested Grebes, while the woodland is alive with wildlife all year round.

If you love nature, care about its future and like working with the public, this could be the role for you.

About the Role

As a Centre Assistant, you will help ensure the effective, efficient and safe running of the visitor centre, retail space and surrounding facilities. You will provide outstanding customer care, recruit members and promote retail opportunities, as well as contribute to achieving financial targets and Key Performance Indicators.

We actively seek to break down accessibility barriers hindering people from visiting the reserve and as such, nurture an inclusive environment. You will play a key role in ensuring every visitor, from individuals and families, to school groups, or visitors with additional needs, receives a positive and memorable experience.

You will deliver high-quality support before and after visits by responding to enquiries via email and social media. Your responsibilities will also include assisting with the preparation of event materials, social media content, and other written communications.

Key Responsibilities

• Delivering the highest standard of customer care across both retail and visitor welcome areas.
• Providing a warm welcome and inspiring visitors about the reserve and its wildlife.
• Actively promoting and encouraging support for the RSPB, including membership and retail sales.
• Operating the till, handling payments and following all cash handling and security procedures.
• Maintaining attractive, commercially effective retail displays and appropriate stock levels.
• Processing deliveries and supporting stock control.
• Monitoring and assisting with social media content.
• Assisting with the planning and delivery of family activities, events and engagement activities in a fun and innovative way.
• Ensuring the visitor centre, retail space, facilities and surrounding areas are maintained to a high standard of presentation and safety.
• Working with the management team to achieve targets, following all health and safety, operational and administrative procedures.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• National 5, or equivalent, in Maths and English.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Computer literate.
• Experience in customer service.
• Strong people engagement skills with the ability to enthuse others about wildlife and nature.
• Ability to manage and respond positively to customer needs and feedback.
• Ability to plan and prioritise workloads effectively.
• Good problem-solving skills and the ability to work on your own initiative.
• Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships, and to work effectively in a team.
• Ability and willingness to work Saturdays weekly (working days would be Fridays and Saturdays), work flexibly, including weekends and Bank Holidays and work extra hours to cover holidays.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience working in a retail, visitor attraction or customer-facing environment.
• Experience in sales or membership recruitment
• Merchandising skills.
• Till operation and payment handling experience.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety in the workplace.
• Interest in wildlife and conservation

Additional Information

This is a Permanent/Part-Time role for 9.5 hours per week. The postholder will be required to work additional hours throughout the year to cover holidays.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on Monday 30th March 2026. For further information please contact danny.chestnut@rspb.org.uk

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.