Job Description Job Title Hours Salary Report to Purpose of role Mission, Vision and Values Chef Part time hours (16 per week worked over 2 days). Additional hours may be available. Straight day shifts on a rota basis. Normal operating hours 8.00am – 4.30pm. FTE - From £28,500 per annum depending on experience and qualifications. Pro- rata for part time hours. Head of Catering To work within the kitchen team to produce exceptional food cooked to order. Creating menus using seasonal, locally sourced produce to offer an exciting, well costed choice for visitors. As a charitable organisation our aim is to protect The Bishop’s Palace by ensuring financial stability through engaging a wide range of people for their enjoyment and learning. Key tasks – What The Palace Trust expects Our Vision To inspire and touch the lives of many by offering joy, healing, hope and wellbeing. Our Purpose To conserve and share the Palace and its story as a place of enjoyment and reflection for the benefit of all. What we value Authenticity • Inclusivity • Hospitality • Spirituality • Generosity • Sustainability Responsibilities include: • Working closely with the Head of Catering to create, develop, prepare and deliver the high-quality, freshly prepared catering offering • Ensure all hygiene, health and food safety standards are adhered to and show understanding of food allergens. • Ensure good communication and team working amongst kitchen and front of house team. • Assist with ordering, storing stock, rotating supplies and ensuring minimum wastage • Assist in all necessary kitchen duties which may include in the wash up area • Carry out and assist in running of any onsite private events • Adhere to Health and Safety regulations set out by The Palace Trust in accordance with its statutory regulations • Deal with emergencies and first aid incidents, acting as a First Aider and/or Fire Marshall • The post holder will be required to undertake other reasonable duties and responsibilities which are compatible with the overall scope and authority of the appointment Key internal contacts Head of Catering Food & Beverage Supervisors Food & Beverage Assistants CEO Kitchen Assistants Garden & Community Garden Team Finance, HR and Office Visitor Experience Team Person Specification Essential Desirable Knowledge and Experience • City and Guilds 7061/7062 or NVQ Level 1 and 2 • Min. 3 years’ experience working in busy • Level 2 Food hygiene certificate catering environments and producing food to order • First Aid at Work • Level 3 Food Hygiene certificate • Experience of maintaining a safe and hygienic kitchen environment and of carrying out compliance • Knowledge of food hygiene and food safety • Knowledge of stock control • Knowledge of Health & Safety law and regulations with experience of implementing and monitoring safe working practices Skills and abilities • Ability to work under pressure while maintaining high standards. • Ability to remain calm during busy times • Excellent communication and organisational skills • Ability to work as part of the team and use your own initiative. • A passion for hospitality with energy and enthusiasm Personal Attributes • Professional, well-presented and punctual • Flexibility in relation to working hours that will include weekends and bank holidays • Willingness to support all members of the organisation and to be flexible in the tasks that are undertaken • Treats people with fairness, respect and consideration without regard for their position, status or background. TO APPLY: Please send your CV along with a cover letter to recruitment@bishopspalace.org.uk Applications will be considered as received and shortlisted applicants invited to interview. Ideal start date November 2025. For further information and to apply please visit our website: https://bishopspalace.org.uk/about/jobs/
THE PALACE TRUST
12.6 per week
The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens
Part-time
Job Description Title Duration and Hours Salary Report to About The Bishop’s Palace Illuminations Stewards (Seasonal) Part time, Seasonal Contracts. Working hours between 4.30pm – 8.30pm across a 7 day a week rota Seasonal Contract between: Saturday 29 November 2025 to Sun 4 January 2026. £12.60ph Visitor Team Manager The site and buildings of The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens is owned by the Church Commissioners and managed by The Palace Trust. As a charitable organisation our mission is to protect The Bishop’s Palace by ensuring financial stability through engaging a wide range of people for their enjoyment and learning. Purpose of role Our Illuminations Stewards assist with the smooth running of Sparkle, our Illuminated Gardens event. Vison, Purpose and Values of The Bishop’s Palace Key tasks Our Vision To inspire and touch the lives of many by offering joy, healing, hope and wellbeing. Our Purpose To conserve and share the Palace and its story as a place of enjoyment and reflection for the benefit of all. What we value • Authenticity • Inclusivity • Hospitality • Spirituality • Generosity • Sustainability Engaging with visitors • Checking tickets of the visitors as they enter the gardens and giving them a warm happy welcome • Walking around the illuminations to check lights are on and people are enjoying them safely. • Confidently adapt your style to engage with different visitors. Maintenance and cleaning • Carry out tasks necessary for the wellbeing and appearance of the site, such as keeping the site free of debris and litter and basic cleaning as required • Assist other departments as necessary such as the café, administration team and marketing. This includes changing bins, removing on-site rubbish, covering break times and providing phone cover as necessary. Conservation of the Palace Collection • Maintain environmental controls to reduce the potential for harm to The Bishop’s Palace and its collection • Assist with general cleaning tasks including the public toilets • Be confident working at heights Health and Safety • Adhere to Health and Safety regulations set out by The Palace Trust in accordance with its statutory regulations • Report incidents including accidents, first aid and safeguarding incidents in a timely manner and create a clear written record of events. • Deal with emergencies and first aid incidents, acting as a First Aider and Fire Warden • When necessary supervise the safe evacuation of the site • Work well under pressure when large amounts of people are on site, ensuring every visitor is safe and receiving the best possible experience • Help visitors to enjoy the Palace and its gardens safely by giving clear and polite instructions General • Undertake such other duties and responsibilities that are commensurate with the level of the post • This role is central to our brand and vision. It is expected that any supplied uniform will be worn during your working day, including a staff pass, ensuring that you are well presented at all times • Have a basic level of computer literacy • Attend training and workshop days relevant to the role • Develop knowledge of the Palace and gardens as a whole • • • • Access to the organisational Employee Assistance Programme • Training and development to undertake the role Support from the Visitor Operations Team 25 days annual leave per year (pro rata) 50% staff discount in The Bishop’s Table Visitor Team Manager, Assistant Visitor Team Manager and Events Manager What you can expect from The Palace Trust Key internal contacts Person Specification Essential Desirable Knowledge and experience • Experience of customer-facing sales • Experience of working in a Visitor Attraction • • • First Aid at Work certificate Experience of working alongside volunteers Experience of assisting with Public events Skills and abilities • Outstanding communication skills • Fantastic customer service skills • Ability to work as part of a team and use initiative Personal attributes • Ability to anticipate problems before they occur • Ability to remain calm under pressure, particularly during peak times and busy holiday periods, whilst continuing to deliver high quality visitor experience • Positive ‘can do’ attitude • Flexible and adaptable • Enthusiastic about learning and gaining new skills • Willingness to support all members of the organisation and to be flexible in the tasks that are undertaken • You will need a good level of fitness and wellbeing as you will be outside walking around, in the shop on your feet, or outside in all weather. It is essential that you are available to work bank holidays and weekends. On occasion you will be expected to work outside out normal opening hours. How to Apply: Send your CV along with a Covering letter to Recruitment@bishopspalace.org.uk. Applications will not be considered without a cover letter. Applications will be reviewed on receipt and interviews will be arranged as suitable applications are received. Seasonal contract to start on 29 November 2025 and ends on 4 January 2026. Note the site is not open to the public on 25 & 26 December. Training will be arranged during November. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
THE PALACE TRUST
12.6 per hour
The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens
Full-time
Job Description Title Duration and Hours Visitor Experience Assistant (Seasonal Staff) Seasonal contracts (between 4 – 21hrs pw) available between 29 November 2025 to 4 January 2026. Working hours between 9.45am – 4.15pm (Daytime shift) and 4.30pm – 8.30pm(evening shift) hours worked across a 7 day a week rota. Salary Reports to About The Bishop’s Palace Purpose of role £12.60ph Visitor Team Manager The site and buildings of The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens is owned by the Church Commissioners and managed by The Palace Trust. As a charitable organisation our mission is to protect The Bishop’s Palace by ensuring financial stability through engaging a wide range of people for their enjoyment and learning. The Visitor Experience Team manages the day to day running of the heritage site, providing excellent customer service and maximising sales of tickets, membership, gift aid, events and generating the income the charity needs to keep the historic Palace and ruins open to the public. This role is to specifically cover our Sparkle, Christmas Illuminations event running between 29 November 2025 and 4 January 2026. Vison, Purpose and Values of The Bishop’s Palace Key tasks for the role Our Vision To inspire and touch the lives of many by offering joy, healing, hope and wellbeing. Our Purpose To conserve and share the Palace and its story as a place of enjoyment and reflection for the benefit of all. What we value • Authenticity • Inclusivity • Hospitality • Spirituality • Generosity • Sustainability General • Support the Visitor Team Manager (VTM) in ensuring the smooth delivery of all front of house staffing activities and visitor services • Contribute to the general and day to day management and upkeep of the site • Strive to achieve all objectives, both financial and strategic. These will be shared with you by the VTM. • Providing a very high-quality service to a growing audience and you will be motivated to bring this vison to life, sharing our passion for The Bishop’s Palace. • You will be a key ambassador for the Palace, being highly visible in the “free” area and on the shop floor; you will remain approachable and willing to help from the start of someone’s visit to the moment they leave. • You will develop excellent knowledge of the Palace and become fully conversant with everything that the Palace has to offer. • You will value the Palace and the role that it plays in the community and people’s lives, • You will contribute to team working across The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens. • You will strive to make sure that the Palace is a great place to work for your colleagues (both staff and volunteers), creating a positive and healthy working environment for all. Engaging with Visitors • Ensure the site is opened and closed in accordance with procedures and that the palace and free area is presented impeccably and is ready for visitors at all times. • Monitor the security of the buildings during opening times. • Actively welcome and greet visitors whilst offering an induction to The Palace, seeking out opportunities to engage with visitors, answering any questions they might have as well as promoting all that the Palace has to offer. • Attempt to convert a diverse audience in the Free Area to paid visitors in the Palace and Gardens. • Ensure all customers receive excellent customer service by remaining knowledgeable of all the activities within the Palace and Grounds. • You will create, deliver and maintain a strong culture of customer care. • React to all queries in a positive manner and ensure that the relevant department is informed of any complaints. • Answer enquiries by phone when not directly serving a customer. • Promote Gift Aid on Entry, Donations, Membership and Retail to secure income. • Be confident in face-to-face sales techniques including cross-selling and up- selling. Cash Handling and procedures • Open, close and cash up the shop as required. • Record all admissions and sales accurately on the till to ensure the effective reporting of results. • Adhere to all safety and security procedures relating to cash handling, resolving any discrepancies or irregularities that may occur. • Participate in stock takes as required. • Ensure shop displays are kept full and up to date. • Ensure signs and banners are displayed during opening hours. • Ensure leaflet racks are stocked daily. Maintenance and Cleaning • Be responsible for light maintenance duties especially in relation to presentation of the Palace. • Ensure the public areas of the site, particularly toilets are checked as required, throughout the day particularly during peak season and take actions as necessary. • Carry out tasks necessary for the wellbeing and appearance of the site, such as keeping the site free of debris and litter. Health & Safety • Adhere to the Health & Safety regulations set out by The Palace Trust in accordance with its statutory regulations • Report accidents • Deal with emergencies and first aid incidents, acting as a First Aider and/or Fire Warden • When necessary, assist with the safe evacuation of the site Protecting Visitors • Maintain an awareness of relevant health and safety procedures. • Work well under pressure when large amounts of people are on site. • Help visitors to enjoy the Palace safely. General • Undertake such other duties and responsibilities that are commensurate with the level of this post. Dress Code • This role is central to our brand and vision. You are well presented at all times. Training and Development • Attend training and workshop days relevant to your role • Develop knowledge of the Palace and Gardens as a whole What you can expect from The Palace Trust You will be working for an independent charity whose main aim is to share, preserve and protect the 800-year-old Bishop’s Palace. We reinvest in the team and the site and work with local community groups and organisations as part of our community engagement. We are a real living wage employer. • 25 Days annual leave per year • Induction and training for each employee • Opportunity to join The Palace Trust Pension Scheme • Access to the organisations Employee Assistance Programme • Positive Working Environment • Opportunity to support the local community through volunteer days • Staff social events • Staff discount in The Bishop’s Table Café Key internal contacts Visitor Team Manager Assistant Visitor Team Manager Events Manager Person Specification Essential Desirable Knowledge and experience • Experience of customer-facing sales • Experience of working in a Visitor Attraction • Experience handling money and using a till system • • • • First Aid at Work certificate Knowledge of historic house and gardens Experience of working alongside volunteers Experience of assisting with Public events • Educated to A-level or equivalent • Outstanding communication skills • Fantastic customer service skills • Ability to work as part of a team and use initiative • Ability to anticipate problems before they occur • Ability to remain calm under pressure, particularly during peak times and busy holiday periods, whilst continuing to deliver high quality visitor experience Skills and abilities Personal attributes • Positive ‘can do’ attitude • Flexible and adaptable • Enthusiastic about learning and gaining new skills • Willingness to support all members of the organisation and to be flexible in the tasks that are undertaken • You will need a good level of fitness and wellbeing as you will be outside walking around, in the shop on your feet, or outside in all weather. It is essential that you are available to work bank holidays and weekends. On occasion you will be expected to work outside out normal opening hours. How to Apply: Send your CV along with a Covering letter to Recruitment@bishopspalace.org.uk. Applications will not be considered without a cover letter. Applications will be reviewed on receipt and interviews will be arranged as suitable applications are received. Seasonal contract to start on 29 November 2025 and ends on 4 January 2026. Note the site is not open to the public on 25 & 26 December. Training will be arranged during November. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.