This exciting new front of house role plays a key part in welcoming the wide variety of people that visit Birmingham Cathedral. You will possess outstanding people skills, the ability to work in a dynamic way, and to create enjoyable experiences for all visitors to Birmingham Cathedral. You will be a team player, as well as being able to manage and liaise with volunteers. You will care passionately about presentation and engaging with people. You will be eager to work with staff and volunteers to develop welcome in a variety of ways. We look forward to welcoming a colleague with creativity and presence.

In this role you will oversee the Visitor Experience as part of the Key Project at Birmingham Cathedral. You will grow capacity of the team by recruiting and training new welcome volunteers to support an agreed strategy of delivering excellent hospitality and welcome.

• To lead the overall visitor welcome at Birmingham Cathedral.
• To provide a high-quality experience for anyone coming to Birmingham Cathedral and working with clergy, staff, and volunteers to developing a variety of ways to welcome visitors.
• To recruit and train a new team of Welcome Volunteers.
• To supervise Welcome Volunteers and provide induction, supervision, and ongoing support.
• To create rotas and written procedures in relation to the role of Welcome Volunteer
• To maintain standards of welcome that adhere to safety and security measures and are accessible to the widest variety of people and groups.

• To work collaboratively, creating strong relationships with the wider cathedral team particularly Welcome Volunteers, Visitors’ Chaplains, and vergers.
• Being the key point of welcome at Birmingham Cathedral and a focal point of contact for all people using the building.
• To develop excellent standards of presentation at Birmingham Cathedral possessing enthusiasm, a keen eye for detail and high standards of care.
• To create an environment where excellent welcome can increase donations, giving and ticket sales
• To explore and implement opportunities for income development
• To supervise and develop work placement opportunities that link with the ethos of the cathedral eg. probation service, work experience and other work placements.
• To create excellent external networks, including other welcome and volunteer staff as well as people from other services that contribute to cathedral life.
• To monitor Key Performance Indicators that relate to visitor numbers, income targets and visitor satisfaction.
• Any other reasonable duties and responsibilities as may be required by Chapter.

Person Specification:

• Excellent communication skills, together with confidence and approachability
• Experience of supervising people from a diverse range of backgrounds
• Experience of working with volunteers, enabling people to achieve their best
• Experience of a people focused environment (e.g. charity / heritage / faith context)
• Ability to respond proactively in challenging situations
• Good awareness and understanding of current health and safety and security requirements in public buildings
• High degree of self-motivation, and flexibility
• Comfortable working in a place of worship and sensitive in communicating the varied aspects of the cathedral’s life
• Supportive of the mission and values of Birmingham Cathedral

We are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons. However, as those from minority ethnic groups are currently under-represented in our staff team, we would particularly welcome applications from those groups.

This role is part-funded by the Church Commissioners via the Cathedral Sustainability Fund.

Terms and Conditions

• RESPONSIBLE TO: Head of Facilities
• KEY INTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS: Head of Learning, Head of Events, HR Team, Clergy Team, volunteers
• SALARY: £22,500 FTE (£12,162 actual)
• PENSION: Subject to meeting the relevant criteria you will be enrolled in the Cathedral’s Pension Scheme with 8% employer contributions.
• HOURS: 20 hours per week. The hours will be agreed with your line manager but there is an expectation of visible presence in the cathedral Monday – Friday and an expectation of flexibility to meet the changing needs of the Cathedral diary, including some evening and weekend work.
• CONTRACT: Three year fixed term (potential for renewal)
• HOLIDAYS: 28 days FTE (15 days PRO RATA) plus bank holidays

Deadline for Applications: Wednesday 2nd February 2022

Interview Date: Tuesday 15 February 2022

Should you wish to discuss this vacancy in more detail or have any queries then please contact Pete Foster on 07837 317 169.