November 2013

Dear Applicant

Please indicate on the application formwhich of the positions below you are applying for:

  • Part-time Retail Sales Assistant, average10 hours per week (40 hours per month)
  • Part-time Retail Sales Assistant, 24 hours per week

Please returnyour completed application form no later than 9.00am on Tuesday 12 November, 2013 as applications received after this date and time will not be considered.

Yours faithfully

Retail Department and Personnel Department.

NATIONAL PORTRAT GALLERY

Retail Sales Assistant

Purpose

To assist in maintaining the Gallery shops and providing a high level of customer service at all times. Excellent retail experience and superb sales skills, customer care, communication and organisational skills are essential for this role.

Main Duties

Shop floor 85%

  • To serve customers politely, quickly and efficiently, providing advice and guidance where necessary, in order to maximise income to the Gallery.
  • To provide a service to all visitors to the Gallery which enhances their enjoyment and increases the Gallery’s reputation as a visitor attraction.
  • To operate the tills and credit card machines ensuring that all transactions are carried out accurately at all times.
  • To count the money taken at the end of the day and complete till sheets quickly and accurately.
  • To maintain the good appearance of the shop ensuring that it is always clean, tidy, well merchandised, and that the displays are attractive.
  • To maintain stock and keep accurate stock records where necessary.
  • To operate and promote the Print on Demand service

Other 15%

  • To assist with the stock take at the end of the year, and at other times if also requiredincluding rolling stock checks.
  • To undertake any other activities as are necessary for the smooth operation of the shops.

Although these are currently the main duties of this post, the Gallery’s management may at any time allocate other tasks, which are of a similar nature or level.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

Retail Sales Assistant

Person Specification

Experience

  • Previous work experience within a museum environment or with a quality retailer of similar merchandise.
  • A commitment to working to high standards and providing the highest level of visitor/customer service.

Knowledge and Skills

  • The aptitude to gain knowledge of the Gallery’s key subject areas.
  • The post holder must have the following qualities: efficiency, initiative, flexibility, reliability and the ability to work under pressure.
  • Good inter-personal skills are essential.

Other

  • As highly visible representatives of the gallery, it is essential that our retail staff are polite, presentable and responsible individuals.
  • An aptitude for display would be an advantage.
  • An interest in portraits and portraiture.

National Portrait Gallery

Retail Sales Assistant

Details of the post are given below and in the attached job description. You should take care to show in your application how you can fulfil the requirements of the job.

Period of Appointment

Both positions are on a 2 year, fixed-term contract.

Hours

Position 1 (part-time)

10 hours per week (average 40 hours per month), every other Saturday and Sunday and every other late-night Thursday and Friday.

Position 2 (part-time)

24 hours per week, 12midday-6.00pm, Thursday to Sunday inclusive.

Salary

The salary for both positions is pro-rata £18,670 per annum (£8.97 per hour)

Annual Leave

The annual leave allowance for both positions is pro-rata 25 days per annum.

Place of Work

Most of the work is based in the Gallery at St Martin’s Place, but all staff are required to work at other locations if necessary.

Equality

The Gallery believes in the employment and advancement of people solely on their ability to do the job required. When recruiting people, we will therefore disregard their gender, marital status, race, age, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, religion and sexual orientation. There will be no unfair discrimination on the basis of disability. If you would like to submit your application in a different format we are happy to allow this. Please contact us (telephone: 020 7306 0055 email: ) so that we may discuss suitable alternatives.

Pension

Pension benefits are provided under the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS).

Probation and Trial Period

All appointments are subject to satisfactory employment and character references, security clearance and eligibility to work in the UK. There is a probationary period of 1 year for all permanent posts. The probationary period for these positions is 12 months.

Data Protection Act

Information provided by you as part of your application will be used in the recruitment process. Any data about you will be held securely with access restricted to those involved in dealing with your application in the recruitment process. Once this process is completed the data relating to unsuccessful applicants will be stored for a maximum of 6 months and then destroyed. If you are the successful candidate, your application form will be retained and form the basis of your personnel record. Information provided by you on the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form will be used to monitor National Portrait Gallery’s equal opportunities policy and practices. By signing and submitting your completed application form you are giving your consent to your data being stored and processed (if you submit your application by e-mail and the application form is un-signed we will assume that consent by you is given) for the purpose of the recruitment process, equal opportunities monitoring and your personnel record if you are the successful candidate.

Season Tickets

Interest free loans are available for the purchase of a season ticket for travel to work, for the full-time positions only.

Please return your completed application form to:

Personnel at:

Or by post

Caroline Wynter

Head of Personnel

National Portrait Gallery

2 St Martin’s Place

London

WC2H 0HE

by 9.00am on Tuesday 12 November, 2013.

We are expecting to hold interviews on Wednesday 27 November and Thursday 28 November. Please indicate on the form if you will not be available on either of these days.

If you are delivering your application by hand, please take it to the reception desk at 39-45 Orange Street.

To ensure the best possible use of our limited resources we are unable to respond to every application. If you have not had a response to your application by 30 November 2013, please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

We would like to thank you for your time and effort in returning your application.