Heritage is for everybody, and we are here for heritage.
Heritage lives in places and people, memories and stories, artefacts and traditions. It can connect us all to the past, and to each other. It can make us happier, strengthen every community, and help shape society for the better. Everybody should be able to enjoy the benefits it brings. That's why, as a charity, we care for over a million objects and hundreds of historic sites in every part of England, from international icons to local treasures. And it's why we open them up, share their stories and find new ways for everybody to enjoy, learn, play and create.
We are looking for a Membership Recruiter to join us at Down House working 21 hours per week between April-October, changing to a zero-hour contract between November-March.
No history background? No problem. What is important to us is a passion for people and excellent customer service. You will enjoy working with others as part of a team and understand what makes excellent customer service to deliver an engaging visitor experience to a diverse audience.
Down House belonged to the great scientist Charles Darwin, who lived here for 40 years until his death in 1882. After moving to the house in 1842, Darwin and his wife, Emma, remodelled the house and its extensive gardens, which Darwin used as an open-air laboratory. It was here that Darwin developed his theory of evolution by natural selection and wrote his ground-breaking work On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection (1859).
By joining us as a Down House Membership Recruiter, you will be part of an amazing team of employees and volunteers, ensuring visitors have a great time from the moment they arrive until they say goodbye. Working as part of a team, you will deliver a warm welcome to everyone and by connecting with our visitors, you will engage and inspire them to become members of English Heritage, helping them to see and do more at our properties whilst helping us to secure our long term future of the Charity. You will be confident in talking to our visitors and will thrive on exceeding targets for your team.
If you have a genuine enthusiasm for engaging with people, providing an outstanding welcome and at the same time relish the opportunity to turn engagement into English Heritage membership, this could be the role for you.
Some paid or voluntary experience with the public is beneficial but full training and support is provided.
There will be requirement to work weekends and Bank Holidays, more information will be provided at interview.
Benefits include:
- The opportunity for career progression within the heritage sector in retail, food and beverage or general management
- Apprenticeship opportunities
- Opportunities to go to some of our great live music and history events
- Free access to all English Heritage sites for you, and up to six friends and family members
- 25% discount in our shops and cafes
- Enhanced maternity/paternity/shared parental leave
- 25 days' holiday plus Bank Holidays pro rata rising to 28 days after 3 years
- Options to buy additional leave
- Matched pension contributions up to 10%
Everybody's welcome at English Heritage
Forget the stereotypes. It takes thousands of people from every background to care for England's heritage and open it up for everybody to enjoy. We're looking for every type of person with every kind of skill and experience, and we're committed to making sure that English Heritage is an equitable, diverse and inclusive place to work. You can connect with others through our EDI networks as a member or ally. These include Ethnic Diversity, Faith & Belief, Social Equity, LGBTQ+, Neurodivergence, Age, Disability and Gender Health and Wellbeing.
We take wellbeing seriously. We are committed to ensuring everyone feels safe at work and can carry out their role. To support this, we have a network of Mental Health First aiders, regular information and awareness events, unlimited access to an Employee Assistance Programme and work with our people to implement reasonable adjustments.
If you would like to talk to us before you apply e.g. about workplace adjustments or working patterns, please contact Sophie Levett, Down House Manager on [email protected]
No agencies please.
Our interview and offer process will take place on the week commencing 17th August.
Find out more about us and what we do: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/ You can also meet some of our people and hear about why they enjoy working with us: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/our-people/careers-with-us/
Closing date: 14/08/2026 23:59:59
