Job Description August 2026

Role: Visitor Services Manager – Food & Beverage Business Function: Highlands & Islands

Reports to: Operations Manager – Brodie Castle & Estate Pay Band: Grade 5 - £35,800 pro-rata, per annum

Location: Brodie Castle Type of Contract: Full Time, Permanent

KEY PURPOSE

The purpose of the role is t o support the conservation of Brodie Castle & Estate by generating income through the

catering operations whilst delivering the highest standard of visitor experience for all visitors and guests. This will be

achieved by maintaining the highest standards of conservation and adhering to regional and national strategies,

policies, and procedures.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Visitor Catering Experience

• Overall responsibility for the management and delivery of the catering facilities at Brodie Castle & Estate. This

includes, but is not limited to, the Castle Café, Playful Garden Pavilion and 2 mobile catering units

• Ensuring innovative ideas, current trends and a quality offer in catering are constantly being delivered in all

outlets on site

• Setting objectives and being responsible for the overall, day-to-day running of the catering operations

• Leading and managing a team of staff; managing performance, recognising training needs and potential as

appropriate

• Managing budgets - ensuring that, as a minimum, the financial targets agreed with, in line with the budget are met

• Devising, costing and sourcing menu items and consistently looking at ways of maximising income through effective

purchasing and creative merchandising

• Adhering to the sale of alcohol legislation, being a Premises Manager

• Regularly monitoring customer feedback, Mystery Visitor and Visit Scotland Audits and develop suitable action

plans based on the results

• Being visitor/customer focused by being visible, approachable, and quick to exceed expectations in fulfilling

customer needs

Health & Safety, Food Safety, the Environment

• Ensuring that the operation meets statutory requirements of Health and Safety, Food Safety and Environmental

legislations and procedures

• Conducting Food Safety and Health and Safety Risk Assessments and ensuring that all standards and procedures

with regards to Hygiene and Safety are established and followed

• Recording and reporting all accidents within the location, adhering to location and company procedures

• Ensuring all equipment is well maintained and is in good working order

• Making recommendations for renewal and replacement of equipment when required

• Establishing and maintaining location cleaning schedules

• Ensuring that all Trust procedures and work instructions are fully understood and practiced by all employees

• Promoting and encouraging environmental improvement initiatives as appropriate within the business

General Responsibilities

• Managing food and beverage operations including the following:

o staff and volunteers (recruitment, induction, development, performance management) such that they are fully

equipped and motivated to undertake their duties to the required Trust standards.

o budgets (setting, phasing, monitoring, pro-active and re-active adjustments) such that finances are sustainable

within the context of the wider property budgets.

o health, safety and the environment in line with stated Trust policies and approaches to ensure the health and

welfare of staff/volunteers and visitors,

o recognition of the Trust’s Environmental Policy with respect to sustainable activities, including energy and

water use, recycling, use of “environmentally -friendly” products for e.g. cleaning regimes, food -miles and

waste etc.

o daily, weekly, yearly and longer -term operational workplans and reporting in the context of the properties’

statements of significance, annual operating plans and action plans (and contribution to these action plans) to

ensure that activities are prioritised and planned to optimise the use of resources;

o administration to enable all activities within the post holders’ remit to be undertaken and recorded efficiently

within Trust policies and procedures.

• Undertake other duties as and when required to support the overall operation of Brodie Castle & Estate as

instructed by the Operations Manager. This will include regular weekends as Duty Manager for the property.

SCOPE OF JOB

People Management

• Line manager of a Catering Supervisor and seasonal Visitor Service Assistants

• Will work closely with other property colleagues and will have regular interaction with other technical/specialist

advisory colleagues based in other locations and departments

• Will have regular (daily) interaction with members of the public of all ages and abilities

• Will have frequent interaction with suppliers and contractors

Finance Management

• Is a budget-holder, accountable for the food and beverage operations and budgets; combined budgeted income of

more than £300,000 per year plus food and beverage income from events

• Will regularly use computerized finance system for the raising of purchase orders for the supply of goods and

service, producing finance reports, monitoring, and setting of revenue budgets and managing capital project work

Scale

• A significant amount of time spent in the role is non -desk-based and the role -holder can expect to be actively

present in most areas of the Castle throughout a working day (as well as, on occasion, being at other parts of the

property and off-site for meetings etc.

• Will regularly use a wide range of ICT equipment including two -way radio, mobile phone, land -line phone, email,

scanner, laptop/PC, printer etc.

• Will be required to work flexible working patterns and hours including evenings, weekends, and public holidays. As

part of the role and as a senior member of the team, there will be an expectation that the post holder would attend

work at short notice if operational needs demand and circumstances allow)

• Required to be the Premises License Holder as per the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

The above outlines the key skills the post-holder will need to possess and exercise. In addition, either knowledge of or

experience in the following is required:

Essential

• Experience of catering management

• Used to an ethos of target-driven assessment, with demonstration of results • Significant previous experience in a customer facing, service environment

• Significant experience managing, leading, coordinating and developing a team with varying remits and professional

competences

• Previous experience of developing projects for specific areas of work/ improvement

• Demonstrable skills in successful budget and financial management, combined with clear evidence of commercial

awareness and previous sales experience

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and confidence in dealing with a wide range of staff, visitors and

other stakeholders, with a friendly, confident manner

• Experience in managing people and projects within a complex stakeholder environment.

• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office applications: Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Word

• Ability to manage time efficiently and effectively in an environment of changing priorities

• To hold, or, have the ability and willingness to hold a Scottish Personal Licence Holder's Certificate and Personal

Licence

• A full clean driving license valid for the UK and access to a vehicle suitable for use on Trust business (with

appropriate business insurance)

Desirable

• An understanding and experience of food and beverage operations within an historic/heritage environment

• A genuine understanding of, and belief in, the work of the National Trust for Scotland

• A post-graduate management qualification or equivalent experience

The Purpose, Context, Key Responsibilities, and Person Specification reflect the requirements of the job at

the time of issue. The Trust reserves the right to amend these with appropriate consultation and/or

request the post-holder to undertake any activities that it believes to be reasonable within the broad scope

of the job or his/her general abilities.

Applications

Interested applicants should forward their Curriculum Vitae (CV) and cover letter or an Application Form to the

People Department, The National Trust for Scotland, by email via workforus@nts.org.uk, by 13/09/2026

• Please ensure your CV includes your full name and contact details

• The CV file sent to us should be titled with your first initial and surname

• When submitting your CV please state the position and job location of the vacancy you are applying for in the

subject title or body of your email: For example "Gardener - Culzean"