Vacancy Information
The salary advertised is full time (35 hours per week). Part-time hours will be pro-rated accordingly.
Hourly rate of pay: £13.48 - £14.33
Temporary until 27th September 2026.
Days and Hours of Work:
Working days and hours will vary and can be seen in the attached document.
To start 31st March 2026.
Locations being recruited to are John Muir's Birthplace, Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery, Prestongrange Museum, and the John Gray Centre Museum.
We are looking for people with enthusiastic, flexibility, great communication and organisational skills and a passion for delivering great customer service to join our team to help visitors get the most from their visit to our museums. Museum Assistants open and close our museums, welcome visitors to our venues, answer enquiries and make sure that everyone has an enjoyable and safe visit. They operate our shops, assist with school and other groups, activities, events and exhibitions. We operate four museums and have a range of shift patterns available.
The John Gray Centre Museum in Haddington showcases the history of East Lothian in a range of long term and temporary exhibitions. The successful candidate will work closely with the team in the Archive and Local History Services who are based in the adjacent part of the centre as well as the Library team who are located on the ground floor.
Prestongrange Museum is located just outside Prestonpans in East Lothian. Prestongrange is a site of major importance in the story of Scotland's Industrial Revolution. It was the location of a sixteenth century harbour, a seventeenth century glass works, eighteenth and nineteenth century potteries and a nineteenth/twentieth century coal mine and brick works. Remnants of these former industries can still be seen, and many of the structures are still intact including the rare Hoffman Kiln built in 1937, the Cornish Beam Engine, unique in Scotland as it the only beam engine still on the site where it worked and the Engine Shed. Successful applicants will open and close the Visitor Centre, run the shop and café and take guided tours around the site (training will be provided). Museum Assistants are also responsible for cleaning the Visitor Centre and Activity Room. In summer 2026 Museum Assistants will also facilitate the use of a new Volunteer Base and Activity Room helping to book in, set up and clear up events.
Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery is housed the historic Dunbar Town House which was built around the end of the 16th century. After 400 years of use it is now a museum and gallery with temporary exhibitions showcasing art and culture from the areas and about Dunbar and surrounding district. Visitors can find out about the town and its people, past and present, from ten thousand years ago to the present day. The successful applicants will work closely with volunteers from our partners Dunbar and District History Society.
John Muir is a world figure who continues to inspire. The Dunbar birthplace of the pioneering conservationist is a stunning interpretative centre highlighting the work and achievements of this remarkable man. During a visit to the Birthplace visitors can find out about John's adventures and travels all over the world, find extracts from his journals and sketches of wildlife and plants and be inspired to follow in his footsteps with our interactive games. Museum Assistants play an essential role in communicating these fascinating stories. The successful applicants will work alongside volunteers from the John Muir Birthplace Charitable Trust.
Job Details
To assist in the delivery of Museum services across East Lothian, maximising efficiency of service delivery within specific standards and in accordance with the Council’s policies and plans with a commitment to achieve best value.
Please download the Job Outline/Person Specification (available under 'Job Attachments') for the full range of tasks and duties associated with this job. You will need to refer to these in order to complete the application form. You must ensure you meet every 'essential' criteria stated on the Person Specification to be considered for interview.
The ‘East Lothian Way’ – values and behaviours we expect our employees to demonstrate in their everyday work. Should you be invited to interview, you may be asked questions based on these behaviours. Please refer to the document via the link to familiarise yourself with them.
Job Requirements
Relevant Qualifications
A minimum of National 4 English/Maths or Literacy/Numeracy or Intermediate 1 Communication/Numeracy or SVQ1/Standard Grade General level English/Maths and/or able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge, skills and competencies gained through relevant experience.
PVG Membership
This post is considered as a Regulated Role with vulnerable children and/or protected adults, as specified in the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020.
All preferred candidates for posts carrying out regulated work with these groups will be required to become a PVG Scheme member, or undergo a PVG Scheme update if they are already a member, prior to any formal offer of employment being made by East Lothian Council.
Please note: PVG member’s records are constantly updated with any new vetting information that arises. Any information that is disclosed on a PVG membership or update check, if relevant to the post being applied for, will be discussed with the applicant and investigated prior to any formal offer being made.
Please note:
If you have spent more than 3 months working or living outwith the UK in the last 5 years then you will be required to present a copy of an overseas criminal record check. Details of how to apply and contact details can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Additional Information
For additional East Lothian Council employment information please click on the following link:
If you have any difficulties creating an account on MyJobScotland or applying for this post please contact the MyJobScotland support team via this link .
If you require further information about this vacancy, please call 01620 827868, or email us on recruitment@eastlothian.gov.uk
Please note: We do not accept CV's (either electronically or by mail). All our vacancies must be applied for by fully completing the on-line application form. Although there is an ‘import data from my CV’ function on MyJobScotland, this only imports very limited data and should not be relied upon to complete the application form. If, for example, due to a disability, you are unable to complete the on-line application form you can contact us for a paper application via the telephone number or email address above.