About West Dean

West Dean is a place where creativity, heritage and innovation come together. Internationally celebrated as a centre of excellence for art, design, craft and conservation, our community thrives on curiosity, inspiration, and the extraordinary work of our staff and students.

West Dean Gardens forms part of the West Dean Estate and is one of the greatest restored gardens open to the public today, with a wide range of historic and interesting features. As we continue to grow our offer, redevelop our estate, and push forward with bold ambitions for diversity and sustainability, it’s a truly exciting time to join our team.


About the Role

We are seeking a friendly, proactive, and customer-focused Retail Assistant to join our thriving Visitor Experience team at the West Dean Gardens Gatehouse.

In this role, you’ll be the face of West Dean: creating memorable moments from the very first hello. You’ll help share our story, inspire visitors, support the smooth running of our retail spaces, and ensure every guest leaves with a smile.

Whether you’re engaging visitors with the heritage of the gardens, merchandising beautiful displays, caring for plants, or supporting ticket sales and memberships, you’ll play a vital role in shaping an exceptional visitor journey.

If you love people, enjoy variety, and take pride in creating welcoming spaces, this is the perfect opportunity to be part of something special.

• Warmly welcome all visitors, ensuring each guest feels valued, informed, and inspired by their visit.
• Assisting the Assistant Manager with merchandising and displaying stock to a consistently high standard. 
• Be responsible for the reconciliation of daily takings.
• Use systems to process sales, bookings, and memberships accurately and efficiently.

You’ll thrive in this role if you are:

• Warm, welcoming, and passionate about great customer experiences

• A strong communicator who enjoys engaging with people

• A team player who supports others and contributes positively

• Organised, accurate, and attentive to detail

• Interested in retail and merchandising

• Confident using tills, booking systems, or willing to learn

• Adaptable and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment

• Proactive, curious, and always looking for ways to improve the visitor experience

If you are ready to bring energy, creativity and exceptional service to a role where no two days are the same, we would love to hear from you.

Join us at West Dean and help shape unforgettable experiences for every visitor.