Undershed Gallery General Assistant
Closing Date: Wed 7 January, 17:00 GMT 2026
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Applications
Please apply online, or alternatively, download the application form in Word and email it to hr@watershed.co.uk.
Do get in touch if you would like any of this information, or wish to apply, in another format.
Please do not include your CV as it will not be considered. Please put all relevant information on your application form.
Job description
- Position
- Undershed Gallery General Assistant
- Grade
- Assistant
- Rate
- £12.60 per hour
- Hours
- Part time.
- Contract type
- Fixed Term (12 weeks)
- Responsible to
- Front of House Manager
- Location
- In the building. This post is not suitable for remote working.
Purpose of job
The Undershed Gallery General Assistant will support the day-to-day operations of the gallery’s incoming exhibition, The Everyworld - an installation, exhibition and celebration of collaboration between a father, a daughter, Andrew and Eden Kötting, and an ever-expanding family of cooperation.
This role combines visitor engagement, technical support, and curatorial assistance to ensure a smooth and accessible experience for all Undershed visitors.
The Assistant should monitor the Undershed gallery space with particular regard to the safety, comfort and positive experience of visitors, including taking the lead in the event of an emergency evacuation.
Main responsibilities
- Set up, calibrate and maintain equipment including VR headsets, inflatables, and AV systems
- Ensure the Undershed equipment and space is always tidy and ready for use, and between sessions/ uses
- Safeguard artworks, caretaking, and reset the space when any items that can be interacted with are moved/used
- Ensure the space is clean, tidy and represents Undershed and the artists as intended
- Provide effective, efficient and engaged customer care for visitors attending the exhibition space
- Welcome visitors, checking their bookings, and scheduling in slots
- Provide background to the artwork with curatorial context, answering questions, and providing further detail and any handouts/ materials, including any content warnings
- Assist visitors during an exhibition to familiarise them with the technology (VR headsets) provided and educate them on the use of the technology
- Show visitors how to customise the brightness and volume of headsets to meet their individual requirements or access needs
- Provide any additional access resources that are made available as required
- Guide visitors through the experience and talk to them about the work they have viewed, providing support and holding space for their responses
- Support visitors to offboard, engaging with them and guiding them around the rest of the exhibition
- Gather and collate any data around visitor flow, safety and equipment use
- Progress any concerns, or suggestions to senior support staff, guarding visitor welfare throughout, and being proactive about ways in which to improve the experience
- Provide support at General Assistant level in other areas of the business as may be required
- Contribute to the smooth running of Watershed’s business operation by communicating and co-operating effectively and courteously with visitors and staff in all areas of the building, taking a proactive approach
- Participate in staff meetings and training and development opportunities as required
- Actively support, encourage and have an awareness of general Watershed activities
- Adhere to all Watershed policies, practices and procedures
Health & Safety
- Ensure safety guidelines are complied with, under advice from the Duty Manager, and act as Fire Officer for Undershed spaces following an evacuation procedure
- Attend a fire drill to stay up to date with current evacuation procedure and practice various scenarios with other operational staff
- Comply with and maintain health, safety and hygiene standards within all public and catering areas
Key performance indicators
- Be enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the artwork and keen to engage with visitors
- Troubleshoot issues quickly and calmly and escalate any concerns or suggestions in good time to senior staff
- Be reliably punctual and available for visitors before, during and after sessions
- Deliver the highest standard of customer care to staff and visitors at all times
- Be flexible in relation to additional shifts
- Take a proactive approach to maintaining the cleanliness and appearance of the gallery and welcome area
- Ensure a comfortable and welcoming environment and that gallery guidelines are adhered to
- Cooperate and communicate effectively with all visitors and staff
- Ensure a safe and healthy work environment in compliance with safety guidelines
- Be able to represent Watershed’s Vision and Values through their work
- Be a team player and an advocate for Watershed
- Complete tasks to agreed standard with minimal supervision
- Complies with and maintains health and hygiene standards in all areas
Essential criteria
- Experience working with, and a passion for, mixed-reality including VR in an arts context
- Basic knowledge of MR/VR systems with the ability to troubleshoot quickly and calmly
- An approachable, kind and confident manner with visitors and staff
- Good organisation, multi-tasking, and communication skills
- Flexibility in relation to additional shifts
Application process
Closing date:
Please note: this is a fixed term, 12 week contract with a preferred start date of Thu 15 Jan - although start date can be negotiated.
We will be holding interviews at Watershed on the below date.
First round interview / presentation (if relevant): -
Working at Watershed
Find out more about staff benefits, our values and more about our approach.
Access
Watershed will work with candidates to ensure their access needs are met during the interview process and will ensure access requirements are not a factor in decision making.
Equal opportunities monitoring
We are striving to understand more about who applies to work with us. At the end of the application process we invite you to complete our anonymous equal opportunities monitoring form, which will not be shared with anyone involved in the recruitment process.
Opening hours
At full operation, Watershed is open seven days a week, including Bank Holidays (Christmas Day and Boxing Day are the only exceptions). Watershed is a public building, which operates a diverse range of cultural and commercial activities. The post holder will need to be comfortable working in this environment.
Before you apply
Watershed's first value is Inclusive – We listen to and learn from our community, creating equity and addressing harm where it occurs. The information below lays out some of the steps we are taking to create a more inclusive recruitment process. Many of these steps are new to us, so feedback and questions are very welcome.
You may not have worked in a cultural organisation before, or in an organisation like Watershed. Please still consider applying as many other sectors offer transferable contexts.
If you are from a background that is underrepresented in the culture sector - for example you are from a community that experiences racism or you are a disabled person (as defined by the Equalities Act 2010), or you did not go to University or had free school meals as a child - and you would like support to articulate how your experience is transferable to this role, you can book time with us to discuss it. We will ensure the person you meet is not involved in the recruitment process. Please request this by emailing hr@watershed.co.uk (we will not ask you to disclose your background).
We believe our work will be stronger with greater diversity and welcome applications from those who bring balance to our team. Watershed welcomes the whole person to work, and we understand that each of us brings our experiences, our backgrounds and our own unique lens to what we do. Supporting our staff means they are not appointed to represent specific groups or organisations.
Watershed Values
As a registered charity and social enterprise, Watershed has well-established brand values. We seek to apply our values in everything we do and ask staff, partners, suppliers and collaborators to do the same.
Our values are:
- Inclusive We listen to and learn from our community, creating equity and addressing harm where it occurs
- Transparent We share our approach openly and clearly, working at a pace which enables everyone to participate who wishes to
- Responsible We use our resources generously and sustainably, considering our impact on future generations
- Kind We are careful and caring with ourselves and with others
- Hopeful We celebrate culture, creativity and wonder as paths to a better future
Watershed is a Social Enterprise Mark holder. Social Enterprises are businesses whose products and services create both social and environmental benefits.
Closing Date: Wed 7 January, 17:00 GMT 2026