Inveraray Castle, Argyll Estates

Written By Katharine Landale

Visitor Experience Manager

An extraordinary opportunity to shape the future and expand the offering of one Scotland’s most iconic and visited historic castles.


Location:                           Inveraray, Scotland
Employment Type:         Full Time, Permanent
Salary:                               Dependent on experience


About Inveraray Castle and Argyll Estates

Nestled on the stunning shores of Loch Fyne in Argyll, Inveraray Castle has been the ancestral home of the Dukes of Argyll and Clan Campbell since the 18th century and remains so today. A Category A/Grade One listed, turreted gothic-revival masterpiece updated after a major fire in 1877, it blends fairy-tale architecture, magnificent interiors, and legendary history with a warm and accessible public experience.

Argyll Estates extends across 200 km² of Argyll & Bute, including forestry, farming, renewable energy, holiday cottages, a caravan park, and budding distillery project. It is a progressive estate rooted in tradition.

Why this Role is Unique

As Visitor Experience Manager, you will play a pivotal role in the continued and unrivalled success of Inveraray Castle as a leading visitor destination and private family home. You will lead and develop the entire public facing offer; from exhibitions and guides to the tearoom, gardens, and retail, ensuring every guest enjoys a world-class welcome rooted in Campbell heritage.

Reporting to the Factor and working closely with the Duke and Duchess and the wider leadership team, this is a senior operational role with broad strategic scope. It’s ideal for someone passionate about heritage, tourism, and people, with the vision and resilience to thrive in a dynamic, seasonal, hands-on setting.

This is a role for someone with a can-do attitude with the drive to grow the business and bring ideas to life. We value fresh thinking, collaborative energy, and a proactive mindset.

Inveraray Castle is 60 miles from Glasgow and 45 miles from Oban and sits on the edge of Loch Fyne in the small town of Inveraray.

The Team and Culture

This is a deeply collaborative environment, where kindness, professionalism, and long-term relationships matter. Many members of the team have been in post for years and they bring invaluable insight and stability. As VEM, building trust and rapport with colleagues, visitors and the local community is essential to your success.

Your Responsibilities

In-season (March–October):

  • Oversee the day-to-day operations of all visitor-facing areas: guides, retail, catering, parking, and access.

  • Ensure a world-class visitor experience throughout the Castle, gardens, shop, and tearoom.

  • Motivate, rota, and lead seasonal and permanent staff, approximately 44, 40 seasonal and 4 permanent.

  • Build strong relationships with tour operators, coach groups, and cruise operations to grow visitor numbers and engagement.

  • Drive visibility through awards and accreditation (e.g. ASVA, Green Tourism, TripAdvisor).

Off-season (Nov–March):

  • Manage and motivate the 4 permanent staff throughout the winter season.

  • Lead on staff recruitment, training, planning, and maintenance scheduling.

  • Explore commercial opportunities to diversify income

  • Work on strategic improvements to visitor experience, signage, digital systems, and marketing in collaboration with relevant teams.

Year-round:

  • Oversee smaller events, filming, weddings (only a few) and HNW events.

  • Liaise with external suppliers as needed.

  • Line manage public-facing team leads: Caretaker, Housekeeper (public side), Cleaning, Website/Digital, Castle Assistant, Head Guide.

  • Work closely with shop and Tearoom Manager and Head Guide on staffing, programming, and service.

  • Coordinate with senior management across the wider Estate, including the Factor, conservation/archive specialists, and garden/maintenance managers.

  • Produce monthly reports and analytics to guide decision-making.

Essential Experience:

  • Proven experience in a visitor-facing leadership role, ideally within a heritage, cultural or tourism setting.

  • Outstanding people skills. You must be as comfortable supporting your team as you are in welcoming high-net-worth guests.

  • Resilient, proactive, calm under pressure and pragmatic in a remote and hands-on environment.

  • Excellent organisational, budgetary, and communication skills.

  • A confident decision-maker who understands seasonal rhythms, team dynamics and heritage brand standards.

  • Willingness to work flexibly, including weekends and bank holidays in peak season.

Remuneration & Package:

  • We would prefer no holidays were taken during July and August unless exceptional.

  • You will report to Hugh Nicol, Factor at Argyll Estates.  While working closely with other parties, your employer is Argyll Estates, and your primary responsibility is to Argyll Estates.

  • A full clean driving licence and your own suitable transport are both requirements.

  • The post is full time and permanent following the initial trial period.

  • Accommodation on the Estate will be provided as part of your package. 

  • The salary package will be commensurate with your experience, qualifications, abilities, and suitability to the post.

  • Additional benefits: Healthcare, council tax, phone

  • Holidays: 28 days plus statutory holidays (excluding peak season leave)

  • Full-time: 5 days/week with variable rota, including weekends

Further Information:
If you feel you could bring warmth, energy and leadership to this special environment or would like further information, please email Katharine Landale, Bold New Recruitment with your CV and a covering letter stating why you should be considered for this wonderful role.

katharine@boldnewrecruitment.co.uk

Thank you.

 

Katharine Landale