About the job

Job summary

The Kew Constabulary are Kew’s highly skilled security and first aid team, with a heritage dating back to 1845. Our team ensures a safe and secure environment for all of Kew’s visitors, staff and residents, as well as the safety and security of the Gardens and assets. This exciting role is based predominantly outdoors, working across Kew’s stunning 326-acre Gardens steeped in rich history and diversity.

Kew’s Constables are our front-line Security Team providing a visible, reassuring and customer focussed service to c.1.5m visitors each year. Alongside providing customer care and a helping hand the Constables are also our eyes and ears out in the Gardens, responding to security and first aid incidents, and alert to anything out of the ordinary.

Job description

Successful applicants for this role will be excellent team players, with a keen eye for detail and a calmness under pressure. They will have demonstrable experience working in security operations and in a high volume, customer facing environment. They will also be confident communicators, capable of handling challenging situations with a high level of care and excellence.  

Person specification

Kew’s Constables will work on a shift basis, including some mornings and evenings, as well as weekends and bank holidays as part of the team roster. Applicants for this role will be required to hold a full UK driving license to safely drive our vehicles within the Gardens.

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. 

Benefits

Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

If you are interested in this position, please submit your application via the Kew Gardens website. 

We are dedicated to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to interview disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

No agencies please.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.