DUTY MANAGER: PHOTOGRAPHY PRODUCTION FACILITIES
Application deadline: Monday 19 October, 9am
Type of Contract: Permanent
Hours of work: Full time (35 hours per week)
Rate of pay: £30,000 per annum
Location: Stills, 23 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh EH1 1BP
Job purpose
Stills is a locally valued, internationally connected centre for excellence in photography in Edinburgh. Our vision is to be one of the world’s leading centres for photography.
Our core activities include:
- Photography exhibitions, events and partnership projects
- Photography darkrooms, production facilities and equipment
- Creative Learning programmes and courses
- Stills library collection
- Photography bookshop
- Stills Automat analogue photobooth
Our new team of Duty Managers will play a key role in the smooth day-to-day running of our core activities at Stills, helping us to achieve high levels of customer experience and foster a vibrant photography community.
The Duty Manager: Photography Production Facilities will manage public access to our photography production facilities and equipment. These facilities include photography darkrooms, a RA4 colour print processor, a digital suite with the latest Adobe software, professional printers and scanners. The Duty Manager will also support the running of our year round programme of courses covering subjects from beginner’s darkroom photography to mobile photography and masterclasses with internationally-renowned practitioners. Stills is also home to a popular analogue photobooth using darkroom chemistry and analogue printing – maintenance of the photobooth will also be the responsibility of Duty Managers with darkroom expertise. This role will work in collaboration with the Duty Manager: Gallery and Operations and the team of Visitor Assistants.
Job description (key tasks):
- Act as a friendly and professional front-of-house manager, welcoming users to Stills on-site production facilities and photography courses programme
- Responsibility for the smooth running and day-to-day management of the darkrooms, production facilities and specialist equipment
- Provide specialist technical support to users of the photography darkrooms, RA4 colour print processor, digital suite, printers and scanners.
- Deliver inductions and demonstrations of correct and safe usage of the production facilities to public users, course participants and freelance tutors
- Responsibility for the regular maintenance of Stills analogue photobooth
- Manage courses and facilities content on www.stills.org
- Manage the calendar of user bookings for production facilities
- Manage stock and supplies of photography production materials
- Prepare management reports on usage and revenue from the darkrooms and production facilities
- Contribute to the ongoing planning and future development of the production facilities, including exploration of alternative processes for climate friendly photography production
- Contribute content for marketing and promotional materials to widen participation in photography production at Stills
- Contribute practical specialist knowledge and support to the wider programme of photography exhibitions, events and partnership projects happening within Stills
- Support specialist technical requirements relating to the exhibitions and events programme as required including AV set up and gallery lighting
- Represent Stills within the wider network of artist production facilities across Scotland, the UK and internationally
- Ensure that all aspects of health and safety and statutory regulations associated with public safety are adhered to, supported by up-to-date risk assessments and documentation
- Monitor the premises, ensuring that the fabric and security of all public areas are maintained and any emergency requirements are dealt with according to health & safety policy and procedures
- Duty Manager roles includes keyholder responsibilities for the daily opening and closing of the premises
Person Specification
- A focus on friendly customer service and helping users to get the best possible experience from Stills production facilities and services
- Highly skilled specialist knowledge in photography production processes including:
- Black and white and colour darkrooms
- Digital photography
- Adobe software
- Printers and scanners
- Highly skilled in IT software and experience of managing a public access digital computer suite
- Specialist knowledge of health and safety in photography darkrooms and risk assessment procedures such as COSHH
- Commitment to maintaining continuous professional development in relation to photography production processes
- Specialist knowledge of health and safety processes and procedures for public spaces
- Hold First Aid certificate or be willing to attend training course
- Ability to work on own initiative and also collaboratively as part of a small, dedicated team
Hours of work
Duty Manager roles are shift-based and organised around Stills public opening hours, Tuesday to Saturday. Production Facilities roles include late weekday opening to 9pm and occasional Sundays. Stills is an Equal Opportunities Employer and open to discussing flexible shift patterns depending on candidate availability.
How to apply: Please send your CV and a supporting statement outlining your suitability for the post in one PDF attachment to: recruitment@stills.org with the subject header: ‘Duty Manager: Photography Production Facilities’
Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 19 October 2026
DUTY MANAGER: GALLERY AND OPERATIONS
Application deadline: Monday 19 October, 9am
Type of contract: Permanent
Hours of work: Part-time, 21 hours per week
Rate of pay: £30,000 per annum, pro-rata
Location: Stills, 23 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1BP
Job purpose
Stills is a locally valued, internationally connected centre for excellence in photography in Edinburgh. Our vision is to be one of the world’s leading centres for photography.
Our core activities include:
- Photography exhibitions, events and partnership projects
- Photography darkrooms, production facilities and equipment
- Creative Learning programmes and courses
- Stills library collection
- Photography bookshop
- Stills Automat analogue photobooth
Our new team of Duty Managers will play a key role in the smooth day-to-day running of our core activities at Stills, helping us to achieve high levels of customer experience and to foster a vibrant photography community.
The Duty Manager: Gallery and Operations will ensure the successful running of our exhibition space, shop and library by delivering the highest levels of visitor engagement and customer service. The role also has responsibility for managing customer experience for Stills Automat – our popular analogue photobooth. This role will work in collaboration with the Duty Manager: Photography Production Facilities.
Job description (key tasks):
- Act as a friendly and professional front-of-house manager, welcoming visitors to Stills and introducing them to the full range of our on-site photography activities
- Responsible for the smooth day-to-day management and maintenance of the gallery space, library collection, shop and analogue photobooth ensuring high standards of visitor experience are met and maintained
- Supervision and shift management of the team of Visitor Assistants and covering reception duties when needed
- Managing gallery operations to successfully deliver a regular programme of well-attended events including exhibition launches, film screenings, book launches, talks and special events for our upcoming 50th anniversary in 2027
- Responsible for the day-to-day management and conservation of Edinburgh’s largest photography library
- Select and purchase stock for the specialist shop including managing relationships with photography publishers and suppliers
- Weekly income forecasting and financial reporting of shop sales and photobooth usage
- Management of essential supplier services and contracts including cleaning, maintenance and security
- Ensuring that all aspects of health and safety and statutory regulations associated with public safety are adhered to, supported by up-to-date risk assessments and documentation
- Monitor the premises, ensuring that the fabric and security of all public areas are maintained and any emergency requirements are dealt with according to health & safety policy and procedures
- Duty Manager roles includes keyholder responsibilities for the daily opening and closing of the premises
Person Specification
- Experience of supervising staff within a venue with a customer focus or a visitor attraction and working with the public is essential
- Experience of developing best-in-class customer service standards is required
- Strong organisational and communication skills
- Passionate about photography and the activities we offer at Stills
- Experience in managing shop sales, stock and supplier relationships
- Specialist knowledge of health and safety processes and procedures for public spaces
- Hold First Aid certificate or be willing to attend training course
- Experience of working collaboratively with partners, contractors and other stakeholders
- Good understanding of operational procedures, access, security and reporting requirements
- Confident using standard digital and IT systems
- Strong problem-solving skills and a practical, solutions-focused approach
Hours of work
Duty Manager roles are shift-based and organised around public opening hours, Tuesday to Saturday. Sitting within the Gallery and Programme team, this role will include late opening to 9pm and weekend work depending on the schedule of public events. Stills is an Equal Opportunities Employer and open to discussing flexible shift patterns depending on candidate availability.
How to apply: Please send your CV and a supporting statement outlining your suitability for the post in one PDF attachment to: recruitment@stills.org with the subject header: ‘Duty Manager: Gallery and Operations’
Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 19 October 2026
For any queries relating to these positions please email cheryl.connell@stills.org
Image: Jillian Edelstein — Among People (installation detail), Stills 2026