Countryside Manager

Are you a charismatic, committed and enthusiastic leader with a proven track-record in countryside management? Do you enjoy working as part of a skilled and dedicated team?

This a rare opportunity to take a leading role in a beautiful part of Northern Ireland, renowned for its wildlife. 

 As part of the portfolio’s leadership team, you’ll work alongside senior property colleagues, leading and inspiring your team, our many portfolio staff, volunteers, wider collaborators and partner organisations, on how they can play their part in restoring a beautiful, healthy and natural environment.

This role is required to work with vulnerable groups including children and any offer of employment or volunteering is subject to a satisfactory enhanced Access NI check.

What it's like to work here

This role is based at Mount Stewart and you'll manage two countryside teams within the East Down portfolio.

Mount Stewart is a 400ha landscaped demesne of which two thirds is woodland in various forms and conditions. We're continuing a journey to bring our woodlands into favourable condition, both in biodiversity and climate resilience. All of this is set within the context of a historic walled estate with various priority species such as Red Squirrel and Pine Martin and recovering diverse plant, invertebrate & bird species populations. The demesne nestles on the shoreline of Strangford Lough and is protected by the Lough on one side and the Ards Peninsula on the other; these unique factors and the influence of the Gulf Stream create a microclimate that is almost frost free. 

The Strangford team is based nearby and is responsible for managing the Trust’s portfolio of multiple sites across Strangford Lough and the Ards Peninsula, totalling over 5,000 ha of coast and countryside. Strangford Lough is the most heavily designated nature conservation site in Northern Ireland and is internationally important for its coast and marine natural heritage.

It's the largest sea lough in the British Isles, covering an area from Angus Rock at its mouth on the Irish Sea, to the vast sand-flats at its northern end 20 miles (33 kilometres) away and is one of only three designated Marine Nature Reserves in the United Kingdom.  Across the peninsula the wide variety of places we care for include key sites such as Ballymacormick Point and Orlock on the North Down coast and Kearney village near Portaferry. We have experienced a significant increase in visitor numbers in most of these areas during recent years.

Every day is different - if you like variety and working in beautiful and special areas, ensuring they are cared for now and in the long term, this is the role for you.

What you'll be doing

Reporting to the General Manager, you’ll play a strategic role in the future of East Down’s varied and complex portfolio. Leading your countryside team, you’ll set and deliver plans to protect and enhance the conservation of our properties. You’ll be responsible for planning and the operational day-to-day delivery for land, outdoors and nature on our properties.

You’ll work alongside key staff from other properties, as well as professional advisors across the region and nationally, to help shape and deliver our exciting nature conservation strategy. You’ll work with a wide variety of external collaborators and stakeholders in delivering your work and you’ll enable a broad range of visitors to have outstanding and inspirational experiences through the quality of our welcome and the effectiveness of our conservation work. You’ll be able to multi-task and juggle lots of competing priorities and delegate effectively.

Who we're looking for

You'll need to have the following experience:

• Countryside Management skills alongside knowledge and experience of working on the coast

• Motivating and inspiring a staff team and a volunteering community

• Balancing conservation, access, presentation and engagement

• Influencing and negotiating and forming key relationships with a wide range of collaborators and stakeholders

• Project delivery experience

• Supporting visitor engagement programmes & marketing & communications in the outdoors

• Overseeing compliance & coordination of and liaising with contractors

The package

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

• Tax-free childcare scheme

• Rental deposit loan scheme

• Season ticket loan

• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts

• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.

• Flexible working whenever possible

• Employee assistance programme

• Free parking at most Trust places

• Independent financial advice