General Manager

We’ve got an amazing opportunity for an inspirational leader to join us as General Manager for the Nymans and Standen Portfolio.

This is your chance to inspire and motivate a team across a complex and beautiful portfolio.

You’ll turn strategy into reality and deliver across a broad range of operational areas, collaborating to deliver exceptional standards whilst engaging our supporters and communities in our work.

Salary: Circa £56,706 depending on experience. We may be able to offer support with a relocation.

Working hours: Bank holidays and weekend working is required on a rota basis

What it's like to work here

As General Manager you’ll have the autonomy and independence to adapt our national strategy into plans for your portfolio. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Operations, you'll be supported by a portfolio leadership team, subject matter experts, let estate and commercial teams.

This is a complex portfolio of listed buildings and gardens, accredited museums, woods and farmland in a National Landscape. Nymans and Standen welcome over 520,000 visitors to our pay for entry sites and hundreds of thousands to our countryside. Our portfolio is one of the most visited pay for entry portfolios in the National Trust.

You’ll be part of a dynamic wider General Manager community across Surrey and Sussex, committed to providing access to nature, beauty and history. You’ll also work with General Managers across the country who operate other highly visited properties.

Partnerships are a fundamental part of the role, as you’ll be working with other leaders in the culture, arts and environment sectors. You’ll also maintain key external partner relationships with individuals and linked organisations such as Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG), Kew.

What you'll be doing

You’ll blend your operational experience with clear strategic thinking and be comfortable seeing the big picture as well as dealing with the day to day needs of our places. You’ll be highly adaptable to the operating world around you and have overall accountability for the portfolio’s visitor experience, risk and compliance, financial success and conservation practices.

People leadership will be your number one priority. You'll lead a property leadership team that covers Countryside, Facilities & Business Services, Gardens, House and Collections, Visitor Programming, Visitor Operations and Volunteering and Community.

You’ll need to be able to draw on a broader range of expertise from across the National Trust, to help you make decisions and focus resources in the delivery of the portfolio business plan. You will work alongside Area Managers and Estate Manager who operate the commercial businesses.

You’ll maintain a close working relationship with the Director for RBG, Kew at Wakehurst who lease and operate Wakehurst from the National Trust.

Please also read the full role profile, attached to this advert.

Who we're looking for

An outstanding leader of people with a commitment to inclusion and diversity. An understanding of and interest in – the historic or natural environment, cultural leadership and heritage, and the balance between managing public access and conservation. Strong operational experience and a clear strategic thinker. Ability to build relationships with a complex series of external partners and collaborators. Able to effectively communicate at all levels, you’ll have experience in connecting teams and building toward a shared vision. An interest in Climate Change and the impacts upon people and places. Comfortable managing operational risk, understand the underpinning need for compliance and know what it means to hold others to account. 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