As part of a small, committed team, you’ll embrace a culture of whole‑team collaboration. Whether it’s stepping in during busy holiday periods, supporting Duty Management, or helping daily visitor operations, you’ll be ready to support wherever needed. Weekend and occasional evening work is part of our rhythm, following a fair 1 in 3 rolling rota. Your work helps safeguard irreplaceable habitats, wildlife and historic features, ensuring they flourish long into the future. And with every conversation, every moment of shared enthusiasm, you could spark a lifelong love of the outdoors in someone else. That’s the lasting impact of this role.
What you’ll be doing
This is a role for someone who thrives on variety. One moment you’ll be leading habitat restoration or guiding a Ranger through seasonal work programmes; the next you’ll be making key decisions that shape the long‑term resilience and beauty of this historic estate. Collaborating daily with Estates colleagues, local graziers, farmers, contractors and on‑site teams, you’ll ensure Hatchlands’ landscapes continue to thrive for both people and wildlife. With the entire estate lying inside the pay for entry boundary, your work will directly shape the experience of every visitor, so every task carries purpose.
Day to day, you might be installing new gates and fencing, carrying out habitat work such as bracken control or hedgerow restoration, or supporting livestock husbandry and conservation grazing. You’ll also support the delivery of land management aligned to Countryside Stewardship agreements and other land‑based grant schemes, helping ensure compliance while maximising environmental outcomes across the estate. You’ll also help deliver visitor activities and seasonal events, work with passionate volunteers, and strengthen community connections through outdoor learning, talks and collaborative projects. You’ll be a champion of outdoor conservation, a role model for fantastic visitor care and an integral part of a team that values collaboration, creativity and initiative.
You can view the full role profile for this role in the attached document. You don’t need to have all the knowledge, skills and experience listed in the role profile; this is just to provide a full picture of what’s possible in this role.
Qualifications
- Experienced in managing land, nature conservation and access for people, including running small projects and supervising contractors to develop and run programmes of work to achieve specific goals in conservation or access.
- Ability to independently manage day‑to‑day outdoor operations, including developing weekly work plans, supervising volunteers and small teams, and supporting longer‑term management planning.
- Practical and skilled in looking after a range of habitats and landscapes, with certificates in chainsaw use, tractor driving and towing trailers, able to work safely, and taking the lead on compliance – including writing risk assessments, and safety and environmental procedures.
- Understanding of Countryside Stewardship agreements and land‑based grant schemes, and how these inform practical land management and conservation delivery.
- Happy to talk – with enthusiasm and commitment – to all kinds of people about the work you do and why it matters.
- Driver with a full UK licence.
What it’s like to work here
Hatchlands Park itself is a place of remarkable heritage and beauty. Gifted to the National Trust in 1945, its GradeII parkland and GradeI mansion are steeped in history. The estate includes ancient woodland, vibrant bluebell woods, peaceful meadows, ponds, hedgerows and an extensive path network. You’ll also help care for our much‑loved donkeys, Callum and Morris, and work alongside a conservation grazing herd of Sussex cattle that plays a vital role in maintaining the land.
The package
Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary.
Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under18).
Rental deposit loan scheme.
Season ticket loan.
EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria).
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.
The National Trust is committed to promoting and preserving those places of natural beauty and historic interest for which it has the privilege to be responsible for the benefit of the nation, for everyone for ever. The Trust is proud of what has been achieved over the last 126years and is determined to maintain those high standards of conservation, stewardship and curatorial care for which it has been recognised throughout the world.
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