We’re looking for an inspiring leader to be the driving force behind Kingston Lacy. The General Manager leads from the front, encouraging and empowering their team and covering a wide range of operations.
In this role, you’ll be turning strategy into reality. You’ll build an inclusive culture where everyone can feel they belong, the people who work and volunteer here, the people who regularly visit and love it, and the people who’ve never been before and don’t yet know that this place is for them too.
What it’s like to work here
Reporting to the Assistant Director of Operations, you’ll be supported by national and regional specialists to deliver great experiences for visitors and look after our places. In this leadership role, you’ll have the autonomy and independence to adapt our national strategy into local plans that respond to the local environment and context.
You’ll also be part of a dynamic wider General Manager community, committed to providing access to nature, beauty and history.
You’ll work with other leaders in the culture and arts sector and have an opportunity to be part of the National Trust’s pioneering work in telling the unique stories of our places and growing our supporter base.
What you’ll be doing
You’ll manage several departmental heads, each with their own areas of focus such as the garden, visitor experience, curatorship, nature conservation, facilities, and the care of precious art and objects. You’ll be working with regional teams covering commercial operations and the let estate, and with the Trust’s internal consultancy: a flexible resource of specialist skills and expertise. You’ll encourage your team to succeed across all their areas, and to build the funds to invest back into improvements and conservation work here. And you’ll build plans for this place, working with others to give it a future that can benefit everyone.
You’ll provide inspirational leadership for staff and volunteers, and you’ll inspire them to create the best possible all-round experience for everyone who visits. You’ll manage risk and compliance, and you’ll champion the conservation of nature, buildings and precious collections.
You’ll also be working with a wide range of partners and with the local community.
As an ‘expert generalist’, you’ll have a diverse remit. We have high visitor and revenue targets to meet, so you’ll be experienced with finances, people and projects.
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.
Who we’re looking for
- Forward-thinking in your approach to balancing the needs of heritage, nature and people
- Experience in driving visitor growth, particularly through outdoor experiences and creative programming
- Proven success in developing and delivering long-term plans aligned to organisational goals and priorities
- Experience in leading varied operational teams
- Confidence in managing operational risk, understanding compliance, and holding others accountable
- A skilled communicator, who can build strong relationships within diverse teams, both internally and externally
- A leader for inclusion, who finds ways to create an inclusive culture
- Understanding of how to manage budgets, generate income, and deliver financial targets
- A strong understanding of community engagement, with experience working in or with local communities to broaden access and attract diverse audiences
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, and when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams.
- Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
- Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
- 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, related to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria
National Trust place
Kingston Lacy, Wimborne Minster, Dorset, BH21 4EA.
Equal Opportunities Statement
The National Trust celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a fair and equal society, free from discrimination. You can read more about our commitment to inclusion and diversity here.
Safeguarding Statement
The National Trust is committed to safe recruitment processes to attract and appoint the right staff and volunteers for the role. We will not accept applicants who are not suitable to work with children, young people or adults at risk. If you have any questions around your suitability for this vacancy, please contact the people services centre.
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