General Manager, NATIONAL TRUST

Overview In line with our redeployment policy, we’ll prioritise applications from employees who are under formal notice of redundancy. We’re looking for an inspiring leader to bring together Ightham Mote and Knole into one new property group. Ightham Mote is an outstanding 14th‑century moated manor house surrounded by beautiful gardens and a wider countryside estate. Knole is a stunning property boasting a 1000‑acre deer park, historic showrooms with a world‑class collection of paintings and furniture, sprawling courtyards, a gatehouse tower and a conservation studio. The General Manager leads from the front, encouraging and empowering their team while covering a wide range of operations. In this role you’ll develop a combined leadership team across both sites and work across both sites yourself. You will build an inclusive culture where everyone can feel they belong – the people who work and volunteer at Ightham Mote and Knole, those who visit and love the sites, and those who have never been before and who don’t yet know that these places are 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 across Kent and East Sussex, 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, facilities, visitor experience, curatorship and the care of precious art and objects. You’ll work with regional teams covering commercial operations and the let estate, and with the Trust’s internal, flexible resource of specialist skills and expertise. You’ll encourage your team to succeed across all their areas, build the funds to invest back into improvements and conservation work, and plan for the future of these places. You'll provide inspirational leadership for staff and volunteers, inspire them to create the best possible all‑round experience for everyone who visits, manage risk and compliance, and champion the conservation of nature, buildings and precious collections. As an "expert generalist" you’ll have a diverse remit and will meet high visitor and revenue targets with experience in finances, people and projects. Who We’re Looking For Experience leading and managing multi‑disciplinary teams, including volunteers and specialists Proven success in developing and delivering long‑term plans aligned to organisational goals and priorities Understanding of how to manage budgets, generate income, and deliver financial targets Demonstrable ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders Understanding and application of health & safety, compliance, and risk‑management practices Experience leading change and delivering projects that improve performance or outcomes Demonstrates a commitment to inclusion and creating relevant, accessible experiences for diverse audiences Criteria for All Other Applicants Forward‑thinking in your approach to balancing the needs of heritage, nature and people Proven success in developing and delivering long‑term plans aligned to organisational goals and priorities Experienced in leading varied operational teams Someone who understands the expectations of people who visit places, and how to give them consistently excellent service Confident in managing operational risk, understanding the fundamental need for compliance and holding others to account 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 The Package Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18) Rental deposit loan scheme Season ticket loan EV car lease scheme 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 Additional Information To view the full role profile for this role, please see the attached document. You do not 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr