General Manager

We’re looking for a General Manager to lead the internationally significant Surrey Landscapes sites. This includes Claremont Landscape Gardens, Winkworth Arboretum and Runnymede, as well as The Homewood, a masterpiece of Modernist design.

You’ll oversee a dedicated team of Heads of Department across various disciplines, developing a positive working environment for everyone in your team. Together, you’ll deliver the best possible visitor experience whilst ensuring excellence in maintaining the places under your leadership.

This is a fixed term contract due to end when the previous employee returns from maternity leave.  At this point we cannot confirm exactly how long this contract will last, but it is unlikely to be more than 12 months.

Please note, the advertised salary is inclusive of the Outer-London Weighting Allowance of £3,315

Interview date: 18 December 2024

As part of the London and South East region, you’ll be working alongside other General Managers caring for similarly high profile and complex property businesses. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Operations, you’ll lead a team of 45 staff and 200 volunteers.

Surrey Landscapes is a busy group of properties, with exciting major projects underway, which will transform the offer for our supporters and place the portfolio onto a strong financial footing.

A champion for inclusion, you’ll commit to diversifying your teams. You’ll provide inspirational leadership for staff and volunteers, ensuring a collaborative environment where people feel valued.

Whilst upholding excellent conservation, horticulture and land management standards, you’ll also be responsible for the ongoing development of excellent visitor experiences.

You’ll work in partnership with people and organisations outside of the Trust, to make the biggest impacts for our places and our supporters.

You’ll be accountable for income delivery to fund the property’s extensive conservation needs as well as its development potential.

You’ll also play a significant role in the major projects that are in progress.

You can view the full role profile for this role in the document attached. You don't need to have all of 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.

We’d love to hear from you if you have:

• experience of running a large visitor-facing business
• an ability to lead and motivate a team to deliver an exceptional visitor experience
• excellent Project Management skills
• an ability to effectively communicate at all levels, including presenting to internal and external audiences
• effective prioritisation and problem-solving skills
• experience of managing budgets up to £1 million plus income, across a number of departments
• a deep understanding of compliance / health and safety
• dedication to creating an inclusive culture

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)

•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

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.