General Manager

• INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY PLEASE***
• Internal Applicants only

Our colleagues work for the National Trust in many locations and sometimes don’t have easy access to internal vacancy listings. Using the internet ensures we can reach as many of our colleagues as possible. We appreciate that this can be frustrating for external talent. Do note that some roles are released externally after an initial period of time.

An amazing opportunity for an inspirational leader to join us as General Manager for the Central and East Lake District Portfolio, covering the Eastern shore of Windermere through to the Ullswater Valley. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Operations, you will be supported by your property leadership team, subject matter experts, let estate and commercial teams.

We’re looking for an experienced people leader who can collaborate and adapt through their leadership style to have a positive impact for people and places. You will be running successful and high quality visitor operations alongside looking after some of the nations most loved Lake District landscapes. Your ability to set clear direction and deliver at a sustained pace will be essential to achieving all this in the Lake District World Heritage Site, with a rapidly changing climate, and a need to help accelerate nature recovery.

This is your chance to inspire and motivate your team across a complex range of issues and opportunities, leading not only in the National Trust but in conjunction with our partners that are vital to our joint success.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week. This is a full time role with an option for an annualised contract where it meets personal and business need.

Salary: £55,500pa to £58,000 pa depending on your experience

Contract: Permanent

Provisional interviews: 23rd February 2024

If you have any questions about this role please contact: [email protected]

INTERNAL CANDIDATES ONLY – First stage application

• Please apply using your CV which we would like to see tailored with relevant justifications to this application. Please use your National Trust email address
• Your CV will be reviewed and those who fulfil the criteria will be invited to the second stage of the process. You’ll be emailed directly with further information if successful
• Unsuccessful applicants will be notified via MyPlace and we can provide feedback if requested

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, that also benefit the broader Lake District.

You’ll be part of a dynamic One Lakes Leadership Team, committed to providing great leadership to help our people and places thrive. Our collaborative leadership approach means you will also lead on business areas across portfolio’s as well as involved regionally and nationally in leading delivery of our strategy. Central & East Lakes is one of four National Trust Portfolios in the Lake District, and these geographical areas work collaboratively to provide a seamless experience for visitors and to manage the land at a landscape scale.

Working together in partnership is a fundamental part of the role. You’ll be working regularly with other leaders across the environment and cultural sectors, with farming and land management organisations and with local communities and our farm tenants.

To learn more about this unique opportunity please watch our video.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll lead a property leadership team that covers Countryside, Facilities, Gardens and Outdoors, Visitor Operations, Volunteering and Community, House and Collections. These will be the people that you need to get the very best from to set the portfolio up for success. Your portfolio will include lakes, historic houses, collections, farms, landscapes, local communities, an active outdoor base and an iconic waterfall. Life enhancing places, where memories are made.

People leadership will be your number one priority, but you will also 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 your property business plan.

Our visitor engagement, experience and growth provides the platform for us to achieve our broader strategic outcomes. Looking ahead you will need to not only focus not on traditional pay for entry offers, but thinking innovatively across our landholding, with over 20% of the Lake District National Park collectively across the four portfolio’s.

Who we’re looking for

• An inspirational people leader, experienced in leading staff, volunteers, partners and communities
• A proven ability to balance competing commitments across complex opportunities and issues including visitor operations, landscape scale management, cultural heritage, nature recovery and climate resilience
• An excellent communicator, experienced in connecting people to deliver our shared ambition
• Adept at managing organisational, political and operational risk and compliance including our commercial performance and operations Protecting and enhancing our reputation
• Knowing yourself, and how to look after own resilience

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

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