Visitor Operations & Experience Manager

Job Description

Summary Were looking for a new Visitor Operations and Experience Manager within the Sissinghurst portfolio.This is an exciting opportunity for someone to lead and be a role model for great experiences and engagement across the portfolio. The opportunity to lake the lead in this area in one of the finest gardens in the country doesnt often arise. Youll influenceour Programme of events and exhibitions, use audience insight to rebuild an international market and set the service standards across all disciplines.Youll already have experience of enabling this change in a large organisation, and will champion our Everyone Welcome agenda across all properties in the portfolio.Youll also have fun and work with some of the finest professionals within the National Trust, collaboration is key and enjoyment for the work we do matters.Salary:£29,640 pa Hours:37.5 hrs pw Contract:permanent What its like to work here The portfolio has one of the highest profiles nationally and comprises four properties in total, all open to visitors.Sissinghurst Castle Garden is a highly personal garden planned by two people, Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson, whose artistry was matched by their plant knowledge and who had an individual point of view. Sissinghurst has international significanceand is considered as being one of the finest gardens open to visitors attracting circa 200,000 visitors each year. Lamb House in Rye came back into the management of the National Trust in 2018 and has since started to build a fantastic offer in the heart ofRye in East Sussex.Lamb House has strong literary associations and has previously been occupied by Henry James, E.F Benson and Rumer Godden.Smallhythe Place in Tenterden, Kent, was the home of Ellen Terry, an actor from the Victorian age. It is a wonderful early 16thcentury house with a cottage garden and its own Barn Theatre set within beautiful surroundings.Stoneacre is situated near Maidstone in Kent, the property is a half-timbered yeoman farmers house dating from the 15th century, together with a wonderful garden, orchard, and meadows.Combined the total number of visitors is around 270,000 and the opportunity to grow further at the smaller properties is there with careful management over a phased period. Click here for more information about this location What youll be doing Leading a team of staff and volunteers,youllplay an important part in ensuring visitor experience and operational needs are built into plans and designs.Your expertise will feed into our business plan.Youlllead from the front and champion our values,ensuring everyone feels welcomed and valued.Youllmanage the delivery of a safe and accessible visitor experience, leading daily operations, developing engaging and meaningful interpretation and programming to inspire and inform our visitors. With your team,youlldesign and deliveryear-round eventssuch as Easter adventures in nature, Blossom and Autumncolours. Working in partnership with partners, volunteers, and colleagues,youllcommunicate our cause in everything you do. Youllalso play a lead in marketing and communications plans, bringing newand diverse audiences to our places, through carefully curated communications and programming.As an advocate of great visitor experiences, youll achieve high standards of presentation at the property, and ensure all our communications with our visitors, from the first click on the website, to the posters and signs around the property are consistent,welcoming and engaging.As a member of the leadership team, youll have budgetary control and use our charitable funds carefully, for the benefit of our places. Youll join a great team and take part in duty management including weekends and managing the visitor operation and settingour strategic direction. Who were looking for

• Someone who is always thinking of how visitors, staff and volunteers are experiencing the properties

• Have a track-record in visitor operations and engagement

• Ability to engage with our partners with ease and confidence

• Able keep a calm presence at the property, able to bring people together to create a united team

• Can manage the operation i.e. rotas, budgets and planning across several sites

• A leader who takes time to support their team

The package The National Trust has the motto For everyone, for ever at its heart. Were working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. Its important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audienceswe serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say were for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.Wherever youre from, and whatever your background, we want to hear from youand it doesnt matter if youre jam first, cream first, or even if you dont like scones at all. Everyone is welcome.Benefits for working at the National Trust include:

• Flexible working whenever possible

• Free parking at most locations

• Free entry to our properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

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