Summary

We're looking for a new Visitor Operations and Experience Manager on a fixed-term contract until 31 May 2023.   Based at Blakeney, this is a rare opportunity to take a leading role in an area that is extremely important for wildlife and landscapes, to provide an outstanding visitor experience and smooth running of visitor facilities. As a member of the portfolio Leadership Team, you’ll be an instrumental part of the Norfolk Coast and ensure our visitors have a safe and inspiring experience. 

What it's like to work here

The places we care for in the Norfolk Coast and Broads are some of the most biodiverse and beautiful, they include Morston Quay, Horsey Windpump and Brancaster Beach all within Blakeney National Nature Reserve.

It is an exciting time to join us as we embark on projects relating to visitor infrastructure, including new visitor welcome spaces, toilets and catering outlets. We are also undertaking projects to reimagine our interpretation at Blakeney Point Lifeboat House and getting the sails turning at Horsey Windpump. No two days on the coast are the same, from welcoming visitors to setting our strategy for growing support.

Leading a team of 10 staff and volunteers, you’ll have a key role in ensuring visitor experience and operational needs are built into plans and designs. You’ll use your knowledge and expertise to feed into our business plans. You’ll lead from the front and champion our values, ensuring everyone feels welcome and valued.

What you'll be doing

You'll be responsible for the delivery of an effective, safe and accessible visitor experience, leading day-to-day operations, developing engaging and meaningful interpretation to inspire and inform our visitors. With your team, you’ll be designing and delivering year-round events such as Easter adventures in nature, Blossom and Autumn colours. Working in partnership with key stakeholders, volunteers and colleagues, you’ll communicate our cause in everything you do. You’ll also be leading in marketing and communications plans, bringing new and diverse audiences to our places, through carefully curated communications and programming. 

As a champion of exceptional visitor experiences, you’ll deliver 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 clear and consistent, welcoming and engaging.   

As a member of the leadership team, you’ll have budgetary control and use our charitable funds carefully, for the benefit of our places. You’ll join a high performing team and take part in duty management including weekends and managing the visitor operation as well as setting our strategic direction. This really is a role for someone who loves people and places. 

Who we're looking for

• A true people person, always thinking of how visitors, staff and volunteers are experiencing the properties 
• A dynamic, committed and enthusiastic leader with a proven track-record in visitor operations and engagement 
• Able to engage with internal and external stakeholders and partners with ease and confidence 
• A confident and calm presence at the property, able to bring people together to create a united team across a number of places 
• Adept at managing the operation i.e. rotas, budgets and planning across a number of sites 
• A leader who takes time to support, coach and mentor their team 
• Getting stuff done with pace and energy 
• Well-organised, able to balance competing priorities and demands

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.

Wherever you’re from, and whatever your background, we want to hear from you – and it doesn’t matter if you’re jam first, cream first, or even if you don’t 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 more about the benefits we offer to support you.