Collections & House Manager

We're looking for someone who cares deeply about achieving high standards, and helping to make beauty and history accessible to all, to join us as a Collections and House Manager in the Cotswolds.

What it's like to work here

The teams in the Cotswolds are a collaborative team with a large group of areas across the area, most of which are outdoors. The property group includes multiple offices to work on and your colleagues will be based at different places

Lodge Park is a unique 17th century deer coursing grandstand, occasionally open to the public and housing a fine collection of historic family furniture and paintings.

The Sherborne collection store holds further family belongings as well as a significant assemblage of archaeology.

Across the wider portfolio buildings and outdoor sites are home to small collections of furniture, building fabric, archaeology and literature which need your care.

What you'll be doing

You'll work with the leadership team to ensure operational efficiency, championing conservation and cultural heritage, working flexibly with other departments to achieve shared goals.

You'll lead on, and be responsible for, the delivery of the care for the collections across our properties, support the opening of Lodge Park, the care and management of our collections store, manage and support research requests, provide a consistently excellent experience for visitors and achieve outstanding standards in conservation, presentation and compliance.

Leading by example, you'll instill a culture of excellent and inclusive service, engaging all kinds of people with conservation, interpretation and the values of the Trust.

You will be based on site in one of our many beautiful offices, favouring Sherborne & Lodge Park as your base, with occasional weekend working.

You'll have overall responsibility for house and collections care volunteers, developing their skills and providing an indoor volunteering experience for them that's as flexible and inclusive as possible.

Who we're looking for

Applications from redeployees are assessed against the minimum criteria for the role. In your application, please provide details of how you meet the minimum criteria below:

• experienced in caring for collections, compliance in processes and supporting their long-term preservation
• skilled in managing day-to-day operations and keeping an eye on budgets
• strategic in your thinking, with a focus on continuous improvement and planning ahead
• committed to creating memorable visitor experiences and engaging diverse audiences, with confidence and experience of duty managing open days
• confident leading teams and supporting people to do their best work

Criteria for all other applicants:

• experienced in achieving high standards of presentation, customer care, compliance and collections management in a historic setting
• aware of current developments and approved practices in the heritage sector in the field of visitor engagement, innovation and access
• keen to promote inclusivity and diversity in the interpretation and presentation of history
• someone who can remain resilient and positive while managing colleagues, changes and challenges
• able to build strong and effective working relationships with diverse people
• experienced in managing people and achieving goals through others
• confident and experienced in duty managing a property on open days

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)
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
• 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.

National Trust place

Sherborne Park, Sherborne, Cheltenham, GL54 3DW

Documents

Collections & House Manager - Grade 7 - Jan 2023.pdf

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Additional information

Closing Date: 01 March 2026

To apply for this vacancy simply click the 'apply' button in the top right hand side of the page.

If you need any help with your application, i.e. due to technical difficulties, please call us on or email us at

If you require an adjustment to the application process, for example due to disability or medical condition, please call us on or email us at and we'll support you as best as we can. For examples of how, please see our supporting you page.

EqualOpportunities Statement

The National Trust celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a fair and equal society, free from discrimination. You can read more about our commitment to inclusion and diversity here .

Safeguarding Statement

The National Trust is committed to a safe recruitment processes to help the organisation attract and appoint the right staff/volunteer for the role and responsibilities as set out in the vacancy advert. We will not accept applicants who are not suitable to work with children, young people or adults at risk. If you have any questions around your suitability for this vacancy, please contact the people service centre.

Please note we reserve the right to close this advert early and therefore we encourage you to apply for this position early.