Summary
We’re looking for someone with a gift for helping everyone to feel welcome to join us as a Welcome Manager at Ightham Mote. You'll be leading our Visitor Services team and will oversee all our welcome areas.
You will work frequent weekends (every other weekend) and bank holidays throughout the year.
Initial interviews will take place on Wednesday 10 June at Ightham Mote.
Please note, there are two Welcome Manager vacancies, one at Knole and another at Ightham Mote. You are welcome to apply for both, but shortlisted applicants will only be interviewed once. In your cover letter please state whether you prefer one location over the other.
What it's like to work here
Described as the most complete medieval moated manor house in England, Ightham Mote is a beautiful 700-year-old mansion, surrounded by stunning gardens and over 500 acres of freely accessible estate. Romantic and picturesque, it is nestled in the Kent countryside between Sevenoaks and Tonbridge.
Ightham Mote is part of a large portfolio with Knole, which sits proudly in the heart of Sevenoaks and boasts historic showrooms with a world-class collection of paintings and furniture, sprawling courtyards, a gatehouse tower and conservation studio, all set in a 1000-acre medieval deer park.
We are passionate about caring for these wonderful properties and visitors are central to everything we do. We are a busy team, who like a challenge and deliver at pace. We work collaboratively across two historic sites. We are hands on and work together to get the job done and create exceptional visitor experiences.
Click here for more information about this location:
What you'll be doing
You’ll lead and manage our team of welcome and service assistants and volunteers. You’ll be responsible for making sure that day-to-day operations run smoothly in our all-important welcome areas. You’ll inspire and care for your team, encouraging them to give the highest standards of service and to help grow our charitable income. You and your team will be focused on helping everyone you meet to have their best possible day.
You’ll be using good judgement and decision making to lead from the front, in line with National Trust guidelines, values and policies.
This is a proactive, on-site role which involves day to day engagement with teams across all departments. You will be required to provide visitor-facing cover for Welcome Team members.
You'll be trained to fulfil a duty manager role at Ightham Mote, with specific responsibilities including safeguarding, cash and tills, fire, security and evacuation. You'll be the main point of contact for staff, volunteers and visitors in case of emergency, enquiries or complaints.
You can view the full role profile for this role in the document attached. You don't need to have all 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.
Who we're looking for
We'd love to hear from you if you’re:
1. experienced in visitor services, tourism, heritage or similar situations
2. naturally curious about people, and motivated to give the highest standards of service
3. highly organised
4. a confident leader
5. adept at managing financial performance
6. up for a challenge, adaptable and responsive under pressure
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)
•Rental deposit loan scheme
•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.
•Flexible working whenever possible
•Employee assistance programme
•Free parking at most Trust places