We’re looking for a Senior Lead – Visitor Programming to shape and deliver a compelling, integrated visitor programming offer. You’ll set the long‑term direction for programming organisation wide, ensuring it grows audiences, improves visitor satisfaction, and contributes to financial sustainability.
You’ll define a clear, forward‑looking roadmap for visitor programming, using audience insight, performance data and sector trends to keep the offer relevant, high quality and inclusive. Working across national, regional and local teams, you’ll bring visitor‑facing functions together to deliver a cohesive offer, build organisational capability through a national community of practice and represent us externally within the wider experience sector.
This is a fixed‑term contract, ending 31 May 2027.
What it's like to work here
As part of the Visitor Experience Proposition team, you’ll join a collaborative, purpose‑driven environment where expertise is shared, ideas are tested and learning is valued. People work across boundaries, bringing together national strategy with regional and local delivery to create experiences that feel joined up, welcoming and relevant throughout the year. You will not have direct reports but will be involved in and lead matrix teams across the organisation.
As this is a national role there is flexibility on your contractual place of work. Our hybrid working policy means you can balance office and home working with site visits and meetings at other National Trust places. You should expect to be at a National Trust site for 40–60 % of your working week.
What you'll be doing
You’ll help to ensure members and paying visitors receive value for money through consistently high quality, repeatable experiences year round. This is a new and influential role supporting delivery of our strategy and future visitor growth.
You’ll use your experience, creativity and leadership to shape and coordinate our national approach to visitor programming across the visitor journey, working with colleagues across programming, commercial and marketing teams. You’ll take a collaborative, inclusive approach, drawing on expertise from across and beyond the organisation to build compelling, data‑informed plans with a strong audience focus.
Working through matrix teams, you’ll lead the development and delivery of the ‘Programming for Growth’ workstream, creating a diverse and inclusive pipeline of visitor programming designed to grow visitors over the long term. Throughout this, you’ll bring visitor‑facing functions together to create a more integrated, cohesive offer, while also leading and inspiring a national community of practice that builds capability, confidence and shared learning.
Who we’re looking for
* Proven leadership in visitor programming, driving growth and audience engagement.
* Experience creating and executing long‑term roadmaps, leading change and delivery at scale.
* Expertise in understanding, growing and diversifying audiences.
* Experience using audience data to build clear narratives and inform decision‑making.
* Ability to lead integrated offer development that unites visitor functions.
* Understanding of financial and operating contributions through programming.
* Championing an inclusive learning culture and leading communities of practice.
The package
* 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.
Location
Heelis, Kemble Drive, Swindon, SN2 2NA
Equal Opportunities Statement
The National Trust celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a fair and equal society, free from discrimination.
Safeguarding Statement
The National Trust is committed to a safe recruitment process 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.
Closing Date
03 May 2026
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