The John Muir Trust exists to conserve, protect and repair Wild Places for the benefit of everyone. Wild Places play an important part in rural economics, tackling the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and supporting health and mental wellbeing. We manage and care for some of the finest Wild Places across the UK – from Sandwood in the North West Highlands to Thirlmere in the Lake District. Main responsibilities Your role will be Director of Operations leading on the Trust’s approach to Land management and Projects. Key to success in this position are four key areas of delivery: 1. You will be responsible for all the land in the Trust care and oversee the management of that land to show cases Wild Place Qualities in a way that inspires future generations to care. 2. You will manage capital infrastructure projects on Trust land. 3. You will work with local communities to help them live in harmony with Wild Places and interpret the history of the land with all its social and geographical context. 4. You will provide vision, leadership, management, expertise and passion to motivate people to protect Wild Places and find solutions to land management challenges. Main duties of the post include: • Practical land and visitor management. • Programme and Project management associated both repair and new capital development projects. • Ensuring effective maintenance of our path network and infrastructure. • Ensuring compliance with landlord duties and developing innovative projects with crofting communities. • Leading and supporting Central and South Regional Delivery Managers to achieve land objectives. • Leading the delivery of a partnerships programmes. • Representing the Trust as a senior spokesperson on engagement and land management. • Collective responsibility within Leadership Team decision making. As Director, you will be responsible for: • Strategic planning, operational planning, budget setting and management, and reporting on progress with targets. • Risk management and Health and Safety for your area of operations. • Promoting cross functional working between delivery and functional teams. • Sponsoring formal papers (reporting, advising and seeking approval) to the Board and Committee meetings as appropriate. • Advising on opportunities for innovation. • Promoting partnership working to deliver landscape scale impacts. • Any other duties as reasonably requested by the CEO. Line management responsibilities include: • Managing workload and performance of Central and North Regional Delivery Managers. • Aligning resource spend with strategic priorities and charitable purpose. • Health, safety and wellbeing of all staff under your line management. • Planning and implementing personal development programmes. • Ensuring that staff follow the Trust’s policies and procedures at all times. • Undertaking annual performance reviews. Person Specification We are looking for an outstanding candidate fully committed to stopping the attrition of wild place qualities on our properties and across the UK. A person who believes in the core values of the Trust and our strategic direction. You will demonstrate a mix of attributes from the following: Skills and experience in: • Practical management of land in support of nature conservation with sound ecological understanding. • Innovative thinking on engagement and measuring outcomes. • Working with rural communities. • Handling external communications on sensitive issues. • Formal education in / working within one of the ecological sciences. • Experience of crofting both in legal and practical context. Skills and experience at senior level: • Developing staff and performance management at a senior level. • Managing staff, budgets, projects, conflict, and partnerships. • Strong written and oral skills, with the ability to present and convey complex ideas and issues clearly and coherently, and to a wide range of audiences. • Highly self-motivated, able to work autonomously, take initiative and make decisions. • Managing organisational risk and reputation. • Managing capital investment projects to deliver value for money meeting charitable objectives and in the use of formal project management methodologies for delivery. • Track record of bringing innovative thinking and fresh ideas to an organisation. • Energy, enthusiasm and flair to work hard and achieve ambitious targets. • Ability to work flexible hours and to travel within the UK as required. • A full clean UK driving licence and access to own vehicle. Education and qualifications • Educated to degree level or equivalent. • Evidence of Continued Professional Development relevant to the role purpose and level.