Collections & House Manager

National Trust; Stourton; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Substantial pension scheme

Free entry to National Trust places

Rental deposit loan scheme

Season ticket loan

EV car lease scheme

Discounts on gym memberships

Holiday allowance up to 32 days

Flexible working

Employee assistance programme

Free parking at Trust places

Job summary

A leading heritage conservation organization is seeking a Collections & House Manager for their Stourhead location in the United Kingdom. The successful candidate will oversee the preservation of collections, enhance visitor experiences, and lead a dedicated team. The role demands strong leadership and strategic planning skills. Benefits include a substantial pension scheme, free entry to National Trust locations, and flexible working opportunities. This position is ideal for those passionate about cultural heritage and community engagement.

Qualifications

• Experience in caring for collections and supporting their long-term preservation.
• Committed to creating memorable visitor experiences and engaging diverse audiences.
• Confident leading teams and supporting people to do their best work.
• Skilled in managing day-to-day operations and keeping an eye on budgets.
• Strategic thinking, with a focus on continuous improvement and planning.

Responsibilities

• Shape the future of Stourhead through strategic planning and day-to-day operations.
• Lead the newly created Conservation Management Plan and evolution of the House visitor journey.
• Champion conservation excellence and cultural heritage, collaborating with cross-departmental colleagues.
• Line-manage Collections and House Officers, guiding and supporting the wider team.
• Work with volunteers, developing their skills and ensuring rewarding experiences.
• Maintain and improve conservation standards, Museum Accreditation documentation, and long-term risk plans.
• Deliver imaginative programming that connects people with the collections.

Skills

Caring for collections

Leading teams

Strategic thinking

Customer care

Managing operations

Education

Heritage sector knowledge

Job description

Collections & House Manager – Stourhead

Join to apply for the Collections & House Manager role at National Trust.

Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.

This range is provided by National Trust. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

In line with our redeployment policy, we’ll prioritise applications from employees who are under formal notice of redundancy.

What it's like to work at Stourhead

An 18th Century Palladian mansion with a world-famous landscape garden, it’s no surprise that Stourhead is one of our busiest and ‘best‑loved’ properties. Working at Stourhead means joining a team that thrives on passion, collaboration, and pride in what we do. You’ll be surrounded by colleagues who care deeply about each other, the collections, and creating the very best experience for our visitors. It’s a place where everyone’s contribution matters—from front‑of‑house teams sharing stories with guests, to curators and gardeners preserving the estate for the future. Together, we celebrate successes, tackle challenges with energy, and support one another to keep Stourhead one of the most loved places in the country.

Responsibilities

• Shape the future of Stourhead through strategic planning and day‑to‑day operations.
• Lead the newly created Conservation Management Plan and evolution of the House visitor journey.
• Champion conservation excellence and cultural heritage, collaborating with cross‑departmental colleagues.
• Line‑manage Collections and House Officers, guiding and supporting the wider team.
• Work with volunteers, developing their skills and ensuring rewarding experiences.
• Maintain and improve conservation standards, Museum Accreditation documentation, and long‑term risk plans.
• Deliver imaginative programming that connects people with the collections.

Qualifications – Minimum criteria for National Trust employees

• Experience in caring for collections and supporting their long‑term preservation.
• Committed to creating memorable visitor experiences and engaging diverse audiences.
• Confident leading teams and supporting people to do their best work.
• Skilled in managing day‑to‑day operations and keeping an eye on budgets.
• Strategic thinking, with a focus on continuous improvement and planning.

Qualifications – Minimum criteria for other applicants

• Experience 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 visitor engagement, innovation and access.
• Keen to promote inclusivity and diversity in the interpretation and presentation of history.
• Resilient and positive while managing colleagues, changes and challenges.
• Capability to build strong and effective working relationships with diverse people.
• Experienced in managing people and achieving goals through collaboration.

Benefits & Perks

• Substantial pension scheme up to 10% of 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.
• Flexible working whenever possible.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Free parking at most Trust places.

Seniority Level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Management, Art/Creative, and Customer Service; Non‑profit Organizations.