Estate Manager

National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty; Dorking; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 10%

Free entry to NT places

Season ticket loan

EV car lease

Perks at work discounts

Holiday allowance 32 days

Job summary

The National Trust is seeking an Estate Manager to oversee an agricultural portfolio across London and Surrey. This strategic role blends commercial estate management with land use planning, nature recovery and stakeholder engagement to deliver long-term value for landscapes, communities and heritage.

You will manage tenancies, drive opportunities for diversification and work with partners to ensure sustainable, financially robust estate performance.

Qualifications

• Experience in agricultural and rural estate management.
• Knowledge of rural property, landlord and tenant matters.
• Experience with rent reviews and lease renewals.
• Strong commercial awareness to identify opportunities to improve estate performance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a diverse portfolio of agricultural holdings and tenancy/licence agreements; build strong relationships with tenants and stakeholders.
• Deliver estate management plans to enhance performance and long-term value; explore diversification and land use change.
• Drive nature recovery, environmental sustainability and public benefit across the estate; work with internal and external partners.
• Provide professional estate management advice to inform regional decision-making and strategy.

Skills

Estate management

Rural property

Rent reviews

Commercial awareness

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Education

MRICS Rural Pathway

Job description

We're looking for an Estate Manager to look after our agricultural portfolio in the London and Surrey area. This strategic role combines commercial estate management with nature recovery, land use planning and stakeholder engagement. You'll manage agricultural tenancies, deliver estate plans, identify new opportunities and help shape long-term estate strategy, ensuring our landscapes thrive environmentally, socially and financially for future generations. Working with one of the UK's leading landowners, you'll have the autonomy to make a meaningful impact on people, nature and heritage.

The salary for this role is £55,000 - £59,000 dependent on experience.

To be considered for this role you must hold full MRICS membership through the Rural Pathway. Applications from candidates who do not hold this qualification cannot be considered.

What it's like to work here

This is a rare opportunity to manage a diverse portfolio of some of our most iconic landscapes across London and Surrey. Working across farmland, countryside estates, heritage sites and environmental assets, you'll enjoy a varied and rewarding role with real impact. As part of a collaborative team of estate, conservation and rural specialists, you'll help shape the long-term future of these places.

As this role covers the London and Surrey region the majority of the team are based at our Polesden Lacey office, but your contractual place of work will be the nearest National Trust location to your home. Our hybrid working policy means you can balance office and home working with site visits and meetings at other National Trust places. We’ll talk about this in more detail at interview, but you should expect to be at a National Trust site for 40–60% of your working week.

What you'll be doing

You'll oversee a diverse portfolio of agricultural holdings across a range of tenancy and licence agreements. You'll build and maintain strong relationships with tenants and stakeholders, manage rent reviews and lease renewals, and handle a variety of complex estate matters.

You'll be responsible for delivering estate management plans that enhance performance and long-term value, while identifying opportunities for diversification, land use change and strategic development. Working closely with internal specialists and external partners, you'll help drive nature recovery, environmental sustainability and public benefit across the estate.

Alongside managing budgets and supporting the commercial success of the portfolio, you'll provide professional estate management advice that informs regional decision-making and long-term strategy.

You can view the full role profile for this role in the document attached. You don't need to have all of 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

• Experience in agricultural and rural estate management.
• Knowledge of rural property, landlord and tenant matters, agriculture and land use.
• Experience managing estate management issues, including rent reviews, lease renewals and negotiations.
• Commercial awareness and ability to identify opportunities to improve estate performance.
• Experience working with tenants, stakeholders, partners and professional advisers.
• Ability to analyse information, apply professional judgement and provide practical solutions.

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

Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham, Dorking, RH5 6BD

Documents

• Estate Manager - Grade 5.pdf
• Estate Manager PP FINAL London Surrey.pdf

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Additional information

Closing Date: 15 November 2026

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.