Landscape Manager

English Heritage; Dover; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Pension contributions up to 10%

Flexible hours

Free site access for you and up to six

Professional body subscriptions

Shop and cafe discounts

Job summary

English Heritage is seeking a Landscape Manager to lead landscape management, grounds maintenance and project work across sites in Kent and East Sussex. The role supports a diverse portfolio, delivering conservation and operational objectives with strong contract oversight and budget management.

The position is full-time (36 hours) on permanent basis, with flexible working and options to work from Dover Castle or remotely from home. Regular travel across Kent and Sussex is required.

Qualifications

• HNC/HND or equivalent in landscape management, environmental management, horticulture or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Good knowledge of landscape conservation, environmental management and grounds maintenance.
• Knowledge of health and safety, CDM, tree safety, reservoirs and play areas.
• Understanding of biodiversity and habitat management.
• Strong contract and contractor management skills.
• Ability to manage budgets and maintain accurate records.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist landscape management advice and oversee grounds maintenance across a portfolio of sites.
• Lead on landscape projects and contract management within the Estates Department.
• Coordinate budgets, procurement and auditing of work and ensure compliance with statutory requirements.
• Collaborate with Facilities Managers, Curatorial Teams and contractors to deliver high-quality external spaces.

Job description

Location: Dover Castle, Dover, Kent, CT16 1HU or Homebased

Salary: £40,852 p.a., depending on skills, experience and location / 36hrs per week / permanent

Job type: Permanent

Ref: 16569

Heritage is for everybody, and we are here for heritage.

Heritage lives in places and people, memories and stories, artefacts and traditions. It can connect us all to the past, and to each other. It can make us happier, strengthen every community, and help shape society for the better. Everybody should be able to enjoy the benefits it brings.

That's why, as a charity, we care for over a million objects and hundreds of historic sites in every part of England, from international icons to local treasures. And it's why we open them up, share their stories and find new ways for everybody to enjoy, learn, play and create.

We are looking for a Landscape Manager to join our team. This is a full-time, permanent role, working 36 hours per week.

We offer flexible working arrangements where the role allows. This role can be based at one of our site offices located at Dover Castle, Battle Abbey or homebased. You will need to regularly travel to sites within your portfolio in Kent & East Sussex.

The Benefits

• - Salary from £40,852, depending on skills, experience and location
• - 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays, pro rata, rising to 28 days after 3 years
• - Matched pension contributions up to 10%
• - Flexible hours
• - The opportunity to progress your career within the heritage sector
• - Subscriptions to professional bodies
• - Free access to all English Heritage sites for you and up to six friends and family members
• - 25% discount in our shops and cafes
• - Enhanced maternity, paternity or shared parental leave
• - Options to buy additional leave
• - An inclusive working atmosphere where everybody is supported from all backgrounds, religions and with different needs
• - Opportunities to go to some of our great live music and history events

English Heritage cares for the monuments, buildings and places that bring the story of England to life for over 10 million visitors each year.

This is a great opportunity for a dedicated landscape management professional to join the South and East Team as a Landscape Manager supporting our Kent and East Sussex portfolio. This role brings together landscaping, grounds maintenance and project management, providing expertise to a team that delivers a holistic estates service to the region.

You will actively champion landscape management and lead on the grounds maintenance and management of our estates across the region. The sites within the portfolio vary considerably in complexity and scale, ranging from castles such as Dover, Walmer and Deal to Roman Forts such as Richborough.

Are you passionate about caring for some of England's most important historical buildings and landmarks? If so, this is a great opportunity to join English Heritage Trust's Kent-based Estates Management team. The Landscape Manager's primary purpose is to provide high-quality conservation landscape and grounds maintenance and associated facilities services for the National Collection of Historic Properties and Estates. It is a busy and varied role which makes the everyday interesting, with no two days the same.

The Estates Department is made up of four Regions with teams providing professional expertise to conserve and maintain a range of properties from country houses and ruined castles to hill forts and Roman temples. Working from either Dover Castle or remotely from home, you will be part of the South & East Region team, supporting a diverse portfolio of historic sites across Kent and Sussex.

Working with Facilities Managers, Building Conservation Managers, Gardens and Landscape Teams, Curatorial Teams, project teams and contractors, you will help care for and improve our landscapes, grounds and external spaces so they remain safe, welcoming and historically significant.

As Landscape Manager, you will provide specialist advice on landscape management, environmental stewardship and grounds maintenance across a portfolio of sites, helping to ensure landscapes and external assets are well maintained, legally compliant and aligned with organisational standards. Working collaboratively with colleagues across Estates, Curatorial and project teams, you will support the delivery of conservation and operational objectives to achieve high-quality outcomes.

To do this, the role requires strong project/contract management skills and a working understanding of the relevant health and safety regulations. It also requires competence in operating within the constraints of heritage and planning policies and statutory requirements, as well as being able to demonstrate a robust understanding of historic building conservation best practice principles.

As a confident communicator, you will work collaboratively with Senior Management and site colleagues across the Kent portfolio, including the Facilities Manager at Dover. You will build strong working relationships to coordinate maintenance, projects and day-to-day service priorities.

You will have experience of working with both internal stakeholders and managing contractors in procuring, administering and supervising landscape and grounds maintenance contracts and associated budgets. You will be confident in preparing works instructions and managing and auditing the quality of work on site.

You will also ensure that asset information, maintenance schedules, records and statutory certification are accurately recorded and kept up to date in the K2 CAFM system, in line with statutory compliance requirements and English Heritage Safety Critical Reporting standards.

To be considered as a Landscape Manager, you'll need:

1. 1. HNC/HND or equivalent qualification in landscape management, environmental management, horticulture or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
2. 2. Good knowledge of landscape conservation, environmental management and grounds maintenance.
3. 3. Knowledge of relevant legislation and standards, including health and safety, CDM, tree safety, reservoirs and play areas.
4. 4. Understanding of biodiversity and habitat management.
5. 5. Strong contract and contractor management skills.
6. 6. Ability to manage budgets and maintain accurate records.

Interviews will be held on 15th October 2026 at Dover Castle.

If you would like to talk to us, e.g. about workplace adjustments or working patterns, please contact Karen Eakers, Estates Manager or Chloe Crick, Landscape Manager. No agencies, please.

Find out more about us and what we do on our website. You can also meet some of our people and hear about why they enjoy working with us.

Everybody's welcome at English Heritage

Forget the stereotypes. It takes thousands of people from every background to care for England's heritage and open it up for everybody to enjoy. We're looking for every type of person with every kind of skill and experience, and we're committed to making sure that English Heritage is an equitable, diverse and inclusive place to work. You can connect with others through our EDI networks as a member or ally. These include Ethnic Diversity, Faith & Belief, Social Equity, LGBTQ+, Neurodivergence, Age, Disability, Gender, and Health and Wellbeing.

We take wellbeing seriously. We are committed to ensuring everyone feels safe at work and can carry out their role. To support this, we have a network of Mental Health First Aiders, regular information and awareness events, unlimited access to an Employee Assistance Programme and work with our people to implement reasonable adjustments.